Chapter 2

Grandview Gardens, the most upscale complex near the office. Rent of twenty-eight hundred a month. How was that any different from him just handing it to me for free?

"Mr. Gilbert, this is too much trouble for you, I—"

"It's nothing." He cut me off. "Just think of it as an advance on next quarter's project bonus."

Put that way, there was no way for me to refuse.

"Come on, let me show you around."

The place was even better than I'd imagined.

One bedroom, one living room, with light coming through from both sides and a clean, simple layout. Through the living room's floor-to-ceiling window, I could see the complex garden.

"What do you think?" Liam asked.

"It's good. Really good." I nodded again and again.

"All right, then live here."

He set the keys on the entryway cabinet. "Anything you need, just ask the property office."

Watching his back as he turned away, something in me went tight and sore.

A boss I'd barely met a handful of times had reached out and pulled me up at my most humiliating moment. And the man who'd sworn he'd love me for a lifetime had dug me into a grave.

"Mr. Gilbert, thank you. I'll transfer the rent to you on time."

"No rush." He waved a hand. "Just do good work."

Then he turned and walked out.

I stood in the living room and finally let out a breath.

Moving in was simple. I didn't have much to begin with. A few clothes, a few professional books.

When I unzipped the twenty-four-inch suitcase, everything inside was the wreckage of my three years with Kieran.

Matching couple's shirts, ticket stubs from movies we'd seen, the birthday gifts he'd given me.

I pulled it all out piece by piece and stuffed every bit of it into a garbage bag.

The second I switched on my phone, dozens of missed calls popped up.

Kieran's. My mother's. Daisy's.

I deleted them all.

The most recent text message was from Kieran, sent half an hour ago.

"Mari, I really was wrong. Can you just come back first? Let's sit down and talk this through properly."

"I know you're angry, but Daisy is still my sister. I couldn't just leave her humiliated in front of her friends, could I?"

"Consider that bag money I borrowed from you. I'll pay you back for sure."

Borrowed?

He made it sound so pretty.

I tapped out a few words and sent them back.

"We've already broken up."

Then I blocked him again.

Wednesday, the company had its regular meeting.

I picked up my project materials and walked into the conference room ten minutes early.

The moment I pushed the door open, I saw someone who spelled bad luck.

Kieran.

He was sitting next to my department director, the two of them deep in cheerful conversation.

The second he saw me, he shot to his feet.

"Mari."

I didn't so much as glance at him. I walked straight to my seat and sat down.

A few coworkers beside me muttered under their breath.

"Hey, isn't that Marilyn's boyfriend? What's he doing at our company?"

"I heard his firm wants to partner with us on a new project. He's leading their side."

My stomach dropped.

He really wouldn't stay gone.

The meeting started, and the director introduced the new project from the front of the room.

The partner firm really was Kieran's company. And he was the lead on the whole project.

The director was all smiles. "Upper management cares a lot about this one, so we have to land it. Marilyn, you're the top performer in our department. You'll take point on this project."

I was about to open my mouth and turn it down when Kieran cut in first.

"Director, I don't think that's a good arrangement."

Every head in the room turned toward him at once.

"Marilyn's skills are decent, but she's young, and her experience still falls a little short."

He paused, then turned his head to look at me.

"A project this big. I'm afraid she can't carry it on her own."

The hand I had under the table clenched hard.

He was stepping on me in public.

Denying my ability in front of the whole company.

I drew a deep breath and stood straight up.

"Mr. James is right to worry."

I looked him dead in the eye, my voice steady.

"Except whether my abilities are up to it or not isn't something one word from you gets to decide."

"This project, I'll take it."

"And I'll deliver it beautifully."

The whole conference room went silent.

Kieran's face went black as a pot bottom in an instant.

The meeting had barely ended before Kieran cornered me in the underground parking garage.

"Marilyn, you really have to make a scene like this?"

He grabbed my wrist, gripping hard.

"What's between us privately, why are you dragging it into work?"

I wrenched my hand free.

"Kieran, who was the one who brought private matters into work first?"

"Stepping on me in front of everyone during the meeting. Does that make you feel like a big man?"

He raked a hand through his hair, agitated.

"I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to make things easier for you."

"I was afraid you'd be under too much pressure and couldn't handle it."

Hearing that turned my stomach.

When he was maxing out my bank card, where was all his concern for my pressure?

"Save your fake little speech."

I stared at him. "From the day you took my house money to buy your sister a bag, there's been nothing but work between us."

I turned to leave, and he seized my arm again.

"Mari, can't you just give me one more chance?"

His tone softened, edged with a bit of pleading.

"That one-eighty grand, I'll pay you back as soon as I can. Let's start over, okay?"

"We were together for three years. You're going to erase all of it over one bag?"

Looking at him like this, all I felt was sadness.

Even now he still hadn't figured it out. This was never about a bag.

"Kieran, let go."

My voice was calm, with no room for negotiation.

He froze, and his grip loosened a little.

I took the chance to pull my hand free and strode off toward the subway station.