Love Didn't Get Me Promoted

Five years into a secret thing with my boss, Eric Dempsey, I finally crushed the performance bar for a promotion—finally felt like his equal.The night we celebrated, I was riding high... until he handed all the credit to Shelly Focker.Everyone cheered like they were soulmates. Like they actually made sense together.My heart sank. I couldn't move. Just stood there, hollow.That's when it hit me—he never loved me. Never even tried.I stepped aside and called Jared Jensen."I'm ready. I want to work in Votara.""Wait, seriously? Okay, I'm throwing you a welcome party the second you land!"Jared was stunned for like a second, then jumped straight into confirming everything. I could hear the buzz in his voice, even through the phone.Then he got real quiet for a beat."I knew Eric didn't know what he had. You staying under him was a total waste. Come grow with me—we'll build something amazing."I gave a soft hum, eyes locked on Eric through the restaurant's window. He was clin

The next morning, my eyes were so puffy I barely recognized myself.Eric glanced at me and actually asked, "You didn't sleep well last night?"I gave him a weak smile. Said nothing.Then he leaned in, like he was gonna kiss my forehead.That's when I saw it—a hickey under his collar. My stomach flipped.I stayed quiet all night and morning, but that did it."Let's break up."He froze. His whole vibe changed."Madison Mercer, do you even know what you're saying?"I nodded. Crystal clear. Just in case, I said it again—"We're done. Let's end this clean."He laughed, like I was being dramatic."Madison, all this over a promotion for Shelly? Don't be petty. You're threatening me with a breakup?"He tapped my cheek with the belt in his hand."Without me, could you even survive? Don't say stupid stuff like that again. There's a limit to jealousy."Thinking I was just craving attention, he offered to drive me to work—for the first time ever.Five years together, and he'd always

The next morning, the conference room felt like a pressure cooker. Everyone sat stiff, waiting for something to blow.Eric looked pissed. He'd called me a hundred times—straight to voicemail every time.With shareholders shifting in their seats and the clock ticking, Eric leaned toward Shelly and gave her a nudge."Shelly, I put your name on the project, didn't I? Madison's not here—time to show them what you've got."Shelly went pale. Sure, she'd taken the credit—but the proposal? The slides? All Madison. She hadn't even skimmed them.Still, with Eric giving her that "you got this" look, she dragged herself up to the podium.While she mumbled through the slides, Eric barely watched. He was too busy blowing up my phone.Shelly sounded like she was reading off a cereal box. The second the shareholders hit her with real questions, she froze. Total blank.Board members started trading looks and shaking their heads. The vibe shifted hard—and not in Eric's favor. You could see the d

Eric yanked his hand back. Shelly lost her balance and hit the floor, eyes wide like she couldn't believe it."Eric! Say something! This was all me!"He snapped. "Shut up!"She froze, totally freaked—he'd never yelled like that before.The whole room was dead silent, faces all over the place like someone spilled emotion everywhere.Then the board dropped the real bomb."This is a surveillance video and audio clip sent by Madison Mercer, our former Strategic Planning Director. I think once you see it, the truth'll be obvious."At the mention of her name, Eric's head snapped up. But that word—"resigned"—wrecked him. He looked like someone just yanked the floor out from under him."M-Madison? No... she promised me yesterday she'd be here. She wouldn't quit!"But it wasn't just the job. What really messed with him was the thought that Madison might actually leave.She chased him for three years, stuck it out through five years of silence and secrets. All that—and she walks away o

The day I landed in Votara, Jared went all out with a welcome dinner. I was kinda floored.At the airport, he grabbed my bags with that familiar grin. Our families went way back—mine stayed in Chavena, his built roots here.He knew everything about my five-year secret mess with Eric. Every time I got sucked into Eric's orbit, Jared would just shake his head like, 'Seriously, still?'He smirked. "I've been trying to snatch you from under his nose for years. What, he finally blew it on his own? You done for real this time?"I nodded. "Yeah. I'm done."Jared caught the edge in my voice and dropped the teasing. "There's better guys out there. As for Eric Dempsey—good riddance. Maybe the next one won't be such a tool."I laughed. "Okay, enough pep talk. The second I left him, I cut ties with everything behind me. Right now, it's all about the career. I can't wait to show what I've got."I nudged his shoulder. "So, what role are you giving me?"Classic Jared. "With your skills? My co