Chapter 2

Lance's POV

Jenna left rather quickly, opening and closing the door in one smooth motion. My reflection stared back at me on the black TV screen.

Without a word, I dumped the rest of the chips into the trash. Past midnight, Derek made another post.

"Ms. Wilkinson brought me to a karaoke bar, but is my singing really so bad it puts people to sleep?"

The lighting in the video was dim, and Derek was singing directly into the camera. His voice came through the mic at full volume, startling me so badly that I quickly muted the video.

Then the camera turned around, showing Jenna asleep on the couch.

At home, she wouldn't even let me move her pillow, not even by a fraction of an inch. If even the tiniest little thing was changed, she wouldn't be able to sleep.

But she was now sleeping just fine with her head resting on her arm and one leg dangling onto the floor in a loud karaoke bar.

No matter how loudly Derek sang, she slept like a baby. So it wasn't that she couldn't stand the noise. She just couldn't stand hearing me.

I wanted to laugh bitterly, but after six years of being conditioned to be quiet, I couldn't even make a sound. I lay awake the entire night.

At dawn, I called a home services company to rip out all the carpet in the house.

The guy asked, surprised, "Didn't you say your wife has severe insomnia, and that carpeting would help reduce the noise?"

"Oh, we're getting divorced. Whether she can sleep or not has nothing to do with me anymore."

That evening, Jenna had barely set foot inside when she stopped. "Where's the carpet?"

"I had people remove it."

She hummed in response as she walked in. "Get a thicker one, then. The old carpet was too thin, and I was able to hear every step."

While I was working in the living room, I didn't even look up as I said, "I'm not going to have carpet installed anymore."

Jenna's face twitched slightly. As she untied her scarf, she noticed the automotive project proposal on my laptop. When she finally spoke, there was clear irritation in her voice.

"This is still about the partnership, huh? I already told you that I have to do what's best for the company because this concerns the marketing campaign for our new cosmetic brand."

I nodded. "I get it, which is why I've decided to end the partnership and look for another project. After all, I have to do what's best for my company too. I can't keep wasting time on a project that's never going to work."

Jenna pressed her lips into a thin line, her expression darkening. "Lance, this is work, not some childish game. You can't just end our partnership because you feel like it."

I stared at her face, remembering the short videos Derek had posted that afternoon.

"My absolute angel of a boss is cutting up fruit and getting coffee for me during work hours. And the second I mention a show I want to watch, she buys me a membership on the spot. She even sneaks me a handful of candy during meetings. Is Ms. Wilkinson treating me like her child or something?"

The comments underneath were full of envy. "Don't they say you're supposed to spoil the person you love like a kid? Your boss seems pretty good at it."

My throat suddenly tightened, so I lowered my head and swallowed hard. "Ms. Wilkinson, aren't you the one playing childish games? We've been pushing this project forward for six months, and you just put it on hold without a second thought."

Jenna's collar was already a rumpled mess from her tugging. She turned her face away, no longer looking at me.

"Lance, we're all adults, so act like one. After looking over your proposal, I think that the first draft is good enough, so come to the office tomorrow for a meeting."

With that, she turned on her heel. "Your footsteps are too loud without the carpet. I'm going to stay at the office for the next few days. I'll come back once you've laid down something thicker."

I hadn't even managed to stand up before she left again. The next day, I brought my team to the meeting.

To show that she was being fair and impartial, Jenna didn't say a word throughout the meeting and didn't take part in the vote. Half an hour later, the first draft passed unanimously.

My employees were so excited that they insisted we all go out for a celebratory dinner, and I got dragged along.

In the private room, Jenna had Derek seated right beside her. Someone came over with a drink to toast them, but as soon as Derek picked up his glass, Jenna stopped him.

"He can't drink."

Derek blushed and slipped behind her with a smile.

A Wilkinson Group employee beside me teased, "Ever since Derek came along, Ms. Wilkinson has really changed."