During a company retreat in the remote mountains of Alaska, a sudden avalanche trapped my team in an isolated cabin.
The bidding project meeting, crucial for the company's future, was imminent, and I was more than prepared. I held the confidential proposal—the very document our future depended on.
But when I opened my briefcase, my fingers found only a single USB drive. And when I plugged it in, the proposal was nothing but a garbled mess.
I was about to contact headquarters via the satellite phone.
Just then, my CEO fiancé, Caleb Vaughn, grabbed my wrist.
"Easy there, darling. No need to get worked up. I gave your proposal to Sienna. She's a promising newcomer who needs this break more than you do."
I clutched the USB drive, fury coiling in my gut, hot enough to burn through my composure.
"Are you kidding me? This is junk! Presenting this is the same as forfeiting the bid!"
He frowned, showing no hint of shame. "Camila Ashford, you're going to be my wife, the first lady of this company. Your role is to support promising newcomers, not to act like a spoiled brat."
I let out a cold, sharp laugh.
"I'm the Chief Architect, not a walking ATM. And that proposal cost me weeks of sleepless nights."
I didn't waste another breath arguing with him. I pulled out my phone and called my private attorney.
Then, I turned to my assistant beside me and gave a crisp order.
"Get my lawyer on the phone. I want an agreement drafted—effective immediately. Freeze all my capital investments in the Vaughn Group and dissolve our joint trust."
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1
Caleb's expression instantly soured.
He pointed a finger at me, hissing, "Have you lost your mind? What will our colleagues think when they hear this?"
He bent down to pick up the coat I had thrown on the floor. The Patek Philippe on his wrist—my engagement gift to him—caught the light, flashing brilliantly.
The other sycophants on the team quickly swarmed in, each one jumping to Sienna Clarke's defense. She was Caleb's latest favorite, and they were all desperate to curry favor.
"Camila, you're overreacting. Caleb was just trying to help. What's with the temper?"
"Exactly. This is Sienna's first time on such a major project. As the future wife of the CEO, you should be mentoring her."
I opened my mouth to argue, but a knot of stress tightened in my stomach, sending a stabbing pain through me that stole my words.
Just then, Sienna peered out from behind Caleb, her eyes red-rimmed and glistening.
"Camila, please don't be angry with Caleb. How about… I give the USB drive back to you? My proposal… it's just not ready. I can pull an all-nighter to finish it..."
The moment she finished speaking, Caleb pulled her protectively into his arms.
"Don't be ridiculous! She's just pulling rank to bully a newcomer. She wasn't this fragile when she was leading the charge in Europe to win the 'Skyline' project."
"Win the project?" I stared at him in disbelief, an invisible hand squeezing the air from my lungs. "When I went up against three top international firms to win 'Skyline,' who was I winning that glory for?"
Caleb's face twisted into an ugly sneer.
"That was your choice. I never forced you. Besides, it was your duty as my fiancée. What, were you expecting a thank-you note every morning?"
After a pause, he lifted his chin, his arrogance on full display.
"Sienna saved my life. If her career is ruined because of this, could you live with yourself?"
It was utterly preposterous.
He was willing to sacrifice me for his so-called savior. What kind of debt could possibly be worth more than our five-year engagement?
The snowstorm raged outside, and the edges of my vision began to blur. My legs threatened to give out, and I had to brace myself against a rough wooden table just to stay upright. The knee I’d injured years ago while skiing to entertain his clients throbbed in the drafty cabin, a dull ache seeping deep into my bones.
I stared at them, wanting to rush forward and tear them limb from limb, but all that escaped my throat were pained gasps as my stomach seized.
A female colleague theatrically mimicked my pained gasp, then burst into laughter.
