Chapter 4

She didn't answer until the next day.

"What is this nonsense? You're acting more like a spoiled child every day."

Then another message.

"Bring the files from my study to the office."

She'd only remembered to read my message because she needed an errand run.

But when I arrived with the files, everyone was staring at me.

Adrian sat in a chair, crying.

He clutched a contract when he saw me, all innocence.

"Owen, everything was fine with the project yesterday. Why did you change all the figures? The client wants to cancel.

"I worked hard for that promotion. Was this really necessary?"

No one questioned him.

I'd argued with Claire about his promotion the day before. As far as they were concerned, that made me guilty.

I looked at her.

"You think I did it, too?"

She frowned, disgust flickering across her face.

"No one here has a stronger motive. Who else would it be?

"I never thought you'd stoop this low."

A coworker who'd always disliked me spoke up.

"Should I ask security for the camera footage? Then he can stop pretending."

"No need." Claire cut him off immediately, her eyes fixed on me.

"It's obvious he did it. Why waste another department's time?"

Then I understood.

She could check the footage. She could give me a chance to prove my innocence.

Instead, to make sure no one accused her of favoring me, she'd decided I was guilty.

"Cancel all his performance pay and bonuses. Reassign him to reception."

She knew I'd started at the front desk. I'd worked my way up from there.

With one sentence, she sent me all the way back.

Five years of late nights and everything I'd poured into that place, thrown away as if they meant nothing.

Claire personally processed my suspension.

"You can come back when you're ready to admit what you did."

Then the clients began removing me from their contacts and blocking me.

My name vanished from the projects I'd won. My bonuses were clawed back.

Five years of professional relationships disappeared overnight.

As I cleared my desk, my coworkers made no effort to lower their voices.

"He really thought he could steal Adrian's girlfriend? He knew they were together."

"No shame at all. Thought Claire would let him get away with anything. Guess he knows better now."

Adrian's innocent expression seemed to say, See? I still win.

I walked past him.

Claire came toward me.

"Think of it as some time off. I've given Adrian your projects. He's better suited to them.

"You started in reception. You know the job. And putting you back there will stop anyone from questioning our relationship."

For once, she actually reached to help me carry something.

I pulled away before I could think.

Her obsession with appearances had made me a target for years.

Everyone thought she hated me. They left me out of company dinners. Fed me bad information on projects so I'd lose my bonus when things went wrong.

Eventually, they started locking me in the restroom.

"She obviously doesn't want you here. Take the hint and get out."

I developed an anxiety disorder. I filed complaint after complaint.

Claire never read a single one.

I didn't want her concern now.

I carried my box out without looking at her again and got into a cab for the airport.

Just before I boarded, I sent one last message.

"This is final. We're over."

I blocked her, deleted her number, and took out my SIM card.

-

Third-person POV

Owen didn't send the apology Claire had come to expect.

Unease settled in her chest.

That evening, she went to HR to have him reinstated in his old role.

Diane looked confused.

"But Owen's already resigned."

Claire went still.

Then a message appeared on her phone.