Chapter 2 When Loyalty Turns to Ash

"Mr. Pryor, Elara, I was worried you'd get bored waiting for the food, so I ordered ahead. See if they're to your liking?"

I glanced at Jace, but he went straight to sit beside her instead, smiling as he said, "Sadie felt bad for upsetting you and came to make amends. See? She's thoughtful like that."

Sadie poured me a glass of sake and lifted her cup toward me. "Elara, it's my fault for messing up the data and dragging you into all that gossip—you know what? I'll just drink this as an apology."

She downed it in one gulp, her cheeks turning pink, making her look even more delicate and charming. Jace gave her an approving glance before asking casually, "People were gossiping about Elara? What were they saying?"

Sadie pressed her lips together, smiling faintly. "It's better if you ask Elara yourself, Mr. Pryor. I really shouldn't repeat it."

Jace turned to me then, curiosity flickering in his eyes. I met his gaze evenly. "Your employees called me the old crow."

He didn't even blink before laughing outright. "Sadie was just teasing you, trying to get acquainted. You actually took it seriously?"

Then he sized me up, smirking. "Though to be honest, it kind of fits you."

I stared at the face I'd known for eight years and suddenly felt like I was looking at a stranger. "Jace, do you really think that's funny? Hearing people call me the old crow—does that make you laugh?"

The air went still. Sadie made a show of standing up, her eyes glistening. "Mr. Pryor, am I making things awkward? I'll go. You two talk—"

"Sit down, Sadie." Jace pressed her back into her seat, then shot me a look of irritation. "Elara Stone, she apologized sincerely. Do you have to keep pushing? It's just a nickname. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?"

It felt as if a knife plunged straight into my chest. Watching his hand still resting on Sadie's wrist, I almost laughed at how ridiculous it all was. Eight years of trust and love—shattered in an instant.

"Wonderful," I said, forcing a smile. "Just wonderful."

I picked up the glass of sake Sadie had poured. "This apology—is too rich for me."

With that, I turned and walked out, not bothering to look back at their grim expressions.

…

The next day, I sent out some work emails, requesting the latest sales data for my presentation to the CEO, only to receive no reply. When I went in person, every answer was the same.

"Sorry, Ms. Laurent said Mr. Pryor needed those figures first."

"Sadie said Mr. Pryor hasn't reviewed them yet, so we can't give them to you."

"You should check with Sadie—we're following her instructions."

As I turned to leave, their mockery instantly returned.

"The old crow can puff up all she wants—she still needs us in the end."

"Should just call her the Yoga Pants Queen—high and mighty but still pathetic."

I called Jace immediately. No answer. The silence itself was a message—a deliberate humiliation.

So I went straight to his office—and stopped cold. Sadie was nestled in his arms, the two of them looking every bit as intimate as lovers.

When he saw me at the door, Jace's voice turned sharp. "Ever heard of knocking?"

I met his eyes coldly. "Mr. Pryor, I need the latest sales data for my report."

His brows furrowed. "Didn't I say I needed them first? What's the rush?"

He paused, then added, "Sadie's being meticulous and wants to go through everything again, lest you throw another tantrum over a small mistake."

"A small mistake?" I almost laughed. "Jace, her mistake directly affected the key data for a multimillion-dollar project."