Our wedding was set for next month.
And yet, she still betrayed me.
I tried to suppress it all—pushed the images, the sounds, out of my mind—and headed to the office like normal.
“Vice President Jones?” someone called out in surprise. “Why are you back here?”
Even my assistant looked stunned.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the branch office? As Vice President?”
“I was planning to talk to President Myers today,” I said. “The current project is at a critical stage. It’s a multimillion-dollar deal, I brought the client in, I’ve maintained the relationship.”
But when I walked into my office to pour water, I froze.
The office was completely changed.
My chair had been replaced with a luxury massage chair. My cup was gone. Flowers and plants covered the windowsill.
“Where are my things?” I asked.
“Over here,” came a voice from behind me.
It was Dean Henry.
He crossed his arms and gestured at a cardboard box by the door.
“I had my assistant pack them up for you. Been ready for an hour.”
He was still in a white shirt, several buttons undone.
A red hickey marked his neck.
As if afraid I’d miss it, he tugged his collar down even more.
I asked him, voice strained, where my project files had gone.
He smiled provocatively.
“President Myers gave them to me. All of them.”
I stared him down.
“I want to see Stephanie.”
Dean leaned in close, voice low and mocking.
“She was up all night and needs rest. Besides, she’s satisfied and has no desire to see you.”
“Want to know what we were doing when you called last night?”
I turned to leave.
He grabbed my hand and shoved it against his abs.
“That icy goddess of yours? She was desperate, pulling me in, begging—”
I lost control.
I slapped him.
He stumbled, clutching his face dramatically—just as Stephanie appeared and caught him in her arms.
Tears welled in his eyes as he played the victim.
“President Myers, don’t blame him. It’s my fault. He hates me for getting the director position... I must’ve pushed him too far...”
Stephanie looked up, her eyes cold.
“Liam, this is a company, not a place for your tantrums.”
I trembled with rage, yet still held myself back.
“At least let me finish this project. It’s only a few more days. I can’t let all that work go to waste.”
Her tone was firm. Dismissive.
“Even if you’re my fiancé, you still have to follow company policy.”
“You’re transferring to the branch. Effective immediately. You won’t be staying here.”
A clean sweep.
Get me out of the way, so she could flaunt her affair in peace.
I took a long breath, the exhaustion settling deep in my bones.
“Stephanie, you know how much I sacrificed to become Director.”
She knew how obsessed I was with my career.
I could give up anything, but not my work.
Even if she no longer loved me, even if she had someone else.
She had no right to take away everything I built with my own two hands.
