Chapter 3

I'd lived all these years, and this was the first time I'd ever heard of this thing.

The way they were carrying on made people think Darell and Thelma were getting married tomorrow and already passing out candy for it.

It was honestly hilarious.

"Alright, then go ahead and take it," I nodded at the gift, signaling her to help herself, then sat back down at my computer.

She looked stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting her little jab to get absolutely no reaction from me.

She said, really stressing those last three words, "I know you're Darell's 'ex-girlfriend.'

"But now he's mine. So, Ms. Smith, you'd better not cross the line. Don't go after what isn't yours."

She was so naive.

I glanced at her, smiling to myself at how young she really was.

"Thelma, did you know he was still with me when he confessed to you?" I said.

Thelma's face turned ghostly pale.

I could tell instantly that she knew all along.

I asked, "So, you really think I'd go after a guy who cheats, then tries to reclaim gifts he gave his ex just to turn them into some 'official couple gift' for his new girlfriend?"

I shook my head and sighed, "Trust me, someone like that is way beneath me."

Thelma's face twisted with anger, and she was about to say something, but I cut her off, "Honestly, you're not much better.

"Storming into the supervisor's office without even knocking? That just shows you have zero manners and no clue about workplace etiquette.

"How did the company even end up hiring someone like you? Sybil, show her out."

Thelma looked like she was crying as she rushed out of the office.

Honestly, I couldn't care less. I wasn't about to waste my time on this kind of drama.

But later, the head of the tech department, Phyllis Howell, who was also a friend of mine, came to talk to me about that opening. She hesitated a bit.

Darell wasn't the only assistant manager in the tech department. There was also a female assistant manager who was just as capable as he was. She was hoping to snag a spot at HQ as well.

She said, "I thought there'd be some real competition between them, but now that Darell's showing off his thing with Thelma, it's pretty clear he's got everything sorted out.

"Watching a nobody rise up is just lame."

She pursed her lips and said, "Sally, I know they always prioritize technical talent, but you've been here for seven years now. Honestly, with your experience..."

She already knew about my history with Darell and how Thelma was backing him, so there was definitely a note of sympathy for me in her words.

I said, flipping through some documents, calm and collected, "It's fine. I trust HQ will make the right call.

"I'm not even competing for that, so there's no conflict for me."

We chatted for a bit, then I got back to work. While I was at it, I happened to see Darell's post on social media.

He'd handed out gifts to everyone in the tech department as a token to celebrate his hard-won romance.

It was unknown what the employees really thought, but when they got a freebie, it was hard to say no. So, they all liked the post and sent their congratulations.

Meanwhile, a bunch of friends who knew the real story started messaging me, totally shocked and asking what was going on.

I shot back a few replies, then before I left for the day, I had my assistant come over and asked her to book me a flight ahead of time.

Right after I said that, Darell pushed the door open without knocking, just like Thelma did earlier.

"Why are you booking a flight to HQ? Are you heading there too?" he snapped.

He was all aggressive and petty now, so different from the charming, innocent guy who used to pursue me. It was like he'd turned into a whole new person.

"Are you hoping to get promoted too?" Darell said, giving me a pitying look.

He said, stepping closer and dropping his voice, "Sally, HQ already gave your old supervisor a promotion last year. There's no way they're going to pick you again this year.

"Thelma was all smiles earlier, but you made her lose face. Now she's sulking, saying she might have to rethink who gets the HQ spot.

"Sally, I'm just putting on a show with her. Once I make it to HQ, I'll ditch her for sure.

"Don't you want to get into HQ too? With me leading the way, bringing you in will be a walk in the park.

"Just bear with it a little longer, for my sake, alright?"

He wore that smug look, as if he was granting me some grand favor with his promises.

Honestly, it felt like I was watching a clown show. I couldn't even tell what the hell he was trying to do.

The moment he landed abroad, I'd probably get a breakup text from him.

"Next time, get me a keypad lock for my door. I don't want any unannounced visitors barging in without knocking," I told my assistant.

After giving the order, I finally looked up and gave Darell a cold look.

I said, "Endure?

"Mr. Parham, are you seriously asking me to stay here and tolerate all this just so I can make sure everyone knows about your little affair?"

"I told you, I didn't cheat!" Darell snapped.

I noticed that whenever I mentioned cheating, Darell would get really worked up.

If he'd just been upfront and admitted he was ditching me to move up in the world, I could've respected him for at least being honest.

But the way he was acting now just made me feel even more disgusted.

I said with a cold smile, "No cheating? So what about you hooking up with Thelma in hotel rooms dozens of times over the past six months?

"And just last week, you were checking out villas abroad for you two to shack up together.

"Darell, you really think a fool like you could ever trick me?"

Darell's face darkened, looking absolutely mortified.

He was completely blindsided. I'd uncovered way more than he ever imagined.

Darell said, his voice suddenly turning threatening, "Sally, if you really want to end things like this, then fine, I can't stop you.

"Yeah, I admit I got close to Thelma for my own reasons at first, but after getting to know her, she's honestly way out of your league.

"Keep acting like this, and I won't even bother pretending. I'll just make things real with her. As for you...

"Next time you show up at HQ, you'll be the one knocking on my door.

"Don't regret it later."