Chapter 5

Everyone was discussing who might have held Alora back. After all, she was the iron figure who'd shown up for every meeting without fail over the years.

She finally arrived when the meeting was nearing its end, accompanied by a man in a suit. I could tell right away that the man was none other than Logan.

Alora was grinning from ear to ear as she introduced everyone to Logan. "This is Mr. Fuller. He'll be one of us from today onward."

Logan had graduated with honors from a business school abroad and boasted top-tier professional skills. He looked like the perfect match for Alora as they stood side by side.

Some of my co-workers recognized Logan from the picture Alora kept on her desk and immediately burst into loud, enthusiastic applause. Everyone teased Alora and tried to pry more information out of her, but she smiled through it all.

A few others glanced at me. I'd been with Alora for seven years, and anyone could tell that my relationship with her was unusual. But under the circumstances, no one was going to say anything.

Everyone naturally assumed it was nothing more than one-sided love on the part of a poor young man like me.

I didn’t deny it. It was the truth, after all.

Logan's gaze swept over me, betraying no emotion.

He never cared about the lovers Alora kept over the years, or he wouldn't have waited until now to come home from abroad.

He had an instinctive trust in their bond. Aside from being lovers, they had once been evenly matched partners fighting side by side.

Alora and Logan left together after the meeting. She linked arms with him and leaned on his shoulder. A dazzling smile I'd never seen before bloomed across her face.

The head of human resources looked shocked when he received my resignation notice. "Elliot, you're a hard worker. You'll have a bright future here with us. You and Ms. Sheffield may have had some disagreements, but you should think this through.”

He put it tactfully, but I understood what he was implying. After all the years I'd spent warming Alora's bed, I should know what was expected of a lover and do everything I could to secure more for myself.

What need did a poor man like me have for pride?

I made no reply and simply left my notice on his desk.

I didn’t have many things at my workstation. The only thing displayed prominently was a collection of figurines.

When blind boxes had been all the rage, my classmates were always discussing them, so I’d asked a friend to order a whole set from abroad for me.

Before I could give it to Alora, however, I noticed the latest diamond tennis bracelet dangling from her wrist. On the back of its charm was a delicately engraved letter “F.”

I opened the blind boxes and displayed the figurines on my desk. They were nothing more than cheap resin trinkets, hardly presentable enough to give to someone like her.

They served as a constant reminder that Alora and I were from two different worlds.

My resignation would be reviewed and approved by the end of the week. Once I completed the handover next week, I’d be free to leave.

My heart tightened painfully. I was tearing away the love I’d held onto for Alora all these years.

How was I supposed to forget you, Alora?

…

Gemma texted me again, inviting me to an art exhibition on Sunday.

She’d often texted me and asked me to go out with her since our date, but I had politely turned her down every time. This time, perhaps because I knew I would soon be leaving, I agreed.

Gemma sent me an animated sticker of a nodding kitten. She was weird like that.

Alora hadn't sought me out the last few days. She'd already erased me from her world. Still, I came across her Facebook updates from time to time. From the looks of it, she and Logan had moved in together and even met each other's parents.

Everything seemed to be falling naturally into place.

On Alora’s Facebook profile, there was a pinned post she had shared on the day Logan returned from abroad.