At the hotel

Nicole smirked when she read Asher's text.

"Sorry I couldn't make it to the bridal shop. I've been busy with meetings. Take two weeks off work, look after your mom, and make the wedding plans."

If she hadn't left the company when she did, she might still have been waiting for him for hours while he reunited with his old crush.

Busy?

Yeah, he'd been busy with his crush.

She waited all evening for Lisa's response, but none came. Instead, another post appeared on Lisa's social media account.

It was a photo of Asher and Zara holding hands at the company's cocktail party.

The camera had captured Asher glancing sideways at Zara, his gaze tender and affectionate.

Nicole had never seen him look at her that way.

It was obvious that he loved this woman.

Being with Zara was probably the happiest moment of his life, unlike his relationship with Nicole, which had only ever been bound by duty.

More photos followed throughout the evening.

In one caption, Lisa wrote:

"An outstanding President and his Vice President."

The next morning, Nicole was preparing to check out of the hotel when her phone rang.

It was Lisa.

Reluctantly, she answered.

"Hi, Nicole. How are you today? Sorry I couldn't respond to your message yesterday. I was quite busy."

Nicole nearly laughed.

Busy?

Of course she was.

Like everyone else, Lisa had probably been enjoying the cocktail party with her colleagues.

"Yeah, I figured," Nicole replied flatly.

After all, her best friend seemed to be having plenty of fun with her ex-fiancé and his crush.

How could she not?

"You said we needed to talk..." Lisa trailed off.

Truthfully, this was exactly what she wanted.

She had noticed from her notifications that Nicole had viewed all her posts the previous evening, especially the intimate photos of Asher and Zara.

Anyone who didn't know about Nicole's relationship with Asher would have assumed Zara was his girlfriend.

Now Lisa was waiting to see Nicole's reaction.

"It won't be necessary anymore," Nicole replied.

There was no point crying over spilled milk.

Asher had already made his choice.

And Lisa had chosen to celebrate it.

Why should she keep talking about it?

Lisa was caught off guard.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

She couldn't understand Nicole.

She had posted those photos deliberately, knowing Nicole would see them.

And now Nicole was acting as though none of it mattered.

Was she really that naïve?

Asher had specifically instructed Lisa not to tell Nicole anything about what had happened at the company.

Lisa had agreed.

But technically, he had only told her not to say anything.

Posting pictures wasn't the same thing.

Seeing those photos should have been enough for Nicole to understand exactly what had happened in her absence.

Yet she showed no reaction at all.

At this point, Lisa wouldn't even be surprised if Nicole returned to work and willingly accepted working under Dr. Morris in the position that should have been hers.

"Yeah," Nicole replied simply before ending the call.

Without another word, she slipped her phone into her handbag and headed toward the lobby.

As she was checking out, she stumbled upon Asher and Zara.

They were holding hands as they emerged from the hotel's VIP section.

Asher noticed her immediately.

For a brief second, hesitation flickered across his face before disappearing just as quickly.

He walked toward her, his gaze dropping to the suitcase beside her.

Nicole thought she should be angry.

But strangely, she wasn't.

Her eyes briefly moved to their intertwined hands before she turned to the receptionist.

"Thank you," she said politely before stepping away.

In all their years together, she couldn't remember Asher ever holding her hand like that.

And leaving a hotel together so early in the morning?

What exactly had happened between them?

Then again, it wasn't her concern anymore.

Not in the slightest.

"Miss Jason."

Asher followed her outside, still holding Zara's hand.

Nicole paused and turned around.

Not to look at him.

To look at them.

The two of them.

Still hand in hand.

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.

"Mr. Strong, what can I do for you?"

She noticed his eyes darken slightly.

A trace of uncertainty crossed his expression.

Why was she acting so indifferent?

Why wasn't she upset after seeing him with another woman at a hotel?

Earlier that morning, Zara had called him and asked for a ride to the office because she hadn't hired a chauffeur yet.

He could have easily sent his personal driver.

Instead, he chose to pick her up himself.

Any opportunity to spend time alone with Zara was precious to him.

"Oh, you must be Miss Nicole Jason, Director of the Design Department."

Zara stepped forward with a graceful smile.

"I'm Dr. Zara Morris, the new Vice President of Strong Business Group."

The previous day, Zara had heard plenty about Nicole after joining the company.

She had even seen Nicole's portrait displayed in her office.

The moment she saw her that morning, she recognized her as the woman whose position she had taken.

And not just her position.

Several long-serving employees had hinted that Nicole and Asher shared a special relationship.

Asher was someone Zara had known since childhood.

They had grown up together.

And she knew there was very little he would ever refuse her.

Still holding Asher's hand, Zara extended her free hand toward Nicole.

Nicole glanced at the offered hand.

Then her gaze shifted to the fingers intertwined with Asher's.

Finally, she looked back at Asher.

Completely ignoring Zara's gesture.

"Was there something you wanted to say?" she asked calmly.

Zara's smile stiffened.

Asher glanced between the two women.

Then he looked at Zara.

"Can you wait for me in the car?" he asked gently.

Zara forced a smile and released his hand.

Before turning away, she shot Nicole a sharp look.

"Sure."

She walked toward the parking lot.

Her designer dress hugged her figure perfectly, and the heels she wore created crisp click-clack sounds that echoed across the pavement.

Nicole had to admit that Zara was stunning.

Blonde.

Elegant.

Sophisticated.

The kind of woman who naturally drew attention wherever she went.

The kind of woman men couldn't help glancing back at more than once.

Perhaps that was why Asher had never forgotten her.