Chapter 5
Claire had a fever for two days at home, her mind growing muddled. She sent Nathan a message asking for leave, but received no reply at all.
He never called her or responded to that message. One day, Claire received a friend request from Emily, along with a photo of Nathan in swim trunks by the seaside.
Photos of her and Nathan watching the sea, the sunrise, and the sunset had been updated on Emily's Instagram no fewer than twenty times.
Claire stared at her unanswered leave request, finally understanding why.
Just then, a text message popped up. A Airways: [Dear passenger, your booked flight will depart in 30 minutes. Please proceed to the boarding gate as soon as possible.]
Claire deleted the message with a bitter laugh.
On the very day Nathan had lied about going on a business trip, he'd also booked tickets for the trip he'd promised to take her on.
Back when they were together, Claire had loved traveling everywhere. So Nathan had probably planned this trip to mend their relationship. But now, the gesture only made Claire feel more humiliated by her awkward position.
Nathan didn't return until a few days later. As soon as he arrived at the company, he hurried to take Claire to a business dinner.
At the table, Victor King, the CEO of the collaborating company, tried to get Claire drunk. But Nathan stopped him every time, drinking the alcohol in her place.
In the end, Victor directly showed his interest in Claire. Enraged, Nathan punched him square in the face.
The collaboration fell through, and everyone from the other company left in a fury. Claire chased after them. She didn't want to owe Nathan anymore at work.
But Nathan grabbed her back, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her fiercely for a long time. He finally spoke hoarsely in her ear, "I'm sorry, Claire."
"I shouldn't have snapped at you the other day. I missed our trip too. How about I make it up to you later?" he said.
After that, he rambled on about all sorts of nonsense. It wasn't until his body grew hotter and his hands wandered to the hem of her shirt that Claire realized something was wrong. There had been something in the alcohol he'd drunk.
Their breathing was ragged. Claire struggled to help Nathan up to the hotel room upstairs.
As soon as they entered, Nathan pushed her onto the bed and began kissing and biting her wildly.
In the pitch-black room, Claire unlocked her phone, enduring the harsh light to send Emily her location and the room number.
Less than twenty minutes later, Emily arrived. As she passed Claire, she said in a cryptic tone, "You won't regret this?"
Claire had nothing to regret. She wasn't a cheap woman who couldn't let go of Nathan.
Still, when dawn broke the next morning, Claire felt a sharp pain in her chest as she looked at what Emily had sent her: the photo of used condoms scattered all over the floor.
At nine o'clock that morning, Claire punched in for work on time. Nathan was already sitting in his CEO's chair.
He pinned her against the desk, his voice filled with guilt. "Did I hurt you last night? Why don't you take the day off and go home to rest? That bastard Victor put aphrodisiac in your drinks. I'll make him pay."
Claire frowned, about to explain, when the sound of high heels came from behind the door. The HR manager walked in and placed a resignation letter in front of Nathan.
She glanced at Claire before saying, "Mr. Sterling, she—" But her words were cut off by the sudden ring of Nathan's phone.
Nathan's face turned ashen the moment he answered. He hastily signed his name on Claire's resignation letter and rushed out of the office.
After he left, the HR manager handed Claire the still-wet document from the desk.
"Your resignation has been approved," she said. "Please finish handing over your work in the next two days."
Claire nodded slightly. This mess could finally come to an end. She was getting back on track.