Chapter 1

I tossed my resignation letter onto Ryan Bennett's desk.

"You're breaking up with me over a landscape photo?" he frowned.

I nodded, meeting his gaze. "Yes."

He stood up and reached for my hand. "What's this drama about now? Come on, which bag have you set your sights on this time?"

After five years together, he was convinced I'd never leave him.

"I'm not messing around," I said calmly. "I'm serious about breaking up with you."

I took emotional loyalty really seriously. If it wasn't perfect, I didn't want it.

*****

A day ago, Ryan and I were watching the sunset together when he snapped a photo and sent it to the work group chat.

Only Emily Lane replied right away: [That angle is amazing. Did you finally make good on your promise to show me the sunset?]

The flirty tone, plus that heart emoji at the end, was enough to get everyone's imagination running wild.

Even through the screen, I could practically feel all my coworkers gossiping and sneaking glances at each other.

"Is it really just because of that photo?" Ryan asked.

Ryan's question pulled me out of my thoughts, and his tone was clearly irritated.

"I just shared a nice sunset pic in the work group chat, and Emily happened to reply. Even if she got a little flirty, that's not on me," he said.

I shook my head and stood up, ready to leave. "Ryan, do you really think you're not the problem here? Are you blind, or just refusing to see the truth?"

Ryan yanked me back. "You're just looking for an excuse to start drama again, aren't you? So, which bag caught your eye this time? Chanel? Crocodile leather?"

I slipped out of his grip and made for the door.

I said, "Don't bother buying me bags anymore. If I want something, I'll get it myself."

Ryan, furious and humiliated, hurled a cup at the wall. "Charlotte, you're thirty. You're over the hill. Who else would be interested in you except for me?"

I gave him a cold, dismissive look and walked out.

As if on cue, there was Emily, the whole reason for our argument, standing right outside the door.

She was all dolled up, holding a steaming cup of coffee. I had no idea how long she'd been there or how much she'd overheard.

"Charlotte?" Emily called out, her voice sickly sweet, with a hint of fake concern. "You don't look so good. What happened? Did you and Mr. Bennett have a fight?"

I ignored her, staying silent.

She saw I wasn't answering and curled her lips in a faint, knowing smile.

She said, "Charlotte, I've been meaning to apologize to you face-to-face. Yesterday, I honestly thought I was sending a private message, not posting in the work group chat. By the time I realized, it was too late to unsend.

"I... I was just kidding around. Don't misunderstand Mr. Bennett because of me."

She blinked those wide, innocent eyes, but there wasn't a trace of sincerity on her face.

"Kidding around?" I could hear the challenge in her tone. Then I stepped closer, fixing my gaze on her.

I said, "Emily, do you really think saying 'Did you finally make good on your promise to show me the sunset?' and throwing in a heart emoji is just some harmless joke?"

Emily's eyes darted away for a second before she forced a smile. "Charlotte, I just said it without thinking. You're way too sensitive."

I let out a mocking laugh, raising my voice. "You use flirty, ambiguous words to openly hit on your superior, who already has a girlfriend. Is that supposed to be a joke? Or do you really think these petty moves make you look irresistible?"

The other coworkers outside could hear every word, peeking in but not daring to step inside.

Emily pursed her lips, her eyes quickly filling with tears, playing up the helpless victim routine.

"Charlotte, that's enough," Ryan cut in.

"I never promised her anything about watching the sunset. It was just a silly joke," he said, feeling sorry for her.

He stepped forward and gently patted my shoulder, trying to smooth things over.

I couldn't stand her playing the damsel in distress, acting all fragile like I was the villain here.

So I decided to give her a taste of her own medicine. "This is a workplace, not a stage for you to put on your little act-"

"Enough! Charlotte, just let it go. The office isn't the place for your drama," Ryan cut me off, pulling me aside.

I shot him a deadly glare and stormed off.

"Wait," Ryan tried to stop me.

He was about to come after me when Emily suddenly let out a girly cry.

She bent over, clutching her calf, her pencil skirt showing off her figure. "Mr. Bennett, I'm so clumsy. I twisted my ankle in these heels."

Ryan couldn't just stand by, so he carried her up and eased her into a chair.

"I'm fine, really. You should go after Charlotte. She doesn't look happy," Emily said, giving Ryan a gentle nudge and glancing pointedly in my direction.

Ryan just shook his head. "Your ankle's looking pretty swollen. Let me grab some ice for that."

I watched the show play out, thoroughly entertained, until the elevator doors closed all the way.