Chapter 1

Tags: rags to riches, ungrateful, hard launching someone else, groveling ex

Seven years of building a business from scratch with my girlfriend, Chloe, culminated in our company finally going public today.

Yet on this exact day, she blocked me on social media and hard-launched her relationship with her golden-boy ex on Ins.

Her comments section exploded instantly.

"Back then, Leo walked away from a six-figure salary just to help you start this company. Now that you've rung the bell on Wall Street, you're just going to kick him to the curb?"

Chloe replied coldly.

"People say beggars can't be choosers. I just didn't have options back then."

"Besides, spending seven years with him only made me more certain of one thing: if I'm going to get married, it has to be with someone I actually love."

Her friend tried talking sense into her.

"Leo basically runs the entire company day-to-day. What happens if he walks out over this?"

Chloe hesitated for a second before doubling down.

"He's just an assistant. I could pull anyone off the street to do his job. The company won't crumble without him!"

She had no idea that on the other side of the screen, I was logged into her shared business account, watching the "typing..." indicator flicker back and forth.

I downed the rest of my iced Americano in one bitter swallow.

Then, I booked a one-way flight back to my hometown for three days from now.

My resignation letter was halfway out of the printer when my office door was shoved open.

Chloe strutted in on four-inch stilettos. She tossed a thick folder onto my desk and commanded, "Leo, redo this entire financial report."

She didn't even look at me. Her head was tilted down, glued to her phone, a faint, dreamy smile playing on her lips.

I knew that smile.

Back in college, whenever she received a message from Julian, that was the exact face she made.

After seven years, I had almost forgotten she was capable of looking that soft.

It had just never been for me.

"Chloe," my voice was flat and steady. "The finance department already audited and approved this report yesterday."

She finally looked up, her brows furrowing. "I said redo it, so redo it. Do you have a problem with that?"

I lowered my gaze. My fingers absently brushed against the barrel of the fountain pen on my desk.

It was a birthday gift from her during our first year working together. It wasn't an expensive designer brand, but she had picked it out herself.

"Fine. I'll have it to you tomorrow."

"I need it before you clock out today." She turned to leave, then paused as if remembering something. "Oh, and order a box of liquor-filled chocolates. Make sure they're imported from Belgium. They're a gift."

My stomach tightened. "For a client?"

"What's wrong, Leo? Jealous?" She arched an eyebrow, a mocking glint in her eyes. "Relax. It's for a client."

"If you want some, order a box for yourself too. Expense it to the company."

"No need. I cut out sugar." I kept my head down and quietly jotted the note onto my phone.

Satisfied, she turned and walked away, the sharp click of her heels fading down the hall.

Outside the window, the confetti from the IPO celebration hadn't even been fully cleaned off the pavement.

Just yesterday, we were clinking champagne glasses together, celebrating the biggest triumph of our seven-year hustle.

I genuinely believed it was the beginning of our new life together.

I never imagined it would simply be the end of my one-sided delusion.

At four in the afternoon, I emailed the revised report to Chloe's inbox.

At five-thirty sharp, I clocked out.

As I walked past her corner office, the door was cracked open. Through the gap, I saw her touching up her makeup in the mirror. Sitting on her desk was the bouquet of white roses I had ordered for her.

Lush and radiant, just like the flush on her cheeks.

My junior assistant, Marcus, leaned over and whispered, "Leo, is the boss... seeing someone?"

The corner of my mouth twitched. "Just focus on your work."

Inside the elevator, I caught sight of the thirty-year-old man reflected in the mirrored doors.

The spark I once carried in my eyes had long burned out. All that remained was a bone-deep, daily exhaustion.

When Chloe first started the company, I emptied my entire savings account into it.

During our broke days, I didn't even have twenty bucks in my pocket.

Back when we were cramped in a tiny, drafty cubicle eating instant ramen, she looked into my eyes and said with utter conviction:

"Leo, we're going to make it. When we finally hit it big, I'll pay you way more than that corporate salary you left behind."

I believed her.

Not because I cared about the money, but because I believed that one day, she would finally look back and truly see the man who had always been standing behind her.

Seven years later, the company was worth billions. And she didn't need me anymore.

My phone rang. The caller ID flashed Chloe's name.

"Leo, cancel tomorrow morning's meeting. I have some personal business to handle."

I already knew, but I still asked, "Do you need me to arrange a car?"

"No need. Julian is picking me up."

Julian. The name rolled off her tongue so effortlessly.

"Understood. Is there anything else you need me to prep?"

"No, you..." She paused for a beat. "Just get some rest early tonight."

Right before she hung up, Julian's voice drifted through the receiver. "Chloe, who's calling you this late?"

"Just my assistant, wrapping up some work."

Assistant.

A single word that drew an impenetrable line between us.