For ten years, I stood by him, against my parents’ wishes. I was there when he was a nobody with nothing but ambition, and I was there to help him build an empire from the ground up. The day our ten-year anniversary arrived, the day I was finally going to tell my parents we were getting married, he gave the Vice President position—the one that was supposed to be mine—to another woman. When I went to his office to confront him, I was stopped by the sound of her voice, broken by breathless pants. “Declan, if you give the VP job to me, what about Audrey? Aren’t you two supposed to get married?” Declan’s movements were rough, but his voice was as smooth and careless as ever. “Audrey’s been with me for ten years. Who else is going to want her now? Don’t worry. She won’t dare make a scene.” A chasm of ice opened up beneath me. I turned on my heel and dialed a number I hadn’t touched in a decade. “Are you free?” I asked. “I’m thinking of getting married.” 1 The office door was ajar. Inside, Declan was like an animal, taking what he wanted without end. The woman beneath him let out a series of soft cries, her face flushed. My fists clenched, my entire body trembling. Just last night, I’d told my mother with unshakeable confidence that I was finally getting married. But the moment I’d stepped into the office this morning, I heard the news: Declan had given my VP position to someone else. I didn’t even make it to my own desk before I came here, demanding an explanation. I hadn’t realized that taking my job wasn’t enough for him. He had to stage a live porn show in his office, too. The woman, catching her breath, shot me a triumphant little smirk. I didn’t recognize her face at first. It took me a long moment to place it. Chloe. An intern from one of our partner firms. I’d met her exactly once, two months ago, during a tense negotiation. She’d brought in the wrong contracts and her boss had publicly berated her until she cried. I remember speaking up for her, telling him to back off. Two months later, she hadn’t just stolen my promotion, she was sleeping with my boyfriend. A bitter laugh escaped my lips, and my eyes suddenly burned with heat. Chloe glanced toward the door and deliberately raised her voice. “Mr. Ross, Audrey loves you so much. What if she finds out about us? What if she really refuses to marry you?” My heart seized. My fingers twitched. Ten years. At twenty, Declan Ross had knelt before my parents and sworn he would marry no one but me. At thirty, he was a success, and the Vice President title was the promise he had made to them—to me—as proof. The room fell silent for a beat, and then Declan’s voice cut through the air, clear and cold. “Please. Audrey and I are practically an old married couple already. A piece of paper doesn’t mean anything. Let her sulk.” He chuckled. “Better if we don’t get married. That way, I can have my fun, and it’s not technically cheating.” There was another pause. “Besides, some nights… looking at her, I just don’t have the appetite for it anymore.” “She’s thirty, you know? She’s getting old. Not fresh and exciting like you.” His tone was light, playful. Chloe giggled and tapped his chest, her eyes sparkling with victory. I walked away, numb. By the time I reached my office, my face was wet with tears. Sunlight streamed onto my empty chair. I wiped my eyes and sent a single text message. A few seconds later, my phone buzzed with a reply. I allowed myself a small, sharp smile. “What are you looking at so intently?” a deep voice drawled from my doorway, thick with post-coital satisfaction. I flipped my phone face down. Declan stood there, impeccably dressed. If not for the smudge of lipstick blooming on his neck, I might have convinced myself the scene in his office had been a hallucination. He leaned against my desk with a casual air, one hand braced on the surface, the other picking up my pen and idly spinning it. The silence stretched. Finally, he sighed, reaching out to stroke my hair. I flinched away, disgusted. That was the same hand that had just been all over another woman. His whole body carried the lingering scent of sex. Declan’s expression darkened. His hand froze in mid-air before he awkwardly pulled it back. “I know you’re angry,” he said. “But Audrey, it’s just a title. Besides the VP spot, you can have any other position in the company. Anything you want, I’ll make it happen.” I looked him straight in the eye. “What if the Vice President role is the only one I want? Will you give it to me?” When Declan looked at you without a trace of emotion, it was chilling. After years of clawing his way up in the business world, he was no longer the earnest twenty-year-old boy I’d fallen in love with, the one whose only dream was building a future with me. I looked away, a self-mocking smile on my face. Click. He lit a cigarette, his brow furrowed as if he were analyzing a difficult contract. As he exhaled smoke, I could feel his patience wearing thin. “Audrey,” he said, his voice low. “Don’t make this hard on me.” My mouth went stiff. I stared at him, incredulous. “Declan, who is making this hard on whom? I’m thirty. Our ten years are up. You know this was never about the job.” Ten years ago, Declan was a kid from the wrong side of the tracks with nothing to his name. My parents had forbidden me from seeing him. But we were young and stubborn, and the more they tried to keep us apart, the harder we clung to each other. Finally, my father gave in. He gave Declan thirty thousand dollars of his own money as seed capital for his first venture. There was only one condition: if, after ten years, Declan was successful and still loved me just as much, they would drop their objections. But if he failed, or if his heart wavered even for a second, I would have to listen to them and accept the marriage they’d always