Chapter 3 · Why I Walked Away

Chapter 3

And that sunny morning, he was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, shirtless. I'd just woken up, and before I could even call out to him, he said softly, "You know, Gianna, it's really good having you here."

I couldn't tell anyone that I still hadn't moved on.

The contradiction was that I also refused to be just some rich guy's accessory.

In the quiet of the night, I whispered to the empty apartment, "Cinderella, this is your world. Wake up and face it."

I knew it was going to be a painful withdrawal, but there was no turning back. I knew what I wanted.

I wanted equality, to never be looked down on, to be truly respected.

I switched jobs and joined Horizon Media Group.

Three years later, I'd firmly established myself there.

During that time, I heard Benjamin had gotten into a relationship.

Not long after, I heard they broke up.

Then came the news that Benjamin was going abroad.

The night before he left, he sent me a photo. A picture of me from three years ago.

I opened it, zoomed in, and studied that version of myself. The girl in the photo was smiling gently, sweetly, but she felt almost like a stranger.

In the picture, Benjamin's hand was resting on my head. The only part of him visible in the shot.

I tried hard to remember when this was taken, but I couldn't.

Just as I was about to reply, my phone rang. It was my boss, Scarlett.

It was one of those hectic nights. I had to finalize three proposals, go back and forth with the execution team, and prepare a backup plan.

Scarlett was calling to check on my progress.

By the time everything was wrapped up, it was already 3 AM.

At 7 AM sharp, I was back at the office.

The project closed successfully, and Scarlett was so pleased that she gave our team half the day off.

Only then did I pick up my phone and see Benjamin's messages.

Along with the reply I'd meant to send last night but forgot.

Last night's text read: [Gianna, my flight's tomorrow at 11:30 AM. Can you come see me off?]

Today's said: [I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself.]

I checked the time, 10:50 AM.

I stood frozen for a full minute.

Without really thinking, I grabbed my bag and rushed out.

But I was too late.

When I got home, I told Ella about what happened.

She asked, "If you'd replied in time, if you'd seen him... what would you have done?"

I smiled. "Just wanted to say goodbye. Nothing more."

Ella nodded. "Then maybe it's better you didn't go. The more time passes, the more I realize how right your decision was. These past couple of years, there's been no shortage of women around him. Who knows how many he's been with..."

I stayed quiet and changed the subject. "I've got half a day off. Wanna go out somewhere?"

"Sure! It's rare for you to get time off. Let's go. Anywhere you want," she said.

Scarlett walked in and tossed a file onto Monica's desk. "Monica, got some good news. Scored you a great assignment."

What she called a "great assignment," we all knew really meant "a tough nut to crack."

Monica flipped open the folder, and Jackson's handsome face stared back at her.

Scarlett took off her coat, revealing her well-maintained figure. "Jackson, heir to the Brooks Group. His name could fill a two-thousand-word feature."

Monica joined the company around the same time I did. She was highly capable, and her personal motto was about challenging herself and daring to go first.

Monica gave a confident OK sign. "I'll take it."

But Jackson was difficult. Monica ended up botching the interview.

Jackson called Scarlett directly. "Your company's level of professionalism is truly eye-opening. I'm reconsidering whether to continue working with you."

Scarlett glanced at Monica's crestfallen face, then walked toward her office while replying, "Mr. Brooks, I was just about to call and explain..."

Scarlett handed the task over to me.

The next day, I met Jackson.

When David and I walked in, he was sitting in his chair, facing the floor-to-ceiling window while on a call.

"Calandia's got nothing on Ethelyvia. Just come back already. I'll crack open a '90 Romanée-Conti to celebrate..."

His chair swiveled around, and Jackson's easy smile froze on his face. He stared blankly for a few seconds before saying into the phone, "Hey man... guess who I'm looking at right now?"

I couldn't hear what the other person said.

Chapter 3

I couldn't tell anyone that I still hadn't moved on.

The contradiction was that I also refused to be just some rich guy's accessory.

In the quiet of the night, I whispered to the empty apartment, "Cinderella, this is your world. Wake up and face it."

I knew it was going to be a painful withdrawal, but there was no turning back. I knew what I wanted.

I wanted equality, to never be looked down on, to be truly respected.

I switched jobs and joined Horizon Media Group.

Three years later, I'd firmly established myself there.

During that time, I heard Benjamin had gotten into a relationship.

Not long after, I heard they broke up.

Then came the news that Benjamin was going abroad.

The night before he left, he sent me a photo. A picture of me from three years ago.

I opened it, zoomed in, and studied that version of myself. The girl in the photo was smiling gently, sweetly, but she felt almost like a stranger.

In the picture, Benjamin's hand was resting on my head. The only part of him visible in the shot.

I tried hard to remember when this was taken, but I couldn't.

Just as I was about to reply, my phone rang. It was my boss, Scarlett.

It was one of those hectic nights. I had to finalize three proposals, go back and forth with the execution team, and prepare a backup plan.

Scarlett was calling to check on my progress.

By the time everything was wrapped up, it was already 3 AM.

At 7 AM sharp, I was back at the office.

The project closed successfully, and Scarlett was so pleased that she gave our team half the day off.

Only then did I pick up my phone and see Benjamin's messages.

Along with the reply I'd meant to send last night but forgot.

Last night's text read: [Gianna, my flight's tomorrow at 11:30 AM. Can you come see me off?]

Today's said: [I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself.]

I checked the time, 10:50 AM.

I stood frozen for a full minute.

Without really thinking, I grabbed my bag and rushed out.

But I was too late.

When I got home, I told Ella about what happened.

She asked, "If you'd replied in time, if you'd seen him... what would you have done?"

I smiled. "Just wanted to say goodbye. Nothing more."

I stayed quiet and changed the subject. "I've got half a day off. Wanna go out somewhere?"

"Sure! It's rare for you to get time off. Let's go. Anywhere you want," she said.

Scarlett walked in and tossed a file onto Monica's desk. "Monica, got some good news. Scored you a great assignment."

What she called a "great assignment," we all knew really meant "a tough nut to crack."

Monica flipped open the folder, and Jackson's handsome face stared back at her.

Scarlett took off her coat, revealing her well-maintained figure. "Jackson, heir to the Brooks Group. His name could fill a two-thousand-word feature."

Monica joined the company around the same time I did. She was highly capable, and her personal motto was about challenging herself and daring to go first.

Monica gave a confident OK sign. "I'll take it."

But Jackson was difficult. Monica ended up botching the interview.

Jackson called Scarlett directly. "Your company's level of professionalism is truly eye-opening. I'm reconsidering whether to continue working with you."

Scarlett glanced at Monica's crestfallen face, then walked toward her office while replying, "Mr. Brooks, I was just about to call and explain..."

Scarlett handed the task over to me.

The next day, I met Jackson.

When David and I walked in, he was sitting in his chair, facing the floor-to-ceiling window while on a call.

"Calandia's got nothing on Ethelyvia. Just come back already. I'll crack open a '90 Romanée-Conti to celebrate..."

His chair swiveled around, and Jackson's easy smile froze on his face. He stared blankly for a few seconds before saying into the phone, "Hey man... guess who I'm looking at right now?"

I couldn't hear what the other person said.