第3章

The next day's presentation was another disaster.

When I reached the slide with the market projections, the numbers were gone. In their place was a photo from the bar.

Olivia was leaning against Ethan with her head on his shoulder while he smoothed her hair.

They looked like a couple.

And beneath the photo was a message meant for me.

"Anyone who truly loves me would come running the moment he saw this."

The entire room fell silent.

Then the client exploded. He got up and walked out.

My manager hurled the file at me.

"Chris, you're suspended for a week. Daniel will take over the project."

The papers struck me across the face and scattered to the floor.

I barely felt it.

Olivia knew how much this project meant to me. She'd done it anyway.

I bent down and started gathering the pages.

Behind me, someone muttered, "Letting your love life interfere with work like this is humiliating."

Daniel sat in the back row with his head down, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Olivia.

"Come down."

I found her waiting in the underground parking garage, with Ethan sitting in the passenger seat.

I opened the rear door.

Olivia turned around. The moment she saw me, she frowned.

"Why do you look so terrible?"

My throat felt raw.

"I've been suspended."

Ethan laughed.

"Over a PowerPoint? It was just a little test."

I stared at him.

He held up his hands.

"Don't look at me. I didn't do it."

Olivia drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.

"I'll have Daniel apologize to you."

"And then?"

She stared at me like she didn't understand the question.

"And then what?"

For two years, I'd loved this woman.

Now I looked at her and wondered if I'd ever really known her.

"My project. My reputation. Months of work. Who's going to give me any of that back?"

She clicked her tongue impatiently.

"Chris, don't make a big deal out of this. Ethan mentioned it in passing, Daniel ran with it as a joke, and nobody expected it to reach the client."

That was all my suspension was to her. A joke that had gone a little too far.

Another cramp ripped through my stomach. I doubled over, clutching my abdomen.

This time, Olivia panicked.

"Your stomach acting up again?"

She reached for me, but I pulled away before she could touch me.

Her expression hardened.

"Chris!"

From the passenger seat, Ethan cut in, "Olivia, your father is expecting you home for dinner."

I looked up sharply.

"Your father is back?"

She hummed quietly in agreement.

Six months ago, she'd promised to introduce me to him when he returned from New York.

I still remembered her leaning against my shoulder that day. She'd kissed my jaw and teased me, "Don't be nervous and don't dress like a hillbilly."

I'd been so excited that I couldn't sleep that night. I'd even gone out and bought a suit without telling her.

Now there was only one thing I needed to ask. "Are you taking Ethan with you tonight?"

Ethan answered before she could, "Of course. Her dad has known me since I was little. It would be rude not to go."

I nodded.

"What about me?"

Olivia hesitated.

"Next time."

That was answer enough.

She hadn't forgotten about me. There had simply never been a place for me.

A while later, Olivia pulled up outside a shopping center. She and Ethan went inside, leaving me in the car.

Half an hour later, they came back.

Olivia had bought me some stomach medicine.

Ethan was carrying an expensive-looking wine gift box.

I looked at it.

"For your father?"

Olivia nodded.

"Ethan is having dinner with him tonight. He can't show up empty-handed."

Ethan smiled.

"Your dad likes Napa wines. I suppose Chris wouldn't know that."

He was right. I didn't.

I looked at Olivia and demanded, "Take me back to the office."

She frowned and asked, "What is this about now?"

"I'm going back to hand things over."

Something shifted in her expression.

"You sound so pitiful. Do I need to comfort you tonight too?"

I shook my head.

"No. I'll get back on my own."

I opened the door and stepped out.

"Chris, you take one more step and see what happens!"

I kept walking.

My stomach hurt. My legs hurt. Even my throat hurt.

But for once, I didn't mind the pain. At least it reminded me I was still alive.