Chapter 6

I slept fitfully, my mind a carousel of images: Ryan’s shocked face, Sophia’s smug smirk, and, oddly, Alexander Carter’s piercing gray eyes watching me in the rearview mirror.

The weekend crawled by in a haze. I spent most of the time curled up on my couch, binging old movies, eating take- out, and ignoring the world, especially Ryan’s desperate attempts to reach me. I let myself grieve, but by Sunday night, I was done crying; Ryan didn’t deserve another tear.

Monday morning arrived with brutal efficiency. I dragged myself into the shower, letting the hot water pound away the remnants of Friday night’s disaster. No tears; I’d shed enough of those already. Ryan didn’t deserve them.

I wrapped myself in a towel and stared at my closet. What does one wear after catching their boyfriend balls-deep in another woman?

I opted for armor: a crisp white blouse, a black pencil skirt, and highest heels. The kind of outfit that said, “I’m fine, fuck you very much.”

The cab ride to Carter Enterprises took twenty minutes. I spent it scrolling through Ryan’s increasingly desperate

texts.

“Baby, please let me explain”

“It was a mistake.”

“Call me.”

“I love YOU, not her.”

Delete. Delete. Delete. Delete.

Carter Enterprises occupied a gleaming sixty-story tower in downtown Los Angeles. I’d been working there for eight months as a junior marketing executive, and despite the drama of my personal life imploding, I still felt a flutter of pride walking through those glass doors.

The elevator whisked me to the 42nd floor. I stepped into the marketing department, where Nova was already at her desk, sipping her usual triple-shot espresso.

“Morning, sunshine!” she called, then squinted at me. “You look different. New lipstick?”

“New life status. Single.” I dropped my bag at my desk.

Before Nova could respond, Vivian breezed in, her red curls bouncing as she walked. “Ladies, you won’t believe the email I just got. Apparently, the big boss himself will be sitting in on our presentation this week.”

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Chapter 6

Carter?” I nearly choked on the

tr

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“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost? It’s

If only she knew.

just surprised,” I managed. “He

of folders and her phone. “Sorry, I’m late. The barista got my

presentation,

Which one should I

presentation,” I said quickly. “It’s

face me fully.

caught him fucking Sophia at

All three women froze.

rushed off

I nodded.

cunt,” Nova

dick falls off,”

almost verbatim what Emilia said,” I laughed

Vivian leaned in, hungry

spot and left. End of

firmly. “You

someone with a bigger dick and a functioning moral compass,”

I begged. “I have the social media analytics

their desks, but I caught them shooting

myself in spreadsheets and engagement metrics, grateful for the distraction. The last thing

taken his grandfather’s company and transformed it into a multinational corporation in less than a decade. The tabloids occasionally linked him with

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Chapter 6

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connect the dots between the disheveled

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