Chapter 1
After seven years of hustling side by side with Darcy Jenning, we finally made it. Our company went public.
But that very day, he blocked me on social media and officially announced his relationship with the girl he'd always cherished.
My social media blew up instantly.
Someone commented, [Ms. Windrow quit a high-paying job to help you build this company from scratch. Now that you've made it big, you're just kicking her to the curb?]
Darcy replied impatiently: [Back then, I was broke, so I didn't have a choice.
[After seven years with her, I'm even more convinced that if I ever get married, it has to be to someone I truly love.]
His friend kept trying to talk him out of it.
They wrote: [Ms. Windrow's the one running most of the company right now. If she quits because of this, what are you going to do?]
Darcy hesitated for a moment, but then quickly made up his mind.
He replied: [She's just a secretary. Anyone could do her job. The company doesn't need her.]
What he didn't realize was that, on the other side of the screen, I was watching his account. He hadn't logged it out of my device.
I finished off my iced coffee and booked a flight home, leaving in three days.
My resignation letter was still coming out of the printer when the office door swung open.
Darcy strode in, dropped a file on my desk, and said curtly, "Ms. Windrow, redo this report."
He didn't even look at me, eyes glued to his phone, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
I knew that smile all too well.
Back in college, he always had that exact smile on his face whenever he got a reply from Naomi Craig.
Seven years later, it almost slipped my mind that he could ever show that gentle side.
But he never showed that for me.
I said calmly, "Mr. Jenning, finance already cleared this report yesterday."
He finally looked up, his brow furrowing. "I said redo it. Got a problem with that?"
I lowered my eyes, absently running my fingers over the body of the pen.
It was a birthday gift from Darcy, back when I first joined the company. It was not some designer pen, but he'd chosen it for me.
"Sure, I'll get it to you by tomorrow," I replied.
"I need it by the end of the day," he said, turning to leave.
Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Also, order me a box of liqueur chocolates. Make sure they're imported from Almothayar. It's for a gift."
I felt a pang in my chest. "For a client?"
He said with a teasing glint in his eyes, "What's wrong, Ms. Windrow? Are you jealous? Don't worry, it's for a client.
"If you want some, get yourself a box too. Charge it to the company."
"No, I'm cutting back on sugar," I murmured, keeping my head down as I added his request to my to-do list.
He left in satisfaction. The sound of his heels faded into the distance.
Outside the window, confetti from the IPO party still littered the ground.
Just yesterday, we were clinking glasses, celebrating the biggest win of our seven years together.
I thought it was the beginning of something new for us.
It turned out that it was just the end of my wishful dream.
At 4 PM, I emailed the updated report to Darcy.
I clocked out at 5:30 sharp.
As I walked past his office, I caught a peek through the half-open door. He was fixing his tie in the mirror.
The white roses I'd ordered were sitting on his desk.
They were waiting for the blossom. There was anticipation written all over his face.
Bailey Fletcher, my assistant, leaned in and whispered, "Ms. Windrow, is Mr. Jenning seeing someone?"
I forced a smile. "Just focus on your own work."
Standing in the elevator, I caught sight of myself staring back at me from the mirrored wall. I was thirty years old.
The light in my eyes from years ago had faded away, leaving behind nothing but the weariness of living the same routine, day after day.
When Darcy was just starting out, I put every last cent I had into the company.
At our lowest, I didn't even have 30 bucks to my name.
We'd be squeezed together in a cramped little office, barely ten square yards, eating bread.
He looked me in the eye and said, "Ms. Windrow, we're going to make it. Once we start making real money, I'll pay you a salary worth way more than 300 thousand dollars a year."
I believed him, not because I cared about the money, but because I believed that one day, he'd finally notice that I was always there for him.
Seven years on, the company's valuation had soared into the billions, yet somehow, I was no longer part of the picture he needed.
Darcy's name flashed on my screen.
"Ms. Windrow, the meeting tomorrow morning is canceled. I've got some personal matters to take care of," he said.
I knew exactly what he meant, but I still asked, "Do you need me to arrange a car for you?"
"No need, I'll pick up Naomi myself," Darcy replied.
He called her name so naturally.
"Alright, do you need me to prepare anything?" I asked, keeping my tone professional.
"No, you..." Darcy hesitated, then softened his voice. "Get some rest, okay?"
Just before he hung up, I heard Naomi's voice in the background. "Darcy, who's still calling you at this hour?"
"My secretary. I had to handle some work stuff," Darcy replied, sounding casual.
Just like that, he made sure there was a wall between us, reminding me exactly where I stood in his world.