Chapter 2

Edward just went quiet for a moment.

Instead of texting me, he kept trying to call over and over.

But I didn't answer a single call.

I was going through the file Tina had dug up on that girl.

Sophia Reed, a rich heiress and Edward's first love.

They reconnected two years ago, right in the middle of our first year together, when things were at their sweetest.

I rubbed my temples, feeling completely lost.

"Ms. Sterling, Mr. Chase is here," Tina said.

"Joanna, I'm sorry," Edward said as he walked in.

Just like always, he breezed into my office without even knocking, and the first thing out of his mouth was an apology.

"About that camera... It's just my OCD. If the room gets messy like today, the footage helps me put everything back exactly where it was," Edward explained.

"But honestly, it's all on me," he said, looking up with a hint of pain in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. Please, don't say you want to break up. I can't handle that," he pleaded.

I gave a faint smile.

Was he really afraid of losing me, or was it losing my financial support he couldn't handle?

I said, "Edward, do you really think I'm that gullible?

"You need to get real.

"No matter how many backups you've got, our tech team won't let you get any leverage over me."

Edward's face drained of color.

"Joanna, why would you think that of me?" he said, trying to keep his composure as his fists tightened.

"I thought you would get me," he added softly.

"Oh really?" I said, amused by his ridiculous confession, my interest suddenly piqued.

I suggested, "But I've been feeling pretty insecure lately. How about you post a portrait of me on Instagram and make it public so everyone can see it?

"Show me you mean it, and maybe I'll stick around to admire your art."

Edward paused for a second, but he got what I was really saying.

He picked out a portrait of me at random and posted it on Instagram right in front of me.

Then he shot me a cold look and said, "Are you satisfied now?"

With that, he walked out of my office without another word.

I opened up Instagram and, sure enough, his friends were already teasing him in the comments, asking if he'd just posted a portrait of his girlfriend.

All because of his fragile ego, he'd never dared make our relationship public in front of his friends.

[That annoying old lady is at it again. She's got my boyfriend drawing for her, and now she even wants him to post it on Instagram.] Sophia showed up in the group chat again.

[Not that it matters. My boyfriend quickly posted something to clear things up. That's what I call feeling secure!] Sophia added.

I glanced at the screenshot Sophia sent.

[That last picture was just a commission for a client. No connection to my personal life at all.]

It was Edward's latest post.

Of course, he'd made sure I couldn't see it.

Someone snarked in the chat: [So sweet and secure! That old woman really has no boundaries. Her private life must be a total train wreck.]

Another person texted: [You guys really got the short end of the stick, huh? Sucked into this whole mess.]

I skimmed past all the jealousy, sympathy, and trash talk in the group chat, but I just felt calm.

My first meeting with Edward happened by chance.

Back then, my grandma had just passed away. I was feeling miserable, clutching her photo in the park and crying to myself.

Edward was selling art at a stall nearby. He ended up hanging out with me for a long time and finally handed me a picture he'd drawn. It was my grandma and me, both smiling and snuggled together.

Edward said softly, "Miss, I bet your grandma would rather see you smiling."

He had a warm smile. Just seeing it, I was totally taken aback. There was something about him that just pulled me in.

It turned out my bestie was dead-on about him. This artsy guy was great for some fun, but totally hopeless if I actually wanted something real.

I put my phone down, trying to shake off all that drama and focus on work. But no sooner had I started than a new group chat notification pinged up out of nowhere.

Sophia texted: [Tomorrow is my birthday, and my boyfriend just promised to buy me a hundred sets of Ferrin paints as a present.]

[I'll keep one for myself, and the other 99 are for you guys.]

[Just type "Edward & Sophia forever" in the group chat, and I'm giving away one to each person. First come, first served.]

Just as Sophia finished, Tina messaged me.

[Ms. Sterling, I've already frozen several of Mr. Chase's bank accounts just as you instructed. Anything else you'd like me to take care of?]