Chapter 1

When I came back to the table from the restroom, Grace Hopkins immediately linked arms with me.

"I only posted my payment in the group chat to make things easier for Logan. If everyone did what you did and waited for him to ask, he'd have a much harder time!"

I quietly pulled away and said evenly, "It's fine. I understand."

Logan Gilroy tapped something out on his phone. A second later, mine buzzed.

"You really should learn from Grace. Why am I always the one who has to be careful about how we act around everyone?"

I didn't reply. My chest felt strangely heavy.

Logan and I had started the company together. The business grew, and our team expanded. Somehow, fewer and fewer people knew we were a couple.

I handled the technical side of the company, while Logan ran operations. He was always saying that office relationships got in the way of work and that, as CEO, he had to set an example.

Looking back, I couldn't count how many times he'd deliberately kept his distance from me whenever other people were around.

The company ordered dinner whenever we worked late.

One night, I stepped out for half an hour to take a client call. When I came back, someone had already eaten my meal. I asked Logan if he could order another one for me.

He replied coldly, "You missed dinner. Who else can you blame? If you don't like the food, then stop eating it. You really made all this up just to get special treatment?"

After that, they deliberately left me off every dinner order.

But the very next day, Grace complained that her meal came with onions.

From then on, Logan spent a small fortune every day having a separate dinner prepared just for her, with no onions. He even made sure she got something different every day.

People at work started saying behind my back that Logan couldn't stand me and only kept me around because I'd been with the company for years. Before long, they started shutting me out too.

I said nothing. When Grace reached for me again, I moved her hand aside.

She suddenly exclaimed, "Mr. Gilroy, you really do know me best! You ordered all my favorite dishes!"

I looked at the table, every dish loaded with spice, and my heart twisted.

Five years earlier, when Logan and I had just started the company, I'd been trying to land a major client who loved spicy food.

I'd forced myself to eat a whole plate of spicy food to win him over and ended up with a bleeding stomach. After that, I couldn't touch spicy food again.

Back then, Logan had clasped my hand and looked genuinely worried. "We're never having anything spicy at our table again."

"Sorry, I can't eat spicy food—" I began, but someone beside me cut in.

"Ashley, do you always have to ask for special treatment? We're just splitting the bill like everyone else. Why do you have to make a fuss every time?"

I fell silent.

Logan seemed to remember something. He glanced at me, then turned to the others. "Anyone else here who can't eat spicy food? I can order a few mild dishes."

Grace grinned. "Mild food never looks appetizing anyway. And just so we're clear, I'm not paying for anything I'm not eating."

Someone immediately chimed in. "Of course not. Why should you? If anyone wants something different, they can order it themselves."

No one said anything, but their looks made it clear who they were talking about. My face burned.

I grabbed my bag. "It's fine, Mr. Gilroy. Something came up at home, so I have to go."

I hurried out of the private room with tears streaming down my face. From behind the closed door, it sounded like they were celebrating.