Chapter 2

"Joel's right. People are watching, so now's not the time to discuss this," Elodie said, handing me her access card. "If you think this is inappropriate, you can always revoke my access.

"Seeing how hard you've been working lately, he was just trying to find someone to help lighten your workload."

The way she addressed Joel by his first name while calling me Ms. Landry made her feelings toward each of us crystal clear, yet Joel seemed completely oblivious.

"Let's deal with the client first," he said, looking at me.

I didn't take the access card. Instead, I asked the administrative team to unlock the records room.

Just then, the receptionist hurried over.

"Ms. Landry, the client is already downstairs."

Several colleagues rushed to take down the banner while the others cleared away the cake and swept up the confetti. But the more hurried everyone became, the more mistakes they made. Someone knocked over the champagne tower, sending glassware crashing to the floor.

Joel quickly took charge.

"There's no time to clean up the main conference room. Move the meeting to the smaller one," he ordered. "Sarah, get the refreshments ready. Everyone else, back to your desks. Theresa, Elodie and I will greet Mr. Grisham with you and help explain the situation."

"She doesn't need to come."

The moment the words left my mouth, Elodie pulled a USB drive from her pocket.

"Ms. Landry, I have the latest project data here," she said. "It might come in handy. I won't be joining the meeting. I'll just hand the files over to you."

I took the USB drive and plugged it into the computer beside me. The moment the folder opened, my hand froze on the mouse.

It contained not only the publicly available proposal but also the cost data updated just the night before. That data hadn't even been shared with the project team. It existed only in my personal workspace and Joel's management account.

The elevator chimed outside.

I pulled out the USB drive and looked up at Elodie. "Where did you get these files?"

Her expression didn't change, but she instinctively glanced at Joel. That was enough to tell me everything I needed to know.

By the time our client, Hugo Grisham, stepped out of the elevator, Joel had already regained his usual composure.

He stepped forward to exchange pleasantries, explaining the chaos in the office as the result of an impromptu internal celebration before smoothly steering the conversation toward Crestwell's culture.

Every word was polished and tactful.

I temporarily set aside my suspicions and led Hugo into the smaller conference room. Having spent three months preparing for this meeting, I couldn't let personal issues ruin it.

Elodie took a seat near the door and remained quiet for most of the meeting. However, when Hugo asked about a set of updated figures, she gave him the exact numbers without hesitation.

Hugo looked surprised. "You seem quite familiar with the project, Ms. Shaw."

"I've simply done some preparation in advance," Elodie replied, smiling. "Ms. Landry is still the one in charge."

Her answer was impeccable. She neither took credit for my work nor missed the opportunity to let everyone know she'd already been involved in the project.

Hugo nodded.

"Will you be involved in the project going forward as well?"

I was about to answer when Joel beat me to it.

"Crestwell is developing new project leads," Joel said. "Ms. Landry will continue to lead the project for now, and Ms. Shaw will assist her later on."

I glanced at him, but he met my gaze without flinching, as though this were nothing more than a routine staffing decision.

The rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly.

Before leaving, Hugo cast a meaningful glance between Joel and me.

"I hope we can settle on who's going to lead the project by the time we meet again."

After seeing him off, I remained rooted in front of the elevator for a while.

Steady footsteps approached from behind, and Joel's voice rang out beside me.

"Things were a little rushed today, but overall, it went well."

"So this is what you meant when you said it wouldn't affect the negotiations?"

"Mr. Grisham didn't turn us down," he stated. "He just needs more time."

I didn't argue with him any further and headed back to the conference room instead.

The documents I hadn't had time to organize were still scattered across the table. As I stared at the pages covered in countless revisions, I was suddenly reminded of when the project had first begun.

It had coincided with our wedding anniversary, so I'd booked a restaurant that day and prepared a share transfer agreement as a gift for Joel.

I'd waited at the restaurant for two hours, only to receive a message from him saying he'd had something urgent come up. I later learned that Elodie had just returned to the country and gotten into an argument with someone at the airport after drinking.

Worried that something might happen to her, Joel had gone to pick her up himself. He hadn't returned home until the early hours of the morning, his jacket carrying the unfamiliar scent of women's perfume.

He'd explained that he'd merely helped Elodie steady herself.

It had bothered me, but I'd chosen not to press the issue.

After all, they'd known each other for years, and Elodie had only just returned to the country. She didn't have anyone close to her here.