Chapter 2

That day, I went out of town to pitch a crucial account to a major client. Landing this deal was my ticket to the project director position at the firm.

I had spent months preparing for this pitch.

Just as Mr. Vance and I reached the most critical point of the negotiation, my phone in my pocket buzzed violently, over and over.

"My apologies, Mr. Vance."

I offered an apologetic smile, pulling out my phone to turn on Do Not Disturb so nothing would disrupt this career-defining meeting.

Yet the screen lit up with a text from Chloe. Against my better judgment, I tapped it open.

"Hubby, you're away and I'm so bored. I invited Ryan over to keep me company. You don't mind, right?"

What? She brought her guy best friend into our home?

A spike of rage shot straight to my brain.

Every man naturally despises those ambiguous "guy best friends" who lurk around his wife without boundaries.

Let alone inviting him inside our private home!

Before I could type a reply, another notification popped up.

A photo.

The moment the image loaded, my pupils contracted, and the blood in my veins turned to ice.

In the picture, Chloe and her best friend, Ryan, were lying in our bed completely naked, locked in an intimate embrace.

Chloe was staring straight into the camera lens with a smirk that dripped with sickening provocation and smugness!

Beneath the picture was a line of text that pierced me like a poisoned blade: "Hubby, I was just too lonely, and his body is insane. I couldn't resist. Please forgive me just this once."

"Chloe! What the hell are you doing?!"

I lost all control. The rage erupted inside me as I shot up from my chair and roared at my phone screen.

"Enough!"

A voice dripping with cold fury snapped from across the table.

I froze, reality hitting me like a truck. Mr. Vance was already on his feet, his face thunderous, his eyes filled with utter disgust and contempt.

"I assumed your firm was here to negotiate in good faith. Clearly, I was mistaken. Mr. Hayes, since your personal drama is so thrilling and demanding, let's not waste any more time. This deal is off!"

Panic gripped my throat. It felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head, snapping me out of my trance.

"Mr. Vance! Please, let me explain! It's a complete misunderstanding! Please give me one more chance!"

I scrambled around the conference table, practically begging on my knees.

Mr. Vance merely yanked his arm from my grip, turned, and stormed out of the conference room without looking back, leaving only a slammed door.

It was over. The project was gone.

My hands trembling uncontrollably, I dialed Chloe's number. I needed to know what demonic madness had possessed her!

Ring...

The phone rang just once before being aggressively hung up!

A second later, a notification pinged.

It was Chloe's final text:

"Hubby, stop calling. You're interrupting us. Talk later, bye."

"Aaargh!"

A guttural roar tore from my chest. I smashed my fist onto the conference table so hard my knuckles split.

With shaking fingers, I typed a reply:

"Chloe, I thought you were just dramatic, but I never realized you were such a shameless slut!"

I tapped send. A glaring red exclamation mark flashed onto the screen!

Message failed.

Refusing to believe it, I dialed her number again. She had blocked me everywhere—my calls, SnapChat, Instagram, every single channel!

"Chloe! You bitch!"

I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms, blinding rage consuming every shred of my sanity.

I needed to get home immediately. That woman was going to give me an explanation, or I would tear the world apart!