Chapter 2

The next morning, I got to the office early.

My resignation letter lay quietly in the drawer, waiting for the moment I decided to turn it in.

My phone buzzed.

It was a text from Chloe.

"Nina, I heard you’ve been taking care of Ethan all these years. That must’ve been exhausting.

"He said that if you weren’t so capable, he never would’ve kept you around this long.

"Ethan and I are going to shop for wedding rings today, so I’ll have to leave the company in your hands. Thanks in advance."

I read the messages without expression, my finger hovering over the screen for a moment before I decided not to reply.

Then I opened the compressed file she had sent.

Inside were photos of her and Ethan on trips over the years.

Five years ago. Three years ago. One year ago.

So they had never really lost touch.

While I was drinking with clients until I landed in the hospital with a bleeding stomach, they were skiing in the Alps.

While I was up past midnight revising proposals, they were kissing under the Eiffel Tower.

While I was sitting in an IV chair at the hospital, still answering work calls, they were watching the sunset on a beach in the Maldives.

...

I had asked him to travel with me before.

Nothing extravagant, just a short weekend trip.

But every time, he’d rub his temples and lean against my shoulder, exhausted.

“Nina, I can’t afford to relax right now. Let’s wait until the company goes public, okay? After that, I’ll go anywhere you want.”

I had believed him.

I’d even secretly researched places we could go.

But those solo business trips he took once a year?

They had all been dates with Chloe.

I stared at the screen, and then, suddenly, I laughed.

Just like that, all my hesitation disappeared.

I took my resignation letter straight to HR.

The HR manager looked stunned. “Nina, you’ve been here since day one. The company finally went public, and now you’re the one leaving?

“And didn’t Mr. Cole say that once the company went public, he’d grant you one wish? If you leave now, won’t that be a waste?”

I was in love with Ethan.

That was the company’s worst-kept secret.

But he had never acted close to me in front of anyone else, and he never allowed me to cross a line.

He’d even made me commute separately from him, like we had to avoid being seen together.

Everyone at work assumed I was leaving because I’d loved him for years and never been loved back.

Thinking about it now, maybe that was for the best.

Choosing to love him had been my decision.

Choosing not to anymore could be just as clean.

As for that wish, I had originally planned to use it to propose to him.

He had once told me he didn’t believe much in marriage, so he wasn’t planning to get married anytime soon.

If I could wait for him for seven years, then a few more years shouldn’t have mattered.

But now I was tired.

And I didn’t want to wait anymore.

“Maybe it is a little unfortunate,” I said, “but I really do need a break. Let’s just go ahead and process it.”

Seeing how firm I was, the HR manager stopped trying to talk me out of it.

Once the paperwork was done, I went home and found Ethan staring at a diamond ring.

The second he saw me, he hurriedly hid it and said, far too casually, “You’re back? Oh, by the way, I’m going out of town tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know in advance.”

I set down my keys. “Okay.”

I had never argued with him.

Never questioned his decisions.

I was about to head into the bedroom when he caught my wrist.

“Nina, how come you’re not asking how long I’ll be gone?”

I froze, surprised he would even ask.

Usually he just informed me so I could help him pack.

I looked at the evasive flicker in his eyes and forced a smile.

“Sorry. It’s been a long day. My head’s a little foggy.”

His expression softened. He leaned in and kissed me.

“Nina, I still haven’t properly celebrated the IPO with you. Tell me what you want. When I get back, I’ll make it happen.”

I knew I was supposed to let go.

I knew I should give up.

But I still wasn’t ready to walk away without trying one last time.

If nothing else, I owed that much to the seven years I had given him.

I took his hand and looked at him seriously.

“Ethan, if what I want... is to marry you, would you say yes?”