Chapter 2

We checked our IDs and compared our family details; everything lined up perfectly.

I accepted it.

Sophie accepted it even faster; she practically latched onto me right away.

I never realized I was such a loud, energetic chatterbox at eighteen, like a little firecracker, just going off nonstop.

"So, how much money do you have on you right now? Is it true you're totally free at thirty, and don't have to study anymore?"

"I've got some savings, and yeah, I don't have to study anymore."

"Whoa! This coat must be expensive, right? You're awesome! Wait, no, I'm awesome!"

I was really nothing special.

I had to crash at a hotel tonight.

After Ryan said we should move in together, I gave up my old place.

He kept saying the housing market was dropping and buying a place now was a bad idea, so even now, I still didn't have my own place.

He was such a huge part of my life that now I was left with nowhere to go.

I bet Ryan knew that too; he was just waiting for me to be the first to give in.

I felt like such a failure.

With the holidays coming up, I didn't even want to go home. I had no idea how to explain to my parents that the son-in-law they thought was a sure thing had just flown the coop.

But Sophie was practically buzzing with excitement.

"I've never been to a bar before! Can you take me? I just turned eighteen and suddenly I'm here. It's so weird!"

Looking into her bright, eager eyes, all my bitterness just melted away.

I said, "Sure, let's hit a bar. Anything else you wanna try?

"How about a night at a five-star hotel? I'll take you later."

Sophie wanted to go to a bar, so I took her to the one Ryan and I always went to.

It was pretty upscale, not too crowded, and perfect for having a quiet conversation.

I ordered for her my favorite drink, and she kept glancing around, her eyes wide with curiosity at everything she saw.

"So, what's your boyfriend like?" she asked.

I felt like I'd already answered a hundred of Sophie's questions.

I was just about to give her a vague answer when I spotted Ryan in the bar.

He was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking all gloomy, with Emily sitting right next to him.

I pointed at him. "That's my ex-boyfriend. We just broke up. Looks like he's having an affair with the woman sitting next to him."

Sophie's eyes went wide. "Holy crap, seriously, what kind of jerk does that? I'm gonna go slap him!"

I quickly grabbed her arm. "Whoa, easy there, girl. He's the CEO. You really don't wanna mess with him."

Sophie looked at me like she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Seriously? Why are you living like this, so miserable? He's the one who cheated, he's totally in the wrong!"

I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

"We're already broken up, and they're just sitting here having a drink. There's no real proof he's cheating. What business do I have getting involved?

"Plus, he's the CEO. He's all about saving face. If I piss him off now, he could totally make my life hell later on."

Sophie said, "I'm gonna go splash my drink in his face and demand answers! What's he gonna do to me? Is there no justice in this world or what?"

I barely managed to restrain Sophie, stopping her from doing anything rash.

I quietly explained to her how Ryan and I were tangled up in each other's lives and interests.

Ryan used to be my boss, then he became my boyfriend; we kept things on the down-low.

"When I first started working, Ryan was like a mentor and a buddy to me. Keeping it secret was better for both of us."

"If we ever went public, one of us would have to leave. I still want to make it in this industry, and all the execs know Ryan. I don't want to burn all my bridges"

No one ever knew about us; I never once showed up as his girlfriend in public.

Even when we were planning to get married, we never intended to make it official to anyone else.

Out in the world, we acted like total strangers.

Sophie was busy snapping photos and recording everything on her phone.

"Ugh, what an asshole! He won't go public with you, but he's all over some other chick? Why don't you just put him on blast and let everyone know what he's really like?" she said.