Chapter 1

The company had been buzzing all morning about our newest investor.

He was handsome, brilliant, born into money, and already running one of the most powerful family-owned groups in the country.

His name was Ethan Cole.

My husband.

The moment I found out he was the client, I knew the quiet war between Vanessa and me was already over.

In the break room, my coworkers were whispering about him like he was a celebrity.

"Apparently, the investor is the CEO of Cole Group. Ethan Cole himself."

"If our team's design gets picked by him, our numbers are going to look incredible for the rest of the year."

"My bet is on Vanessa's team. I heard Mr. Cole's first love works in our design department."

"That's Vanessa, right? They dated back in college. They were each other's first everything. I bet this whole investment is really because of her."

My chest tightened.

I walked back to my office in a daze.

By then, everyone knew Ethan was involved.

A little later, our department head called Vanessa and me into his office.

"Sophie. Vanessa.

"The investor for this project is Ethan Cole from Cole Group. Each of you will lead your own team and submit a proposal in one month."

He looked at Vanessa with open approval, barely bothering to hide it.

Clearly, he had heard the rumors too.

Clearly, he understood why Ethan had chosen our company.

Before I even left the office, I knew my team's proposal would probably be treated as a formality.

Against Vanessa, I was most likely just the runner-up arranged to make the competition look fair.

Outside the office, Vanessa stopped in front of me.

We stood face to face.

I met her gaze. She smiled.

It was smug, bright, and completely certain.

"Sophie, may the best team win."

But her face said she already knew who would win.

Between the two of us, Ethan would always choose her.

I watched her walk away, then turned in the opposite direction.

The design department was nearly celebrating.

If my team's proposal was rejected, I would spend the next phase of the project working under Vanessa, swallowing every correction and every condescending comment she threw my way.

I had no desire to be trapped under her.

Before the workday ended, everyone crowded around Vanessa.

They praised her like she had already secured the contract.

"Vanessa, you're amazing."

Across the room, our eyes met.

She stood in the center of the crowd, surrounded by warmth and noise.

Compared to her, my side of the office looked almost deserted.

I stood alone in the corner.

She smiled at me.

I looked away, put on my coat, and left.

That night, Ethan came home with his usual cool, effortless expression.

I still could not stop myself from asking.

"Ethan, did you invest in our company?"

He looked up.

Our eyes met. His expression barely changed.

"Yes."

I asked again, "Why did you choose us?"