Chapter 3
"Hold on, why is it always you who has to quit if your relationship goes public?
"Why can't he be the one to step down? Seriously, has he messed with your head or what?"
The more Sophie listened, the more she felt I was just being a total pushover.
She threw on a mask, grabbed her drink, and strode right up to Ryan, totally ignoring me.
She drenched him with her cocktail, from head to toe.
"You absolute scumbag!" she said.
Ryan was just dumbfounded.
I rushed over and grabbed Sophie's hand.
Ryan turned to me, his brows furrowed, clearly pissed off.
"Is she your bestie? Did you seriously bring her here just to splash a drink on me in front of everyone?"
Emily saw how grim Ryan's expression had become.
"I understand. Since I made it onto the promotion list, it's only natural for Ms. Grant's friend to stand up for her," she said.
Emily bit her lip, looking timid and almost afraid to speak.
"But the company's evaluations are completely fair. Mr. Pierce and I just happened to be chatting about work. Ms. Grant, why resort to such petty drama?"
Her manipulative sweet talk was cut short by the sharp crack of a slap.
Sophie stormed over and smacked Emily right across the face.
"Drop the innocent act, you two-faced bitch! You got what you wanted and still play the victim?"
Emily let out a shriek, clutching her swollen cheek, and instinctively tried to throw herself into Ryan's arms for protection.
"Y-You How could you just slap me like that?" Emily stammered, totally stunned.
But, to everyone's surprise, Ryan didn't even try to comfort her.
He yanked his sleeve free from Emily's grip, his voice cold and impatient.
"Just go home."
Emily froze for a second, then nodded, looking all pitiful.
But as she walked past me after turning away from Ryan, she flashed me a smug, triumphant smirk.
Sophie caught that look too, her anger boiling over. She raised her hand, about to land another slap.
But then Ryan's voice cut through the tension, cold and serious. "Sophie, that's enough! Why are you acting like this?"
In that moment, Ryan blurted out both our names at once.
Sophie froze.
I looked at Ryan too.
Ryan told the owner to clear everyone out.
I put myself between Sophie and Ryan; this was the first time I'd ever stood up to him in front of everyone.
The I said, "Did she say anything that wasn't true? I was the top performer this year. Every major client, I brought them in.
"I worked myself sick, drinking with clients until I needed an IV at the hospital. And Emily? She just waltzes in, plays the victim, and reaps all the benefits.
"You two sitting here, sharing drinks. Doesn't that just scream she's your favorite? Are you really going to stand up for her over me?"
It hurt so much. Just saying these words out loud felt like tearing myself open.
Ryan's gaze locked onto me, his eyes deep and impossible to read.
"Is this promotion really that big a deal to you? If you marry me, you'll get whatever you want. Why are you so hung up on this promotion?
"Emily getting promoted won't mess with your life. Why are you freaking out over this? If word gets out, how am I supposed to show my face at work?
"You're thirty, not a little kid. Don't you know how to weigh the pros and cons for yourself?" he said.
I shot back, "So what were you two doing here? Celebrating her promotion? Or celebrating your freedom, ready to hook up with some younger chick now?"
Ryan's face darkened; he really didn't like that.
"I'm not cheating. It's all above board, okay? Quit acting jealous for nothing."
Ryan reached out and tried to pull me toward him.
"If you still want to marry me, then come home with me."
He was always so pushy. I pulled away from his hand.
Sophie rushed out and stood protectively in front of me.