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Chapter 4

Author: Fifteen
At 3 p.m., I arrived at Sterling Enterprises with the project documents. I was checking in at reception when I heard laughter from the break room.

Alicia and Ronald came out together, each carrying a coffee.

A coworker called over, "Treating Ronald again, Alicia?"

Ronald grinned. "Hey, she offered. I'm not turning down free coffee."

Alicia smiled along with him until she saw me. I took my visitor badge and walked past them.

The meeting ran for an hour. I stuck to the project, keeping my tone professional. Alicia kept glancing my way, but I gave her no attention beyond what the meeting required.

When we finished, I closed my laptop and left. She caught up as I entered the elevator and stepped in beside me.

"What was that about?"

"I was doing my job."

"You walked right past me and Ronald. You didn't have anything to say?"

I turned to her. "Would asking have gotten me an honest answer?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it.

When the doors opened, she followed me out.

"Chase, the wedding is in two weeks. This is a terrible time to make a scene. Think about what this will do to both of us."

I stopped and faced her. "Is that all you're worried about? How it'll look if we call it off?"

She went quiet, and then her tone softened a little.

"Alright. Maybe Ronald and I have been spending too much time together, but we're coworkers. I can't just shut him out and make things awkward."

By then, her excuses no longer hurt. They only confirmed what I already knew.

"You don't want things to be awkward for him. What about me?

"I couldn't use my own parking space, and you told me to give him a break. I felt like a guest in my own home, and you said I was overthinking it.

"I finally sold the space to be done with the problem, and you bought it behind my back so he could keep using it. Tell me when you've ever taken my side."

She pressed her lips together. For a while, neither of us spoke.

"I'll set some boundaries with him," she finally said. "Let me drive you home tonight. We can sit down and talk."

"Don't bother. There's nothing left to discuss."

I turned and walked away.

After that, she texted me constantly.

[Have you eaten?

[Can we go over our wedding outfits this week?

[The planner needs us to approve the schedule. Do you have time tonight?]

I muted her messages.

The wedding was 14 days away. My overseas assignment started that same day.

I opened my calendar and looked at the date.

Once, I couldn't wait for it to arrive. Now, I was counting the days until I left.

Over the next two weeks, I tied up loose ends and arranged for someone to pick up the documents and belongings still at Alicia's place.

In our group chat, she carried on planning the wedding.

[Chase is swamped with work. Ronald, could you pick out a suit for him?]

Ronald replied almost immediately. [Leave it to me. I know what'll look good on him.]

I nearly left the chat, then changed my mind. I wanted to see how much more of my life they intended to arrange without me.

The night before my flight, Alicia sent another string of messages.

[I'll see you at the venue tomorrow morning.

[I've taken care of everything. Just be there on time.

[Let's put all this behind us, okay? We can still have a good life together if you stop turning everything into an argument.]

I didn't answer.

The next morning, Alicia arrived outside my building in her wedding dress. I was already on my way to the airport.

My phone rang over and over. I let every call go unanswered.

Later, my real estate agent told me she went upstairs and pounded on my door until security intervened. By then, she was kicking it.

The apartment was empty except for a table. On it, I left her a note.

[Alicia, we're done. For good.]

A little later, Alicia sent another message. [If you don't show up today, I'll marry Ronald instead.]

I read it without a flicker of anger.

My parents kept calling. Mom left messages telling me the relatives were all there, waiting.

I didn't respond.

Then came a stream of texts from Alicia, demanding to know what was wrong with me and whether I had lost my mind.

I silenced my phone and looked toward the boarding gate.

When the final boarding call came, I blocked Alicia, switched off my phone, and put it in my bag.

I walked through the gate without looking back.

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