Chapter 2

The receptionist scanned my badge, and that's when I saw Ethan.

He rushed over in three quick strides, keeping his voice low. "What are you doing here?"

"Reporting for my first day." I waved the folder in my hand. "I wanted to surprise you."

He pulled me into the break room, visibly annoyed. "Are you serious? Something this big and you didn't even talk to me first?"

I froze.

"We're at the same company now. Aren't you happy?"

His eyes flickered, and he let out a sigh. "I'm worried about you. Every new hire this year has a master's degree. You only have a bachelor's. Can you even survive the probation period?"

"Maybe go home and think it over."

I looked at him, not sure what I was feeling.

Just then, Diana happened to walk by, her gaze sweeping between us. "You two know each other?"

Ethan shifted half a step away. "Yeah, she's from my college."

I was about to explain, but he shot me a look, and I swallowed the words.

At lunch, my phone buzzed.

A text from Ethan: "Don't let anyone at work know we're together. It'll cause problems for me."

I stared at that line for a long time. I typed a reply, deleted it, typed again, and finally just sent back: "Okay."

That afternoon, Diana called me into her office.

She leaned back in her chair and looked me up and down. "Mia Thornton, right?"

She smiled. "I run a tight ship here. Do your work, follow instructions, and don't get any ideas."

She paused, then continued, "Otherwise, you'll leave the same way you came in."

As she spoke, she picked up the thermos from her desk and took a sip.

Black body. A little butterfly sticker on the lid.

I had put that sticker on myself last month.

So that bowl of milk this morning wasn't meant for me.

I was just the afterthought.

She bent down and hauled out a stack of files, shoving them into my arms. "These are rejected project drafts from the past few years. Take them back and get familiar with the business."

I walked back carrying that towering stack of files, my knuckles white from gripping them.

At the end of the day, Diana announced that last month their branch had ranked first company-wide in performance. Dinner was on her, at a BBQ place.

The private room at the restaurant was packed.

A female colleague pointed at the silk scarf around Diana's neck. "That scarf is gorgeous, Director Lawson. How much was it?"

Diana smoothed the scarf and smiled demurely. "Just something I picked up while traveling."

I stared at that scarf. The delicate beadwork shimmered under the lights.

It was the limited-edition Hermes Moonlit Pegasus from the receipt.

So the Chanel freebie in my hands had only ended up with me because of that scarf.

The guy next to me poured liquor into my glass. "Come on, bottoms up!"

"Sorry, I'm allergic to alcohol." I pushed the glass away.

"The new girl won't even drink the first round? That's pretty rude." The others started egging me on.

Ethan heard and turned around, frowning. "You just started. Don't be antisocial. Director Lawson is treating everyone, so don't kill the mood."

I was stunned.

Back in college, when someone had tried to hand me a drink, he'd grabbed it without a word and downed it for me.

Now he was telling me not to ruin the fun.

Diana acted as if she'd just realized. "Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea Mia couldn't drink."

She gave me a smile. "Why don't you move over there? They're about to start a game."

I was squeezed into a corner of the table.

They started playing cards. Losers had to drink.

Round after round, Ethan and Diana kept winning.

Someone whistled. "You two are unbelievable together!"

"A match made in heaven!"

Ethan laughed and clinked glasses with Diana. He didn't look at me once the entire time.

My chest felt tight. I got up and headed for the restroom.

Rounding the corner, I heard two female colleagues talking.

"That new girl Mia? Her eyes were glued to Ethan all night."

"Everyone knows Ethan and Director Lawson are the real couple."

"Exactly. As if she could ever compete."

So in everyone's eyes, I was the one who didn't belong.

Through the half-open door, I glanced back into the room.

Diana had had too much to drink. Her head was resting on Ethan's shoulder.

He leaned down and said something to her.

She laughed and gave his arm a playful slap.

I bit down on my lip without realizing it, hard enough to draw blood.

After standing there for ten minutes, I turned and walked out of the restaurant. I flagged down a cab.

"Could you take me to Grandview Estates..."

The moment we pulled away, I changed my mind. "Actually, the nearest hotel."

Grandview Estates was Ethan's home, but there was no place for me there anymore.

My phone lit up.

A text from Ethan.

"Director Lawson had too much. I'm taking her home. Get a cab and head back. Don't wait up."

I stared at the screen. Tears pooled in my eyes, but I forced them back.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I knew by heart.

"Have someone get the West End apartment ready. I'm moving in."