Chapter 2

Back then, I'd just closed a three-million-dollar project, and I wanted Carl to take me along to the follow-up. Instead, he said he needed to avoid the appearance of favoritism.

Angry, I pressed him. Nobody around us knew we were together. What appearance was there to avoid?

His face darkened.

"Olivia Cooley, the workplace is for building a career, not for chasing after someone like a fan."

"And not every woman has that kind of potential."

From that day on, I carried the whole "avoiding favoritism" thing through to the end.

No matter how hard it rained, I never rode in his car to or from work.

In meetings, I wouldn't spare him a second glance.

In the elevator, I kept my distance.

I always thought the rule he held me to was the same rule he held for everyone else.

But now, Marina had shattered all of that.

Marina answered sweetly.

"Of course, Mr. Greer. I'll go get it ready right now."

Then she turned, and her eyes met mine.

"Olivia…"

I didn't look at her. I walked straight into Carl's office, sat down on the sofa, and tossed my employment contract onto the desk.

"I want an explanation."

He frowned.

"The contract spells it out clearly."

I let out a soft laugh.

"Three years, and all you give me is a team lead position?"

"Carl, did you call me back just so I could watch you flirt with your little protégée?"

His voice dropped low.

"Olivia, what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking nonsense?"

I met those sharp, cutting eyes of his.

"Then why does the whole company know she's your protégée, but no one knows I'm your wife?"

"Carl, am I really so… unpresentable?"

As the last words left my mouth, my chest felt stuffed full of cotton.

My nose stung, and the tears fell before I could stop them.

I hated that after all these years I still couldn't break the habit of crying at moments like this. I turned away to wipe my eyes.

When I turned back, Carl was watching me with a perfectly calm expression, like he was looking at a madwoman.

"Olivia, you're not some girl fresh out of school anymore. Don't bring your emotions into the office."

He picked up the phone in his hand, his tone gentle.

"I'll go with you. Wait for me in the parking garage. That guy's a slippery old hand, you can't handle him on your own."

Then he took a bottle of peach-flavored water from the mini fridge, twisted it open, and set it on the desk in front of me.

"When you've calmed down, we'll talk."

The door closed, and the whole floor fell silent.

I threw that bottle of peach water into the trash.

He'd forgotten. I was allergic to anything with peach in it.

The Carl from eight years ago was gone.

When I dragged my suitcase home, I found Carl's car parked downstairs, the lights on inside the apartment.

I keyed in my fingerprint. Wrong the first time. Wrong the second.

Just as I was about to try a third time, the door opened.

A head poked out. It was Marina.

When she saw it was me, she looked a little surprised.

"Olivia… what are you doing here?"

I curled my lips.

"I'm coming home to my own apartment. Is there a problem?"

"Your apartment?"

She smiled.

"You must be mistaken. This is the employee housing the company gave me. Have you been away so long you came to the wrong place?"

I shoved the door open and gave a cold laugh.

"I have been away a long time, but not long enough to forget my own home."

"Should I call the police and have someone come verify it?"

Carl came out of the bathroom, one hand drying his hair, the other dragging my suitcase inside.

When he saw me, his expression didn't change, his tone offhand.