wanted for me. Declan blew out a plume of white smoke, then crushed the cigarette in my ashtray. His voice was flat. “Audrey, we’re no different from a married couple. You don’t need to be obsessed with a piece of paper. As for your parents, they’ll come around eventually.” He paused. “But Chloe is different. She needs this position.” “Stop making a scene. Be good. The decision is final.” With that, he turned and strode out, his entire posture radiating irritation. He stopped at the door, hesitating for a moment. “By the way, Chloe needs an office. You should move down to the senior manager floor.” He didn't look back. “And you’ll need to organize a welcome party for her. As the new Vice President, she needs to be introduced with the proper respect. We can’t have people looking down on her. You’re a veteran here; if you send the invitations, everyone will come.” He finally turned, his eyes hard. “Audrey. Business is business, personal is personal. You know what to do, right?” Bang. The door clicked shut. I sagged back in my chair, my gaze falling on a picture frame on my desk. It was a photo of me and Declan from years ago. He was smiling so wide his eyes crinkled at the corners, a world away from the cold, ruthless man he’d become. I reached out and laid the frame face down. Then I stood up and walked to Human Resources. Linda, the HR manager, looked up in shock. “Audrey? You’re resigning?” I nodded. “Uh… Audrey,” she stammered, “Mr. Ross already came by. He said any resignation request from you has to be approved by him personally.” I froze. After ten years, he knew me so well. He knew I couldn’t tolerate betrayal. Getting out of his company wouldn’t be easy. I left her office, defeated. As the elevator doors opened on my floor, I saw a crowd gathered outside my office—Declan’s assistants and secretaries. They saw me and parted silently to let me through. Inside, my office was in chaos. Chloe was sitting comfortably in my chair, directing the cleaning staff as they threw my belongings into trash bags. “That picture frame, toss it. And all those books on the shelf, get rid of them.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Actually, I don’t like any of it. Throw it all out. And scrub this place down. There’s a strange smell in here… it’s disgusting.” She wrinkled her nose and fanned the air as if warding off a foul odor. Her eyes landed on me, and she stood up, feigning surprise. “Audrey! You’re back! I was just having them help you clear things out.” She gave me a sickly-sweet smile. “I took a look, and it didn’t seem like you had anything important, so I told them to just get rid of it all. See how thoughtful I am?” “Audrey,” she continued, oozing fake sincerity, “I’m going to need so much of your help with work from now on. I may be young, but I have to focus my energy on… other things. If I mess anything up, you’ll have my back, won’t you?” She grabbed my hand and swayed it back and forth like we were best friends. But I could see the challenge glittering in her eyes. I pulled my hand away and dismissed everyone in the room. The door clicked shut, leaving just the two of us. The moment we were alone, her sweet facade vanished. She wiped her hand on her skirt as if she’d touched something filthy. “Ugh, the smell of an old woman,” she muttered. Then she clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with mock horror. “Oh, Audrey, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean that! It’s just… Declan says it all the time, and it just slipped out. You won’t hold it against me, will you?” Her eyes were filled with pure malice. There was nothing accidental about her words. Seeing my calm expression, she decided to push further. She tilted her shoulder, revealing a constellation of dark purple hickies on her collarbone. “Look what he did,” she sighed, her tone dripping with false complaint. “Declan can be such an animal. Now I have to wear turtlenecks for a week. I’m so jealous of you, you can wear whatever you want. With me, he gets so possessive if I even show a little shoulder. The other day we went to a hot spring, and a waiter just walked by our private pool, and he immediately wrapped me up in a towel.” She looked at me, pouting. “Why is he so jealous, do you think?” My gaze drifted to the shattered glass of my picture frame on the floor. “The novelty hasn't worn off yet,” I said quietly. “He's always possessive with a new toy.” Chloe’s face twisted in fury, her eyes spitting fire. I just smiled, unbothered. I had seen that side of Declan before. Nothing she could say would surprise me. I was lost in thought and didn’t see the shift in her expression. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand. The next second, she threw herself backward, landing with a heavy thud on the floor. Before I could even process what had happened, a furious voice roared from behind me. “Audrey, what the hell are you doing?” A blur of motion rushed past me. A hand slammed into my shoulder, shoving me so hard I had to grab the edge of the desk to keep from falling. Declan was kneeling beside Chloe, glaring at me with murder in his eyes. “Audrey. Apologize.” My fingers dug into the wood, the knuckles turning white. “I didn’t push her.” He sneered. “Right. You didn’t push her. She just threw herself on the ground. You’re thirty years old, and you’re still playing these childish games? Have you no shame?” My nose stung. Thirty. Thirty. Why did he keep throwing my age in my face? Was I old? Did he only want youth? Then why hadn’t he just broken up with me? Hate coiled in my gut. I bit my lip, refusing to show him any weakness. Chloe let out a little whimper from the safety of his arms. “Declan, don’t blame Audrey. The VP job was supposed to be hers. It’s only natural that she hates me.” She looked up at him, her eyes wet with