Chapter 1
The boss I'd secretly loved for six years was getting engaged, and not to me. I wrote my resignation in ten minutes and handed it over.
He frowned and refused to sign. I said, "Mr. Holt, I'm thirty-four. It's time I settled down."
Three days later, I was assigned to set up his engagement banquet. His fiancée clicked over in her heels and, in front of a room full of guests, poured an entire glass of red wine over my head.
"You're a secretary. Do you even know your place?" she said.
I didn't say a word. But the doorway went suddenly silent, and everyone rose to their feet.
*****
The day I found out Adrian Holt was getting engaged, I wrote my resignation letter in ten minutes.
Eight years. I started as an intern who knew nothing, and ended up as the one he relied on most.
But no matter how much he needed me, I was still just someone working for him.
He flipped the resignation letter over and over, then finally pressed it under his palm.
"Reason," Adrian spoke in a low tone.
I kept my head down.
"Mr. Holt, I'm thirty-four. My family's been pushing me, and it's time I start thinking about my personal life," I said.
After a moment, I tacked on another line. "My boyfriend proposed to me last month. I said yes."
There was no boyfriend, no proposal. But I needed a good enough excuse to finally lock away six years of unspoken feelings.
Adrian tapped his index finger against the desk.
And then tapped it again.
It was a habit he had whenever he was weighing a decision; after eight years working with him, I knew it all too well.
The office was silent.
"I can approve a long leave for you," Adrian said. "Take your wedding leave and annual leave together. No need to resign so soon."
I almost agreed.
The words were on the tip of my tongue.
But my mind snapped back to reality before I could speak; a cold wave washed over me. Adrian was getting engaged to Serena Lewis, and the whole city knew it. What was I even doing here if I stayed?
I said, "This job keeps me on call around the clock. Once I settle down, I just won't be able to juggle both work and family.
"I'll make sure everything gets handed off smoothly. There won't be any problems.
"Sorry I couldn't live up to your trust."
Adrian stared at me for a few seconds.
"Fine," he said just one word, crisp and final.
"You know the drill. Follow the rules," he added.
He slid the resignation letter to the edge of the desk, then picked up another file and started flipping through it.
"Good luck," he said.
By the time I turned to leave, he was already on the second page.
It felt like everything I'd just said was nothing but another item on his never-ending list of things to deal with.
Yeah. To him, I really was just a convenient tool.
I was useful enough that he didn't want to let me go, but that was all I ever was to him.
Back at my desk, I sat there for five minutes, not moving a muscle.
My phone lit up.
It was a message from Celine Arnold: [Evelyn, Mr. Holt said you're still in charge of the engagement party on Friday. I've sent the details to your email.]
He wanted me to be in charge of his the engagement party.
I stared at the screen, thinking how ridiculous it all was. But the next second, I replied: [Okay, let's meet tomorrow.]
Eight years of muscle memory couldn't be shaken off overnight.
At four o'clock on Friday afternoon, I arrived at the venue for the engagement party.
The Riverside Club was perched halfway up the mountain, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a sweeping view of the city skyline.
I could set everything up for Adrian with my eyes closed.
I instructed, "Switch all the flowers to champagne shades. No white, Ms. Lewis isn't a fan..
"Get two kinds of red wine ready. Mr. Holt only drinks Burgundy reds, so double-check the vintage before you serve it.
"Dim the lights one more level. No cool white; make sure all the lighting is warm."
I kept the staff busy every minute.
I personally checked every detail, the height of the flowers, the color of the chair covers, even the scent in the restrooms. Every detail matched Serena's tastes, right down to what she posted on her socials.
Nobody knew these details like I did.
Because I'd already gone through every bit of info about her, inside out, not because I wanted to compete with her, just so I could do my job perfectly.
By six-thirty, the setup was finally finished.
I stood alone in the center of the empty banquet hall, gazing up at the main stage.
On a huge wall of flowers, their names were spelled out together, side by side.
[Adrian Holt and Serena Lewis.]
I forced myself to look away.
My phone rang.
Adrian was calling.
"Evelyn, I want you at the party tonight. Nathan and a few partners will be there. Help me keep an eye on things," Adrian said.
I wanted to refuse.
But all that came out was a single word: "Okay."
Then I hung up and changed into a black dress in my car. It was something understated, nothing that would draw attention.
Tonight wasn't about me.
I knew my place.
At seven-ten, the guests started to arrive.
I picked a seat on the far side of the third row, which was quiet, out of the spotlight, just the way I liked it.