Chapter 2

Compliments for Grace started coming from all around the table.

"We have Grace to thank for tonight! If she hadn't said she wanted to eat here, we never would've known how good this place was!"

"Seriously. We all owe Grace one tonight!"

Grace answered like she was hosting the dinner herself. "I'm just glad everyone likes it. Eat up. If we go over budget, Mr. Gilroy can cover the rest. Sound good?"

Logan smiled. "Sure."

The teasing started immediately. "Wow, Mr. Gilroy really does spoil Grace. Is there something going on between you two?"

Someone gave Grace a knowing look. "Come on, Grace. Spill. Are we going to have to start calling you Mrs. Gilroy soon?"

Grace denied it right away, but she sounded shy. "Mr. Gilroy is just my boss! You guys are making it sound like there's something between us!"

A chorus of knowing oohs went around the table.

Grace changed the subject. "By the way, Ashley barely ate anything before she left. Do you think she got upset?"

The others immediately jumped in to reassure her.

"She's just jealous because Mr. Gilroy treats you so well."

"Exactly. Ashley seriously can't take a hint! Can't she tell Mr. Gilroy can't stand her?"

"We should've just planned dinner in our other group chat, the one without her!"

That was when I realized why the work group chat had gone so quiet.

Back in the room, they were still fishing for praise from Logan.

"Yeah, Grace was smart to think of that. Things have been running so much smoother since we started that group without Ashley!"

"Ashley even got in trouble last time for falling behind on that project."

My blood ran cold.

A while back, Logan had spent half an hour chewing me out in front of the entire office for holding up a project. He'd even made me clean every restroom in the office as punishment.

I'd tried to explain that no one had told me the project was urgent, but my coworkers all swore they had. They even pulled up the chat history to prove it.

At the time, I'd assumed there was something wrong with my phone and that the messages hadn't come through.

Now I knew the truth. Everyone had known what was going on, including Logan.

I stumbled out of the restaurant. Before I knew it, I was standing outside a little diner. The couple who owned it greeted me warmly.

"Ashley, where's Logan today? The usual?"

When Logan and I first started the company, we were broke. Once, when we were down to our last few dollars, he spent what little we had on a bowl of chicken noodle soup for me.

He waited until I finished eating, then drank the broth I left behind.

But now, he wasn't just standing by while everyone singled me out. He was the one setting the tone.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks and shook my head. "Just one bowl today."

I picked up my phone and sent a message. "I'll sell my shares. I'll take the price you offered last time."

There was nothing left for me to stay for.