3

When I got home, the nanny was settling Jamie into the crib.

She turned, saw me, and hurried over with a velvet box.

She said Mr. Ford had sent it ahead as an anniversary gift.

Inside was a bright red designer slip dress.

He'd had a limited-edition design from five years ago recreated. It had a sharply tailored waist and tiny diamonds along the neckline.

I held it against myself in the mirror.

The waist snagged above my hips. It was a good two finger-widths too tight.

He remembered the style and size I'd worn at 25.

He had no idea how my body had changed by 30.

That evening, Grant came home with roses.

He frowned when he saw my loose maxi dress.

"Still mad at me? I had that anniversary present made just for you. Why aren't you wearing it?"

I kept folding Jamie's tiny clothes and answered without looking up.

"It's the wrong size. I can't fit into it anymore."

The room went quiet for a second.

He looked embarrassed for a moment, then brushed it off with a smile.

"I've been so busy I didn't notice. Next time, I'll take you to Paris and have one made just for you."

He still didn't know I'd stopped liking red.

We drove to a French restaurant by the river.

As soon as the host opened the door, I saw Lily at a table by the window.

She was wearing a bright red slip dress.

Exactly the same as the one Grant had given me.

Except hers fit perfectly.

I glanced at Grant beside me.

He clearly hadn't expected to see her either.

But his surprise quickly gave way to open admiration.

It was as if he could look back five years and see the woman I used to be.

Lily lifted her skirt and twirled.

"Grant, do I look good?"

"Behave yourself."

Grant scolded her, though I could hear the smile in his voice.

He slipped an arm around my waist and explained.

"I took her to meet a business partner this afternoon. She was on her own in the area with nothing to do, so she stopped in for dinner."

Another woman had shown up to our anniversary dinner, and he saw nothing wrong with it.

I nodded and didn't say anything.

To me, this anniversary only marked the day I'd signed a contract.

Grant always called it the day he'd won me. To him, it was worth celebrating.

Looking back, I was just a trophy he took out every year to polish and admire.

As always, Grant pulled out my chair and laid my napkin across my lap.

Then he asked the waiter to take away my ice water.

"She has a sensitive stomach. Please bring her room-temperature water."

Lily obediently sat back down, then quickly steered the conversation back to the project.

"Oh, Rachel, I reworked the plan this afternoon and sent it to the client.

"Your version was so outdated. Grant thinks my approach is better too."

She winked at Grant.

He didn't contradict her.

I set down my glass and was about to speak when my phone buzzed.

I opened the screenshot the client had sent me and held it up, cutting Lily off.

"You had AI write this with one prompt, and you're calling it your plan?"

At the bottom of the screenshot was the prompt she'd entered.

"Write a distribution expansion plan for the London market.

"Make it look professional, but don't go too deep. The main thing is to make it sound impressive."

Lily went pale. Her eyes turned a little red.

Grant frowned and took my phone. Then he pulled out a tissue and dabbed at tears Lily hadn't actually shed.

"Come on. This little mistake has you so scared? You've got me, don't you?

"AI can save time, but you have to check what it gives you. Let this be a lesson. Be more careful next time."

"Grant, I was just afraid of letting you down..."

Lily threw herself into his arms.

Grant stiffened. He turned and met my eyes.

"Rachel, this is mostly on you.