04
It had been nearly a month since I started at Jayson’s company.
At first, Wilson constantly called me relentlessly.
When I blocked his number, he started using a new one, bombarding me with calls and messages filled with memories of our
time together, each one ending with a plea for me to come back.
In the end, I changed my number.
But then he began ambushing me on my way home from work.
He looked disheveled and desperate, his eyes hollow and his face unshaven.
Marshall saw this happening one day, and he insisted on driving me to and from work. Only then did the harassment stop.
Life had been peaceful since.
At my new job, I was the Vice President.
Robyn, whom I brought along as my executive assistant, was now earning significantly more than before.
Marshall often invited me to dinner, and I’d checked off several of his high–end restaurants in the past month.
I’d even gained some weight, my complexion returning to a healthy glow.
The signs of my old, overworked self, dry, dull hair and a pale, exhausted face, had disappeared.
My hair was now sleek and shiny.
As a VP, I no longer had to work on the front lines.
Most of my responsibilities involved overseeing others, so the workload wasn’t overwhelming.
My health had recovered well. I was in much better spirits, and my appetite had improved greatly.
Marshall even joked that I looked more beautiful by the day since he’d met me.
Still, I tried not to overthink it.
Recently, Marshall left his father’s company to start his own business, a fledgling startup.
This meant we didn’t see each other much during the week, only on evenings and weekends.
Robyn often teased me, saying he clearly liked me.
While I couldn’t deny he was a wonderful person, I wasn’t ready to let myself think too much about it.
The scars from my nine–year relationship still lingered.
One day, Jayson approached me.
“Alisha, one of our project leads just left. I’d like you to take over their contract.”
I nodded. “Sure. What’s the project?”
Jayson, with his salt–and–pepper hair, gave me a sly smile. “Well, if you find it troublesome, feel free to pass it to someone else. It’s the contract with your former company. The choice is yours,”
I blinked, taken aback.
Then I chuckled wryly.
Back at my old job, I’d been the one chasing Jayson’s signature as a client.
Now, after switching companies, I’d unexpectedly found myself on the other side as the decision–maker.
Anyway, before I departed from my previous employer, the contract had reached a stage where it was on the verge of being
signed.
When I returned to my office, I asked Robyn, “Who’s the representative from my former company?”
Robyn quickly made a call and then returned with a grim expression.
12:0
us!”
“It’s Gracie,” she said. “Ms. Lopez, this contract… it’s not going to work, is it?”
I smiled faintly. “Reject it. Let’s look for a different partner.”
After so many years of hard work, I knew the ins and outs of countless companies.
I knew their strengths, weaknesses, and even their resources.
Now that I was with a new company, I had to prioritize its best interests.
This wasn’t just about their choice to send an inexperienced intern like Gracie to handle the project.
Frankly, my former company wasn’t the best option in the industry.
That evening, Marshall told me to leave work early because he had something important to discuss.
I left the office earlier than usual and headed to the parking garage.
Just as I stepped inside, a woman suddenly rushed toward me.
She threw herself at my feet, sobbing and screaming uncontrollably.
Startled, I stepped back.
It took me a moment to recognize her. It was Gracie.
Her face was pale as she trembled and wept. “Ms. Lopez, I was wrong! I was wrong! Please, I beg you, sign the contract with
Amid her incoherent sobbing, I pieced together the story.
Since my departure, the company’s operations had nearly ground to a halt.
Profits had been cut in half.
The board couldn’t accept it. They had fired nearly two–thirds of the staff, including several of my former colleagues who had learned from me and grown close to Gracie.
The only reason Gracie hadn’t been let go was because Wilson had made her responsible for securing this contract.
But when I rejected it, she became the scapegoat for losing the company’s largest and most stable client.
The board demanded that she personally compensate for the massive losses.
She was so terrified she could barely stand.
Worried, she lost her appetite for days.
Listening to her desperate pleas, I remained composed and said, “I’m sorry, but your company doesn’t meet our standards.”
Without another word, I turned and walked toward Marshall’s car.
Behind me, Gracie crumpled to the ground, utterly defeated.
That night, in the private room of an upscale restaurant, I found myself staring in shock.
Marshall was down on one knee, holding out a glittering diamond ring.
For a moment, I was speechless.
Then I stammered, “Is… is this the important thing you wanted to tell me tonight?”
Marshall nodded.
“But… aren’t we skipping a few steps?”
Having not officially defined our relationship, I was surprised when the proposal suddenly came.
I was stunned. It was so out of the blue.
Marshall gently took my hand, his voice soft and reassuring. “I do love you, but the choice is yours. So…”
He placed the ring in my palm. “Whenever you’re ready, we can get married. The timing is entirely up to you. I’ll always be here, waiting for you.”
I felt a wave of warmth wash over me, and tears welled up in my eyes.
I felt a sense of peace and security I’d never known before.
I lightly clasped his hand and murmured, “Okay. Put it on for me.”
At my words, Marshall’s face lit up with joy.
When Jayson heard the news, he was more excited than even Marshall.
He wanted to personally oversee everything about the wedding, from the date and venue to the attire.
On the day of the wedding, dressed in an exquisite white couture gown, I felt a little nervous.
Beside me, Robyn beamed with happiness.
The ceremony was lively, filled with cheers and chatter.
From a distance, I could hear Jayson boasting at a table, “Alisha is absolutely top–notch in this industry! She’s remarkable! I have spent several years convincing her to make the move to our company!”
Several big shots nodded in agreement.
The grand celebration stretched from day into night.
As the guests gradually left, I finally allowed myself to relax.
With a
y smile, I looked at Marshall beside me.
He was gently massaging my sore calves.
After bidding farewell to the last wave of guests, we got into the car.
Just as we settled in, a piercing shout rang out.
Through the rearview mirror, I saw security guards holding back a man who was trying to approach our car.
The man was disheveled, his clothes ragged, and his face unshaven.
From his voice, I recognized him. It was Wilson.
I was momentarily surprised.
Robyn had mentioned earlier that while many at my former company had been laid off, Wilson, as the general manager, should have kept his job.
But from his appearance, it was clear he had been out of work for some time.
His clothes looked like they hadn’t been changed in weeks.
Wilson struggled against the guards, his eyes bloodshot as he yelled, “How can you marry someone else? How can you? I can’t live without you, Alisha!
Alisha! Alisha! Let’s start over, okay? Please! I’ll treat you better. You can’t leave me!”
He shouted again and again.
The security guards, however, showed no mercy, dragging him away forcefully
Beside him was Gracie, clinging to him and screaming, “You can’t abandon me! You can’t! This is all your fault! All your fault!”
I closed the car door.
Through the rearview mirror, I saw Wilson impatiently kick Gracie to the ground.
Their voices grew fainter as the car turned a corner and entered another street.
All I could see now were the dazzling, joyful lights of the city.
I believed I had made the right choice.
I believed that from this moment on, we would live happily ever after.
The End.
The End
