All Chapters of Love Didn't Get Me Promoted: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Five years into a secret thing with my boss, Eric Dempsey, I finally crushed the performance bar for a promotion—finally felt like his equal.The night we celebrated, I was riding high... until he handed all the credit to Shelly Focker.Everyone cheered like they were soulmates. Like they actually made sense together.My heart sank. I couldn't move. Just stood there, hollow.That's when it hit me—he never loved me. Never even tried.I stepped aside and called Jared Jensen."I'm ready. I want to work in Votara.""Wait, seriously? Okay, I'm throwing you a welcome party the second you land!"Jared was stunned for like a second, then jumped straight into confirming everything. I could hear the buzz in his voice, even through the phone.Then he got real quiet for a beat."I knew Eric didn't know what he had. You staying under him was a total waste. Come grow with me—we'll build something amazing."I gave a soft hum, eyes locked on Eric through the restaurant's window. He was clin

Chapter 2

I stepped into the house. Everywhere I looked, there were reminders of us.Matching slippers. Custom pillows. That photo on the table...I flipped it face down. My birthday last year. I'd begged him to take it with me. He looked stiff, like he couldn't even pretend to be happy.I started packing—no thinking, just moving.I opened Eric's study and froze.The wall was a shrine to Shelly—photos from way back to college. In every single one, he was right there, eyes locked on her, soft and warm.So this was the "childhood friend" he never mentioned. She'd had his heart the whole time.Then why take mine? Why mess with me?In a glass case, lined up like trophies, were birthday gifts he'd saved for her.And for me? Not even a smile.He always kept that study off-limits. Never let me near it. Now I knew why—and it felt like getting punched in the chest.Five years together, and the whole time he'd been in there, stuck in memories of her.I felt sick. Stormed out, grabbed the only

Chapter 3

The next morning, my eyes were so puffy I barely recognized myself.Eric glanced at me and actually asked, "You didn't sleep well last night?"I gave him a weak smile. Said nothing.Then he leaned in, like he was gonna kiss my forehead.That's when I saw it—a hickey under his collar. My stomach flipped.I stayed quiet all night and morning, but that did it."Let's break up."He froze. His whole vibe changed."Madison Mercer, do you even know what you're saying?"I nodded. Crystal clear. Just in case, I said it again—"We're done. Let's end this clean."He laughed, like I was being dramatic."Madison, all this over a promotion for Shelly? Don't be petty. You're threatening me with a breakup?"He tapped my cheek with the belt in his hand."Without me, could you even survive? Don't say stupid stuff like that again. There's a limit to jealousy."Thinking I was just craving attention, he offered to drive me to work—for the first time ever.Five years together, and he'd always

Chapter 4

Eric didn't even look at me—just checked on Shelly like she was the victim. Then he turned on me like I'd committed some crime.I hadn't even touched her.He snapped, "Madison Mercer, if you can't handle your job, then leave! You think this whole company revolves around you? You're too much for a place like this—I can't keep someone like you around!"Tears slid down my cheeks.My chest felt like it was full of glass.I chased him for three years. Poured family money into his startup. Got my dad to quietly mentor him. Helped him rise, step by step.But when it came time, he said letting me in as Deputy CEO would look bad—like favoritism. So he made me start at the bottom, hauling inventory.I rubbed the callus still on my finger. I wasn't doing grunt work anymore, but the mark stuck—on my skin and my heart.One sentence, and Eric erased everything I'd done for Corevista. For him.And just like that, I saw him for what he really was.Selfish. Small. Pathetic.He walked out hol

Chapter 5

The next morning, the conference room felt like a pressure cooker. Everyone sat stiff, waiting for something to blow.Eric looked pissed. He'd called me a hundred times—straight to voicemail every time.With shareholders shifting in their seats and the clock ticking, Eric leaned toward Shelly and gave her a nudge."Shelly, I put your name on the project, didn't I? Madison's not here—time to show them what you've got."Shelly went pale. Sure, she'd taken the credit—but the proposal? The slides? All Madison. She hadn't even skimmed them.Still, with Eric giving her that "you got this" look, she dragged herself up to the podium.While she mumbled through the slides, Eric barely watched. He was too busy blowing up my phone.Shelly sounded like she was reading off a cereal box. The second the shareholders hit her with real questions, she froze. Total blank.Board members started trading looks and shaking their heads. The vibe shifted hard—and not in Eric's favor. You could see the d

