It was the third year of Bryn Miller’s relationship with Alexford Sinclair. And that was when Francesca Clements came back.
Francesca didn’t just return; she claimed the director position Bryn had been working toward and stole the proposal Bryn had painstakingly put together during countless late nights. But according to Alex, Francesca was an outstanding returnee from studying abroad. In his eyes, she would never steal someone else’s work.
In everyone else’s eyes, it was Bryn who looked like the thief.
That was when Bryn finally understood—those three years of affection and sweetness had been nothing but an illusion. She was merely a substitute. Watching Alex’s gaze was never leave Francesca, Bryn calmly packed up her things and left without a word.
***
As soon as Bryn stepped into the office, her colleague, Nora Anderson, approached with the eagerness of a puppy bringing over a stick.
“Bryn, have you heard? There’s a new recruit and she’s here as the design director.”
“Design director? Are you sure?” Bryn was caught off guard.
“Yeah, and apparently, she has an impressive background. Everyone thought you’d get the position, but… well, they brought in someone else. Probably an insider move, you know.”
When the previous design director left, people widely assumed that Bryn, being the most qualified in the department, would automatically take over. Even the general manager had often hinted that the position was practically hers.
Now, an outsider had been brought in. The fact that it was clearly a matter of favoritism didn’t sit well with Bryn.
As whispers swirled around her, the new director walked in. Bryn’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the woman. Something about her was eerily familiar—she couldn’t quite place it, but it tugged at her chest.
The woman was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that exuded professionalism and elegance. Nora nudged her and whispered, “Bryn, don’t you think the new director looks a bit like you?”
Bryn snapped out of her daze, scrutinizing the new woman. Nora wasn’t wrong; there were striking similarities, especially in her eyes. An odd sensation rose in Bryn’s chest—something felt off, as if a tight knot had formed there, making it hard for her to breathe.
Just then, the general manager, Mr. Fletcher, entered. He cleared his throat before formally introducing the newcomer.
“Everyone, please welcome Francesca Clements. Francesca will be joining us as our new design director.”
The room burst into applause as Francesca confidently stepped forward and greeted everyone. But when her eyes met Bryn’s, there was a brief flicker of surprise before she quickly masked it with a smile.
Bryn hesitated for a long moment before she made up her mind to ask for clarification. She stood and walked toward the manager’s office, gently knocking on the door.
“Come in.” The general manager looked up, smiling when he saw it was Bryn.
“Bryn, what can I do for you?”
Bryn bit her lip, gathering her thoughts. “I just wanted to confirm if the news was true about the design director position…”
“I know that you’re going to press about it,” the manager interrupted with a knowing smile, anticipating her question before she could voice it. “You’re incredibly capable, Bryn and to be honest, the position should’ve been yours. But…” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Francesca was appointed by the boss himself, so my hands are tied. There’s really nothing I can do about it.”
Bryn’s heart sank as she processed the weight of his words. The boss—the one who had made this decision—was none other than Alexford Sinclair, her boyfriend of the last three years. Alex knew every late night she’d spent at the office, every project she’d poured herself into. He knew exactly how much she wanted this role. And yet, he’d chosen to bring in someone else. Why would he do that?
