All Chapters of She Hid Our Love, Then Lost Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

The whole room was still cheering when Tyler Smith laughed it off."Don't read into it, guys. Vivian and I are just boss and employee, nothing more." He grinned. "Keep it up, and she'll dock my pay."But the way he said it only made it more obvious he was covering something up.The teasing got louder. Someone shouted, "Kiss him again!"The tips of Tyler's ears turned bright red.I stared at my girlfriend, Vivian Chase. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She looked away and raised her glass instead."I'll take three shots as punishment. Tyler just started, and he's shy. Quit ganging up on him."It was only a long time after what happened that she bothered to text me an explanation. [It was just a game. Everyone's having fun tonight. Didn't want to be a buzzkill.]Funny, since Vivian was normally such a clean freak that I had to brush my teeth and shower before she'd even let me near her for a make-out session. Apparently that all went out the window the second it might ruin

The next morning, I showed up right on time to process my resignation. The HR manager, Lily Winston, sent out a group announcement. [East Coast clients have jointly raised concerns about the new account manager's competence. Handover of business is on hold.]Tyler replied right away. [I'm sorry, Ms. Chase. I really didn't mean for this to happen.]Vivian wrote back, [Take your time. No rush.]I froze for a second. I remembered three years ago, when I'd first gotten sent out of state, drinking with clients until I threw up blood and still couldn't close a ten-thousand-dollar deal. Back then, all Vivian did was blame me. "How can you be so useless?"And now here she was, gently comforting Tyler, making excuses for him after he lost a one-million-dollar account.My phone buzzed. It was a message from Vivian. [Did you tell the clients not to sign with Tyler?]I answered calmly, [They're my old clients, but they're also businessmen. If you want someone to blame, blame Tyler for no

My phone rang right as I finished my onboarding paperwork. I declined it without a second thought.Vivian must have been furious, because it kept ringing relentlessly. By the thirteenth call, I finally picked up."Derek, what is wrong with you!" Her voice came out sharp. "I supported you for three years, and you turn around and betray me by joining our competitor?""Supported me?" I laughed coldly. "Vivian, you know full well I've been the one carrying this company for three years with every deal I closed."She went quiet for a second, her voice softening."Derek, I know you're still upset that I never made us public. But everything I did was for the company’s sake. Once the business gets to the next level, I..."I cut her off, laughing. "That's the same lie you told me three years ago. You lied to me while I drank myself into a hospital bed, and the second my back was turned, you were getting cozy with Tyler at the office. Why should I believe a single word you say? At the end o

Without me bringing in business and managing accounts, Chase Group's cash flow collapsed within a single month.Desperate and out of options, Vivian came looking for me more than once, hoping I'd help her out of whatever was left of our history.The first time, she caught me right outside my office."Derek.""What?""The company's cash flow has dried up. Mr. Grant from the Midwest pulled out too. Suppliers are demanding payment, and I can't make payroll. Could you come back and help me, just for a month?""No.""Then could you at least call Mr. Grant and the others for me? Just tell them the company is going through some business restructuring and needs some cash flow. Ask them to settle the outstanding balance first."I snorted and stepped back, putting distance between us."Why would I? Why would I spend my own reputation and goodwill helping out an ex who couldn't treat me fairly?"She didn't answer, just pressed her lips together."You're still angry with me.""I'm not.

[Derek Foster embezzled company funds back when he worked for me. I let it go out of old feelings, and now he's turned around and joined our competitor just to hurt me][Every one of his clients only signed because he drank his way into their good graces. Be careful doing business with him, or you'll get burned.]She even spread rumors questioning my sexuality. Each claim was more ridiculous than the last.Adrian Lowell, a nouveau riche who had only recently entered the industry, actually believed her. He immediately had his secretary call to cancel our deal, completely ignoring the fact that we'd already gone through three rounds of negotiations and were one signature away from closing."Mr. Foster's character is in question. We can't take that risk."I called him directly. His tone was polite but distant."Mr. Foster, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just that Ms. Chase made it sound very convincing. She even sent me screenshots of bank transfers. In business, you can't be