Chapter 2

"This project proposal is urgent. Have it on my desk by EOD."

Ryan's voice was icy as he dumped a thick stack of files on my desk, turning to leave without another word. As soon as he rounded the corner, my coworkers swarmed around me, buzzing with commentary.

"Aren't these Chloe's assignments?"

"Her projects are always the worst—impossible deadlines, zero resources. You won't finish by tonight, not even close."

"Ryan's so obvious about playing favorites. She doesn't even do her own work anymore; he just palms it off on everyone else."

They circled me, their voices carefully calibrated to carry. I knew better than to mistake this for solidarity—they were just here for the show.

The whole office knew Ryan, our GM, was my boyfriend—but that didn’t stop him from blatantly playing favorites with my rival, Chloe.

He’d not only fast-tracked her promotion to Project Director, but also handed her a million-dollar account I’d spent two months securing and developing, one that was days from completion.

When I objected, Ryan called for a team vote on who should lead the project. My coworkers promised support to my face, then unanimously voted for Chloe. Later they claimed Ryan had pressured them, urging me to "cut the new girl some slack."

This wasn’t the first time.

My colleagues kept up their pretend defense, but instead of marching to Ryan’s office like I used to, I simply took the files and got to work.

My calmness clearly surprised them—their eyes widened, but they clammed up fast when Ryan appeared. Suddenly everyone had urgent work at their desks.

Ryan was in an uncharacteristically good mood. He ignored the awkward silence and just told me to have the proposal on his desk by end of day.

I nodded, and he left without a second glance. His hair was styled to perfection, suit crisply pressed—no prizes for guessing he was meeting Chloe.

This had been our dynamic for years.

It started when I found their late-night Snapchats. I asked a simple question, and Ryan—furious at my "insecurity"—hired Chloe on the spot as some kind of twisted payback.

To punish me for questioning him, he showered her with opportunities, brought her to every corporate event, and even praised her publicly at company dinners.

If I got upset, he’d stonewall me. If I apologized, he’d summon coworkers to lecture me about being "too demanding." Everyone agreed I was the unreasonable one.

I used to lie awake wondering if I was really that small-minded.

But then I found out Chloe was his college sweetheart. Suddenly it clicked—all that "learning to compromise" talk was just cover for him to rekindle his old flame.

Even without that first fight, he would've found another way to bring her into our lives.

After their last business trip together, something shifted. They still did the same things—dinners, wine tastings, art shows—but there was a new tension between them.

But for once, I didn't care.

Five years together, and I was finally done. This charade had gone on long enough.

By the time I finished the proposal, I was the only one left in the office. Scrolling through Instagram, I found Chloe had posted again.

The photo showed an upscale French bistro, candlelight casting a romantic glow over their table.

Ryan was cutting Chloe's steak for her, looking absurdly chivalrous.

Caption: "When your CEO personally cuts your steak... tastes extra delicious."

The comments were full of coworkers gushing about what a "cute couple" they made. Chloe replied to one, bragging that Ryan—who never drinks—shared half a bottle of wine with her to celebrate "her" project win.

The comment section blew up with wedding rumors. Ryan didn't shut it down—just commented "My pleasure." When someone asked when the wedding would be, he left ellipsis and Chloe responded with a blushing emoji.

I didn't spiral like I used to—no angry texts, no confrontations, no tears.

I just texted Ryan the proposal was done, dropped the file on his desk, and drove home.

When I got home, my phone pinged with his reply.

"Alice, it's Chloe! Thanks for crunching on the proposal—let me take you to dinner sometime as a thank you!"

Ryan had always been obsessive about his phone privacy—got mad if I even borrowed it to check the time. Now he was letting Chloe reply to his messages?

I couldn't help a bitter laugh.

Different priorities, different treatment. Plain and simple.

But for once, my chest didn't tighten. What used to feel like the end of the world now just felt... trivial.

Feelings fade, but hard work? That always pays off.

I pulled up my calendar.

While Ryan and Chloe were gallivanting on their "business trip," I'd submitted my resignation. As expected, he didn't even read it before signing—too busy with her.

Three more days of handover, and I'd be free.

After a moment's thought, I dialed Professor Miller, my old mentor from the research institute.

Post-grad, I'd landed a dream role there with a killer salary. But when Ryan said he needed help launching his startup, I quit without hesitation. My mentor begged me to reconsider, but I was dead set on helping him build from the ground up.

Now? I couldn't believe how naive I'd been.

He answered on the second ring. I braced for an earful, but instead he sighed, "I heard what happened. Been waiting for your call."

"You sure about this, kiddo?"

"Absolutely. My resignation's already finalized."

"Resignation? What resignation?"

A shocked voice cut through the room.

I turned to find Ryan standing in the doorway.