tears. “Maybe… maybe I should just leave the company.” Declan’s arms tightened around her. “This company doesn’t have her name on it,” he said, his voice cold as ice. “I’m the one who says who stays and who goes. And I won’t tolerate certain people targeting others.” Certain people. He might as well have said my name. A bitter laugh escaped me. “Then fire me.” Crack. The sound was sharp, electric. My head snapped to the side, my cheek exploding with a searing, hot pain. The world went silent. I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. Slowly, I raised a hand to my face, my fingers tracing the swelling skin. I looked at Declan, my mind reeling in disbelief. In ten years, he had never once laid a hand on me. Until now. For his new flame. Declan stared at his own hand as if he didn’t recognize it. It was trembling. He looked at me, at my reddening cheek, and his face filled with panic. He reached for me. “Audrey…” I stumbled back, out of his reach. He froze. Just then, Chloe cried out, collapsing against him. “Declan, I think my ankle is twisted. It hurts so much.” The spell was broken. Declan scooped her into his arms and rushed out of the room without a backward glance. I closed my eyes. My phone buzzed. I read the text, took a deep, steadying breath, and walked out of the company for the last time. Back at our apartment, I packed everything that was mine. Not a single bobby pin was left behind. As I dumped the last bag of my things into the garbage chute, my phone started buzzing relentlessly. A text from Chloe. “Does your face still hurt? Declan always plays so rough, he wears me out every time. You should put some ice on it. He was so gentle when he was rubbing my ankle, though~” It was followed by a picture of Declan, his brow furrowed in concentration as he gently massaged her foot. He looked genuinely concerned. Before I could type a reply, another message came through. “Oh, and Audrey? Thanks for organizing my welcome party. I love my new office, too.” “You are coming to the party, right? If you don’t, you’ll miss the big surprise Declan has planned for me. What a shame that would be.” “Or maybe you’re just scared to see how much he loves me. Is that it? Are you too afraid to come?” My fingers paused over the screen. I turned it off. Then, with my signed resignation form in hand, I went to the party. The moment I walked in, the boisterous private room fell silent. My colleagues exchanged nervous glances, their eyes darting between me and the couple at the center of the room. Declan was throwing back a glass of whiskey, his expression unreadable. He flicked a glance at me and then looked away. Chloe was nestled at his side, her foot propped up in a medical boot. She gave me a smug, triumphant smile. “Audrey! You made it! Come, sit down!” she chirped. “My foot is killing me, so I can’t drink. Poor Declan has been drinking for both of us.” She was wearing a designer dress, a string of pale pink pearls at her neck. I had seen the design sketch for that dress on Declan’s phone weeks ago. I had foolishly thought it was a birthday present for me. Now I realized he had probably forgotten my birthday was today. Ignoring the curious and pitying stares from my colleagues, I walked straight to Declan, holding out a file. “There’s a document here that needs your signature. It’s urgent.” Chloe giggled. “Audrey, you’re such a workaholic! Bringing work to a party.” I ignored her, my eyes fixed on Declan. He glanced at the papers in my hand, and his voice softened slightly. “Not tonight, Audrey. We’re not talking business.” “This is urgent.” My tone was non-negotiable. He finally met my gaze. As we were locked in a silent standoff, Chloe chimed in. “Declan, honey, maybe you should just sign it. She’s not going to relax until you do.” After a long moment, Declan snatched the file from my hand. He flipped through it quickly, and seeing it was just a standard form, he scrawled his signature at the bottom. Chloe plucked the file from his hand with a triumphant grin and shoved it into my arms. “See, Audrey? Declan always says you’re a powerhouse. Maybe I should ask you to be my mentor. You could teach me a thing or two.” I looked down at the signed resignation form. A cold smile touched my lips. “I don’t think I’m qualified to teach you anything. I’m afraid Declan would worry too much.” Declan’s brow snapped together, and he shot me a glare. Without a word, he stood up and stalked out of the room. The atmosphere was thick with tension. I walked over to Linda, the HR manager, and handed her the form, completing my official exit right then and there. Then, ignoring the stunned looks from everyone, I walked out. I had just stepped outside the club when a video popped up on my phone from Linda. “Audrey, has Chloe lost her mind?” In the video, Chloe had her arms wrapped around Declan’s neck. Egged on by the others, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. It lasted only three seconds, but it was enough to send the room into a frenzy. Linda’s texts kept coming. “What does he even see in her?” “She has no skills, no connections. Making her VP is a joke. I’m seriously worried about the future of this company.” I sent her a few reassuring words. In the ten years we were together, Declan had always been restrained, except for that one promise: that he would marry me. I thought time and success had made him more mature, more rational. Chloe’s arrival taught me the truth. He hadn’t changed. He just wasn’t impulsive for me anymore. I removed myself from the company group chat, sent Declan a final text that said, “We’re done,” and then blocked his number, his email, and all his social media. A black Maybach was idling at the curb. The tinted window slid down, revealing a familiar profile. “Get in.”
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