Chapter 3The Year I Stopped Loving You

I saw Julian again at the first morning meeting after the holidays.

He sat at the head. Chloe sat beside him, whispering and laughing intimately.

My relationship with Julian wasn't public in the company.

To avoid suspicion, our most intimate interaction used to be a knowing smile.

My eyes fell on his hands on the table. On his left middle finger, there used to be a silver band matching my necklace.

He bought it with money earned from part-time jobs before the Vance family got rich.

Now it was replaced by a gold ring with a green diamond. A flashy couple set matching Chloe's.

A colleague nudged me.

"Joanna, don't be sad. We all know what tricks she used. You're the real Top Biller in our hearts."

I looked up at the screen blankly.

Today was the annual summary. The #1 spot belonged to Chloe, someone not even in Sales.

One single project pushed me, with 27 deals, to second place.

Julian's explanation: This deal had higher margins.

But that project was the one I negotiated overtime on New Year's Eve. I put the contract on his desk this morning along with the bra strap.

He saw with his own eyes how I was grilled to get that signature.

My pen tore through the paper, a sharp sound in the awkward silence.

After the meeting, Julian called me into his office.

Neither spoke first.

Julian's face grew darker. He tapped the table impatiently, the ring flashing in my eyes.

I couldn't take it anymore.

"Something wrong?"

"Don't you have anything to ask?"

We spoke simultaneously. I paused, then laughed.

Ask what?

Why he stayed out all night on our anniversary? Why he gave my project to someone else? Or how long he planned to torture me?

None of it mattered anymore.

My resignation letter, submitted to HR yesterday, bypassed him and was approved by Uncle Richard. Handover would be done today.

The house was cleared. My luggage was in the trunk. I'd head to the airport after work.

I said calmly: "If nothing else, I'm leaving."

Julian stared at me, face gloomy. "Where is my stuff?"

I paused, realizing he meant the anniversary gift.

Every year, we made handmade gifts for each other. But given the situation, I thought we were done with that.

"Forgot." I gave a perfunctory excuse.

Julian's face turned cold. He loosened his tie irritably.

"Joanna, have some empathy. Haven't I given you enough money? Do you have to make a scene over this?"

"Chloe is alone in this city. I spent New Year's with her out of corporate compassion. She needs the bonus more than you."

He paused, then added awkwardly:

"If you want the bonus that bad, I can wire it to you directly."

One sentence denied all my efforts.

After the fight last year, I worked overnight, desperately closing six-figure deals for months.

I wanted to tell him I wasn't after his money. I earned enough.

But I remembered his arrogant look back then. "Isn't that money given to you by the Vance family too?"

Afraid of seeing that contempt again, I shook my head. "No need. Anything else?"

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "No."