Chapter 2

I walked out of the print room with a hundred copies of "perfect match" in my arms.

My heels clicked sharply against the floor in the quiet office, and every pair of eyes in the room drifted toward me.

They were probably wondering what Naomi Carter from Design was doing with a stack of printouts that big.

My first stop was the CEO's office.

James Grant was an old-school man who cared deeply about company image and employee conduct.

I peeled the top sheet off the stack and taped it right in the center of his heavy door with the clear tape I had ready.

In the photo, David's smiling face pointed straight toward his own department, like a silent mockery.

I ignored the sharp gasps behind me.

My second stop was the company bulletin board, where the latest Employee of the Quarter list was posted, and David's name and photo were front and center.

I smiled and tore off a corner of the award notice, then plastered four copies of "perfect match" over the entire board until nothing else showed. One in every direction, so no one could miss it.

The office started buzzing. People whispered to each other, and a few pulled out their phones to snap pictures. I didn't care. My pace stayed steady and calm.

My third stop was the break room, the unofficial gossip headquarters of the company. I was generous. I stuck one on the coffee machine, one on the microwave, and one on the fridge, so everyone could admire this masterpiece on their break.

A coworker I was close with rushed over and grabbed my arm. "Naomi, what are you doing? Calm down!"

I brushed her hand off and smiled. "I've never been calmer."

The look in my eyes stopped her cold, and she didn't take another step.

I finally made it to their desks.

Marketing and Design sat on opposite sides of the aisle.

David was the marketing director, and Sophie was his department's newest trainee. The two of them were starring in their own little office romance, mentor and protégé.

I stopped in front of Sophie's desk. A pink travel mug sat beside a bouquet of fresh roses, and I recognized the vase right away because I'd picked it out myself at a flea market.

I took the ten photos and scattered them like confetti across her desk, her chair, and the floor at her feet.

Then I moved to David's desk. Our photo was still his screensaver, the two of us smiling in a field of lavender.

The irony was almost funny.

I raised my hand and began pressing the rest of the photos, dozens of them, one by one, onto his cubicle walls, his monitor, and his filing cabinet. I covered every inch from top to bottom, leaving no gaps.

I'd built him a cage made of love.

The entire office had gone dead silent. Everyone was on their feet, watching from a distance as if they were witnessing a performance art piece. I could feel their stares, a mix of shock, pity, and the faintest hint of excitement.

I pressed the last photo into place and dusted off my hands, like I'd touched something filthy.

I turned around and swept my gaze across the room before letting it settle on my own desk.

I walked over, pulled my passport and ID from the drawer, and grabbed a backpack I'd packed days ago from the cabinet.

Then, with the entire office watching, I picked up the pothos on my desk. It was the first gift David had ever given me.

I carried it to the trash can and let go. The pot hit the ground with a hollow thud, and dirt and ceramic shards burst across the floor.

My marriage looked about the same.

I didn't look back. I walked straight for the front door, and not a single person tried to stop me.

The moment I walked out of the Brightwell Corporation building, the four o'clock sun hit my eyes so hard they stung.

I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, powered it off, and dropped it into my bag. Then I hailed a cab. "The airport, please."

Breeze Island was beautiful, but I'd always preferred Azure Isles.