Chapter 6

Shelly bit her lip, shaking like a leaf. Her face turned pale. She opened her mouth—nothing came out.The room was dead silent.Corevista's top execs weren't idiots. They picked up on the vibe fast.The same shareholder leaned in. "Ms. Focker, are you absolutely sure you handled this proposal yourself?""I... I..." Shelly stammered, eyes darting to Eric like she was begging him to save her.Still nothing.The shareholder let out a dry chuckle, eyes locked on Eric. "Mr. Dempsey, the proposal's solid—but your people skills? Not so much."Then he gave a nod. Boom—footage from the flash drive lit up the big screen.Before I left yesterday, I backed up everything—documents, surveillance, audio—straight to my home drive. Sent it all to the board members who weren't sipping Eric's Kool-Aid.When Shelly threatened me? I didn't snap back because, honestly, what was the point?People like her—no talent, no morals—don't get to walk off with someone else's work. Not on my watch.Disgrac

Chapter 7

Eric yanked his hand back. Shelly lost her balance and hit the floor, eyes wide like she couldn't believe it."Eric! Say something! This was all me!"He snapped. "Shut up!"She froze, totally freaked—he'd never yelled like that before.The whole room was dead silent, faces all over the place like someone spilled emotion everywhere.Then the board dropped the real bomb."This is a surveillance video and audio clip sent by Madison Mercer, our former Strategic Planning Director. I think once you see it, the truth'll be obvious."At the mention of her name, Eric's head snapped up. But that word—"resigned"—wrecked him. He looked like someone just yanked the floor out from under him."M-Madison? No... she promised me yesterday she'd be here. She wouldn't quit!"But it wasn't just the job. What really messed with him was the thought that Madison might actually leave.She chased him for three years, stuck it out through five years of silence and secrets. All that—and she walks away o

Chapter 8

Once the footage ended, the audio from my restroom showdown with Shelly kicked in.Her voice—sharp, nasty, dripping arrogance—left the room speechless.Eric turned toward her. She was shaking in the corner, but his stare? Ice-cold.The girl he once knew? Gone. Five years had changed her into someone unrecognizable.That sweet, innocent childhood friend? Just a memory. The recording made it crystal clear who she really was.He'd thrown Madison under the bus to boost Shelly's rise.And now? He saw the truth—he'd screwed up big time.He let Shelly hurt Madison. Believed her lies. Helped crush the one person who actually loved him.He was so wrong. He'd shoved Madison away again and again until there was nothing left of her for him.That hit broke something in Eric. He snapped—lunged at Shelly and grabbed her by the throat.His voice shook with rage. "Why'd you do it? I told you to leave Madison alone! Who the hell do you think you are?"Shelly's face turned bright red, gasping

Chapter 9

The day I landed in Votara, Jared went all out with a welcome dinner. I was kinda floored.At the airport, he grabbed my bags with that familiar grin. Our families went way back—mine stayed in Chavena, his built roots here.He knew everything about my five-year secret mess with Eric. Every time I got sucked into Eric's orbit, Jared would just shake his head like, 'Seriously, still?'He smirked. "I've been trying to snatch you from under his nose for years. What, he finally blew it on his own? You done for real this time?"I nodded. "Yeah. I'm done."Jared caught the edge in my voice and dropped the teasing. "There's better guys out there. As for Eric Dempsey—good riddance. Maybe the next one won't be such a tool."I laughed. "Okay, enough pep talk. The second I left him, I cut ties with everything behind me. Right now, it's all about the career. I can't wait to show what I've got."I nudged his shoulder. "So, what role are you giving me?"Classic Jared. "With your skills? My co

Chapter 10

I ran into Eric on my way home from work.At first, I didn't recognize him. Scruffy, sunken-eyed—he looked nothing like the arrogant, untouchable guy I used to know.It'd been six months. Whatever sharp edge he had was gone.Jared had told me Corevista had been circling the drain since I left. I'd made sure my dad pulled his money, too.Eric looked wrecked. Wrinkled white shirt, hollow stare, no life in him.But the second he saw me, his eyes lit up like I was some long-lost treasure.I stepped back as he reached for me. His hand froze in midair before dropping, useless.Then he started rambling, voice full of desperation."Madison, I know I messed up. I did awful things for five years. But the second I lost you, it felt like my whole world caved in. I realized—I'm the one who can't live without you."He pulled a photo from his pocket, hands trembling. "Madison, look. Our photo. I dug it out of the trash and pieced it back together. Just one look, please. Come back to me."I

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