Chapter 5

Ezra shook the cream off himself, looking as pitiful and ridiculous as a clown.

"Russell, what do you think you're doing?" An angry shout rang out, and just as I turned to answer, a huge glob of cream slammed into me.

Not satisfied with that, Melissa scraped up the mess of cream still clinging to Ezra and smeared it straight across my face.

A sharp, burning itch spread over my skin instantly. I was allergic to chocolate. Even the slightest contact left me covered in hives, sometimes even swollen.

"If you have a problem, take it up with me directly. I'm the one who called off the wedding. Ezra has nothing to do with it. Honestly, I don't understand how anyone could be so petty over something this small."

She swept off with Ezra, the two of them leaving in a hurry. I rushed into the bathroom to wash off the mess. I'd moved fast enough that only a faint red mark remained on my face.

While I stood there, dazed, my mentor called. Someone would come for me first thing tomorrow morning. Which meant today would be the last day I'd ever spend with Melissa.

"If you feel like the timeline's too tight, we can push it back a day." My mentor offered the option gently, and I turned it down without much thought. "No need. I'll leave tomorrow."

Evening rolled around before I knew it. For once, Melissa showed up with an armful of late-night snacks and an unopened gift box.

"This is to make up for your last birthday. Go on, open it. I remember you telling me you loved their perfume."

It was a bottle of Hermès cologne. I'd never once said I liked it.

Then I placed the scent, the same one that always clung to Ezra, and it clicked. He was the one who'd said he liked it. Melissa had just misremembered and assumed it was me.

"Don't be sour with me over this. This gift cost way more than what I got Ezra." She rubbed her palms together, and I could tell right away she wanted something from me. I tossed the cologne carelessly onto the table.

"What is it?"

Seeing that I'd brought it up myself, Melissa put on an ingratiating smile.

"So, Russell, remember that deal you closed with that cutting-edge overseas beauty program a while back? Could you let Ezra take the credit for it? You'd still get the bonus and everything, he'd just get the title.

"You've already closed plenty of deals for the company anyway, so it's not like you'd even miss this one. It's different for Ezra. Everyone already mocks him, saying he only got where he is by seducing me. You know we grew up together. Taking care of him is just about honoring that history.

"I never used to care what people said about us, but Ezra's gotten so depressed from all the criticism that he can barely sleep at night from the anxiety. Just help him out this once."

That collagen technology had just launched overseas, no side effects, and it actually worked. I'd spent months wining and dining, drinking myself sick, just to land that deal, and now she wanted to hand it over with a single sentence. She'd apparently forgotten I'd landed myself in the hospital three separate times chasing that project.

"So, can you?" Melissa carefully handed over a bag of greasy takeout, the smell hitting me before I even saw it.

I nodded stiffly and forced the word out through gritted teeth. "Fine."

I was leaving anyway. Soon enough, every project I had, Melissa included, would belong to Ezra.

"I knew you were the best. Next week, I promise, I'll make time next week to finally hold our wedding." Melissa ran back to her room, practically giddy, to gossip with Ezra on the phone.

With a heavy heart, I spent the whole night packing.

Just as the sky started to lighten, she stirred, half-asleep, and mumbled, "Are you heading out for a new deal?"

She didn't show a trace of fear that I might actually be leaving for good. To her, this was just another business trip. I looked at the group chat where the whole company had spent every day mocking and humiliating me. Then, calm as ever, I typed out one last message.

[I'm going after my own goals from now on. No more wedding. Melissa Ferguson and I are done, she goes her way, and I'll go mine.]

I sent it, went downstairs, handed my phone to the contact waiting for me, and disappeared along with the car.