ice, of takeout dinners eaten over architectural blueprints, of buildin

d finally make us, I thought it was the perfect moment. We were celebrati

of champagne halfway to my

ful laugh. It was a dismissive chu

le. "We land the Sterling Tower project and y

stic. After six years of sacrificing my health and my personal

taste in my mouth, wors

he' d fill my tiny apartment with flowers, he' d tell me my vision was unlike anything he' d ever seen. He promised we'

replaced by this strange

e real problem walk

ed to the team. "She's an old friend from back

n with an adoration that made my stomach turn. He introduced me

eyes. "It's so nice to finally meet y

m coffee, organized his schedule, and sat in on meetings she had no busin

into the afternoon. Then I saw the expense reports Brenda, our HR manager and my friend, discreetly left o

ied into a hard, pain

he' d made a significant error on the Sterling Tower project plans, a

ng my voice level. "This detail was clearly

led. "I'm so sorry, Ava. I've been so overwhelmed. Ethan

sob, a quiet,

elmed," I said, my patience go

"Ava, what's going on? I co

o her side, putting an arm around her should

th accusation. "Why are you yelli

my side. He didn't care about the multi-million dol

n shot through me. It w

mpty. "You need to make a c

face. "Ava, don't be so dramatic. She

e a choice to be made because, in

. I stood up, grabbing

g we had built together, and didn't look back.

e on the firs

?" Her voice was filled

spered. "Ethan and

ke, her voice firm. "Good. It's about time. Now, listen to me.

ame. A powerful family, ol

. "Their son, Liam, he's a good man. They're looking for a partne

heartbreak, my family's financial

ached, managed projects until my eyes burned, and neglected my own health for

er. An inconvenient partner to be mana

se of calm settling over me. "Tell

nt for a second. "

d as steel. "It's time I started th

dark screen. The woman staring back at me was tired

. A new chapte