Chapter 2

After work, sitting in the passenger seat of Ryan's sports car, I finally started to calm down.

"She's just a kid who doesn't know better. Teach her, but do it as a favor to me, okay?" He was practically begging.

I was too tired to argue, so I let it go.

At the restaurant, Jasmine was already waiting at our table. Her hair was down, her makeup flawless.

She stood up immediately. "Mr. Mitchell, Freya! I went ahead and ordered some appetizers. I hope that's okay!"

I glanced at Ryan, but he sat right next to Jasmine.

He smiled. "Jasmine was worried you were still mad. She came to apologize. Look how sweet she is."

Jasmine eagerly poured me a glass of wine and raised hers. "Freya, it's all my fault. I messed up the data and made everyone gossip about you. I'm so sorry!"

She downed her drink. Her cheeks flushed, making her look even more innocent.

Ryan gave her an appreciative look. "People are gossiping about Freya? What are they saying?"

Jasmine bit her lip and smiled coyly. "Mr. Mitchell, you should ask Freya. It's not my place to say."

Ryan turned to me, his eyes full of curiosity.

I looked right at him. My tone was flat. "Your staff calls me the Spinster."

Ryan didn't even blink. He burst out laughing. "Jasmine was just joking around to bond with you. You took it seriously?"

He stared at me and smirked. "Honestly, it's pretty accurate."

I looked at the man I had loved for eight years. He looked like a complete stranger.

"Ryan, do you really think that's funny? They call me the Spinster, and your first reaction is to laugh?" I asked, my voice steady but cold.

The table went dead silent.

Jasmine made a show of standing up, her eyes welling with tears. "Mr. Mitchell, am I ruining things? I should leave. You two talk."

"Sit down, Jasmine." Ryan grabbed her wrist.

He glared at me. "Freya, she sincerely apologized. Do you have to be such a bitch about it? It's just a nickname. Are you really throwing a tantrum over this?"

My heart shattered. I stared at his hand gripping Jasmine's wrist.

The whole situation was laughable. Eight years of trust and love, gone in a second.

"Fine. Great." I started laughing. I picked up the wine Jasmine had poured. "Keep your apology."

I didn't even look at their shocked faces. I turned around and walked out.

*****

The next day, I needed the latest sales data for the CEO.

My emails went totally ignored. I went looking for answers in person, but everyone fed me the same lines.

[Sorry, Mr. Mitchell needs it urgently. We have to prep it for him first.]

[Jasmine said Mr. Mitchell hasn't reviewed the numbers yet. We can't release them.]

[You should check with Jasmine. We're just following her orders.]

The moment I turned my back, the sneers started again.

"The Spinster thinks she's untouchable, but she still needs us!"

"She thinks she's royalty, but she's nothing."

I called Ryan's cell. No answer. This deliberate ghosting was pure humiliation. I marched straight to his office.

I pushed the door open. Jasmine was practically sitting in Ryan's lap, looking incredibly intimate.

Ryan looked up, instantly irritated. "Do you have zero manners? Ever heard of knocking?"

I stared right at him. My voice was ice-cold. "Mr. Mitchell, I need the latest sales data for my presentation."

He frowned. "I already said I needed those numbers first. What's the rush?"

He paused. "Jasmine is double-checking everything so you don't blow up over another minor mistake."

"Minor mistake?" I almost laughed. "Ryan, her mistake skewed the data for a multi-million dollar project!"

I gathered my composure. "Your idea of thorough is letting a girl who can't read a spreadsheet gatekeep core data?"

Jasmine's eyes instantly filled with tears. "Freya, I know I'm stupid. I'm not as smart as you, but I'm really trying my best."

"It's not your fault, Jasmine." Ryan wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

He turned back to me with pure disgust. "Freya, are you done? You nitpick every little thing! You're really acting like a Spinster!"

Hearing him say it to my face left me stunned.

He ignored the hurt in my eyes and raised his voice. "You can't even do your job right, so you just throw unreasonable fits!

"Calling you a Spinster is letting you off easy. Look how humble Jasmine is. I'm telling you this for your own good."

Jasmine leaned against his shoulder. A smug look flashed across her face.