Even Emily looked stunned.
Before anyone could fully process what had just been said, Ryan let out a derisive chuckle, waving it off like it was nothing.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. The company just went public–how could there possibly be financial issues? Someone clearly made a mistake.”
1:03 PM d
<
Emily, as if reassured by his words, exhaled and turned to the head of finance, her expression sharp.
“Don’t spread baseless rumors like this before verifying the facts. You’re just causing unnecessary panic.”
“But it’s true…” the finance manager tried to explain, their voice trembling.
Emily cut them off with a dismissive wave. “That’s enough. Go back to your desk.”
Ryan chimed in, his tone dripping with superiority. “Yeah, get your facts straight before running in here like the sky is falling. Next time, there’ll be a penalty for this kind of behavior.”
The finance manager’s face burned red with frustration, their eyes welling up with tears.
I finally couldn’t hold back. “Maybe you should let them finish explaining.”
Ryan turned to me, his smirk condescending. “Jake, I’m surprised you’re still so invested in the company’s well–being, considering you’re on
your way out.”
Emily’s gaze snapped to me, her expression turning icy again. The brief moment of calm she’d had vanished in an instant.
“Why are you still here?” she asked coldly. “Didn’t you already quit? Get out.”
“Don’t be like that,” Ryan interjected, his voice full of fake sympathy. “Maybe Jake’s had second thoughts. Why not give him another chance?”
Emily scoffed, her tone haughty. “This isn’t a playground. If people think they can just quit and come back whenever they want, how am I supposed to manage the company?”
Ryan, ever the opportunist, offered a “solution.”
“Why not send Jake to work in security for a while? He could use some toughening up, and we can transfer him back after he learns a thing or
two.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at their little performance, the way they played off each other like a well–rehearsed act.
My earlier suggestion wasn’t out of concern for the company–I’d only spoken up because I didn’t want Emily to make a complete fool of herself. But if she refused to listen, it wasn’t my problem anymore.
I turned to leave.
Just then, commotion broke out near the entrance.
T
The crowd parted to reveal a sharply dressed middle–aged man walking in, his every step purposeful.
I recognized him immediately–he was one of the attorneys from
my dad’s firm.
Emily didn’t know him, but she still stepped forward with polite curiosity, ready to ask what was going on.
Before she could speak, the attorney handed her a letter, his tone professional and detached.
“This is a legal notice from our client. You are being sued for breach of contract, and the case will go to court in three days. Please ensure your attendance.”
Emily’s smile faltered as she took the letter. Her expression darkened as she read the contents.
If there had been any doubt before, the official letter–complete with the company name and legal stamp–made it all too real. The largest investor was pulling out, and they were suing for triple damages.
“No,” Emily muttered, her voice shaky. “This has to be a mistake. Our company doesn’t have any problems.”
She grabbed the attorney’s arm in desperation, completely losing her usual composure.
I had never seen her like this before. Normally, when things got tough, I was the one shielding her from the storm.
The attorney gently but firmly removed her hand, his expression remaining neutral.
<
“This is the company’s decision. I’m just here to deliver the notice. I suggest you take it seriously and prepare accordingly.”
With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Emily standing there, visibly shaken.
I moved to leave as well, but Emily stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
“Jake,” she demanded, her voice sharp and commanding. “Fix this. Now.”
I looked at her, taking in the faint redness in her eyes. I remembered all the times she had come to me when the company faced challenges- how at first, she’d been apologetic, sweet–talking me into helping her. Over time, though, her gratitude had turned into expectation, and then entitlement.
But no one is obligated to sacrifice themselves for someone else. Not even me.
“Sorry,” I said calmly. “I’ve already quit. This isn’t my responsibility anymore.”
I pulled out my resignation letter and held it up as a reminder. Her signature was right there, clear as day.
Normally, the resignation process would take three days, but in her anger earlier, she had rushed HR to print and sign it immediately. Ironically, her impatience had saved me the trouble.
Emily’s face twisted in fury, her complexion paling.
Ryan, however, decided to step in, his tone self–righteous.
“Jake, that’s not right,” he said. “Just because you’ve resigned doesn’t mean you can walk away from everything. You’ve been with the company for years. You’ve enjoyed the perks and benefits. Now that there’s a crisis, don’t you think you owe it to us to help out?”
He didn’t notice the way Emily’s face grew even paler at his words.
Ryan only knew about my relationship with Emily and the fact that she was the CEO. What he didn’t know was that I had poured far more into this company than she ever had.
It was my connections, my sacrifices, and my sleepless nights that had built the foundation for her success.
Maybe now, with everything crumbling around her, she was finally starting to remember that.
When Emily spoke again, her voice was unsteady, almost pleading.
“Jake…”
“There’s nothing more to say, I interrupted, my tone firm but calm. “Emily, we’re done. Let’s end this here. I’m breaking up with you.”
61 had originally planned to break up with Emily in person, but now that I think about it, there’s no point in waiting.
The moment those words left my mouth, the room erupted in a mix of gasps and murmurs.
Everyone turned to look at Emily and Ryan.
“What does he mean by that? Is he saying he and Emily were dating?““Wait, isn’t Emily dating Ryan?“…What’s going on here?”
See? Emily insisted on keeping our relationship a secret, but in the office, everyone assumed she and Ryan were the couple.
Even though Emily and I occasionally seemed close, people always chalked it up to me trying to curry favor with her. No one–not a single person–ever imagined that I was actually her fiancé.
And why was that? Well, Emily knew the answer to that better than anyone.
But I already knew how this would play out. She’d likely defend Ryan like she always did, smooth things over, and pretend nothing was out of the ordinary.
It wasn’t the first time.
Monthe 300 when someone
1:03 PM
<
Months ago, when someone in the office questioned Ryan’s competence, the rumor reached Emily. Without hesitation, she fired that person. From that moment on, people started whispering that Emily and Ryan had a “special relationship.”
I didn’t stay any longer.
The breakup announcement was done. The rest wasn’t my problem.
I left the office without looking back.
As I stepped out of the building, a sleek Rolls–Royce pulled up in front of me.
The lawyer from my dad’s firm stepped out of the car, walking over to open the back door for me. He greeted me with a polite nod.
“Mr. Carter asked me to bring you home, Jake.”
I thanked him and slid into the car.
Out of habit, I glanced up. Through the floor–to–ceiling windows of the office, I saw Emily standing there, staring down at me, her expression
frozen.
What she was thinking wasn’t my concern anymore.
The lawyer dropped me off at my parents‘ house. The moment I stepped inside, my mom rushed over to me, her eyes red and filled with worry.
She pulled me into a tight hug, fussing over me. “You’ve lost so much weight, Jake, she murmured, her voice breaking.
Seeing her like that, I felt a pang of guilt.
The truth was, I’d been struggling for years. Life with Emily had taken a toll on me. I’d lost weight, sure–but back then, I didn’t mind. I thought it was worth it.
Now, seeing the faint strands of gray in my mom’s hair, I realized how selfish I’d been.
“This is my own fault,” I thought as I looked at her.
“You’ve brought this on yourself,” my dad said, his tone dry as he sat on the couch. “We told you to stay here and take over the family business, but no, you just had to go off and ‘prove yourself. And look where that got you.”
He leaned back, crossing his arms. “Let me guess–they kicked you out, didn’t they?”
