Byron's POV
“I don’t care if this is some kind of tactic, playing hard to get or pulling the old ‘leave to be missed’ trick,” Harriet snapped. “Once you walk out, there’s no coming back. Our company isn’t some revolving door.”
I gave her a cold glance. “Alright.”
With that, I turned to leave.
Just then, Dexter leaned in close and whispered something in her ear.
Whatever he said made her expression shift instantly. Her face darkened as she suddenly snapped at me in disgust.
“So that’s why you’re walking out? You’re just waiting for me to come running after you, aren’t you?”
I frowned, confused, until she tossed a thick stack of documents at me.
It was the contract I had signed just a few days ago.
Dexter clicked his tongue dramatically and said, “Come on, Byron. Everyone knows you and Mr. Thompson from that partner company go way back. Now that the deal’s not yet finished, you suddenly want to leave? What, are you trying to use this to blackmail the company?”
He paused, looking all innocent. “I get that you’re not thrilled about working under someone new like me. But hey, this was the CEO’s call. You’re not seriously going to go against her, are you?”
Harriet’s face was flushed with embarrassment. Clearly, she was imagining all kinds of scenarios.
Back in the day, I probably would’ve panicked. I would’ve scrambled to explain myself, insist I wasn’t playing games or making power moves.
But now?
Now, all I felt was bitter amusement.
She knew full well that I was the one keeping this company steady, but she’d never admit it.
Instead, she kept pushing me down, using me when it suited her and discarding me when it didn’t.
And before, because I loved her, I let it slide. I made sacrifices.
Now I just felt like a fool.
I’d thrown away my future for her—my pride, my reputation—and I didn’t even get to be called her boyfriend in the end.
You’d think I’d be furious, but honestly, I felt nothing. Not anger, not sadness—just numb.
I quietly copied all the project files from my computer and placed them neatly on the desk.
“These are the project details,” I said calmly. “Pricing info’s all included. You can use this to move forward with the client. I won’t say anything to them.”
Then I turned and walked away without looking back.
But I could feel her gaze burning into my back the whole way out.
The moment I stepped outside, the air felt cleaner, sharper. Like I could finally breathe.
But I hadn’t even taken a full breath when I heard heels clicking behind me.
Harriet followed me out.
She grabbed my arm, her brows furrowed tightly. “You left just like that? I barely said anything. What’s that supposed to mean? Weren’t you the one who said you were willing to step back and let me run the company?”
I let out a cold laugh. “Yeah, I said I’d step back. But I didn’t say I’d let you humiliate me while you parade your new boy toy around.”
She didn’t just come home last night, she even showed up at work with Dexter, flaunting hickeys like trophies.
And now she had the audacity to suggest I assist him, a clueless, fresh-out-the-box pretty boy.
I might be loyal, but I’m not stupid.
She stomped her foot in frustration and shot back, “Boy toy? What are you even talking about? There’s nothing between me and Dexter! Stop being so jealous over nothing!”
I was just about to fire back when Dexter walked up.
He wore that fake-apologetic smile like it was part of his uniform.
“Sorry, Byron,” he said with a slight bow. “I didn’t realize you quit because you were jealous.”
He let out a little sigh. “I mean, yeah, I got drunk with a client yesterday, but it was all for work. The CEO was just taking care of me, that’s all. Nothing happened between us. Please don’t get the wrong idea.”
His words sounded sincere, but he made sure I saw the fresh scratch marks on his neck.
This guy wasn’t apologizing. He was rubbing it in.
In the past, I probably would’ve exploded. I would’ve demanded answers from Harriet, forced her to swear off him forever.
But after years of this same exhausting cycle, I was done. She never changed. And now, I didn’t want to keep trying.
I stared at him in silence, expression unreadable.
That’s when Harriet suddenly reached for my hand.
