Chapter 2
Thirty minutes later, I limped into the office building.
Everyone kept giving me these pitying looks.
At the break room coffee machine, I overheard two coworkers gossiping:
“So it’s actually happening? Damon’s really ditching Reyna for that new girl Sage?”
“Girl, you missed this morning’s drama. Sage got a tiny period stain on her skirt and Damon literally swept her off her feet, carried her to his
corner office in front of the entire senior staff.”
I fumbled my coffee mug. It hit the floor and shattered.
The gossip stopped cold.
That day, I worked late until 10 PM.
Suddenly felt something heavy on my shoulders–Damon had draped his blazer over me.
“Rey, I texted you earlier. Why’d you ghost me?”
Without turning around, I checked my notifications:
[What kind of boba do girls usually order?]
Three years back, watching all the bubble tea shops popping up everywhere, I’d playfully teased him, “It’s so cold out, want to grab some bubble tea? It’ll warm your stomach and your heart ~”
He’d looked at me like I was insane: “Reyna, you’re pushing thirty. Don’t be basic.”
But here he was with bubble tea.
When I ignored it and kept working, he looked confused: “Didn’t you used to beg me for this stuff?”
I brushed him off: “Too much caffeine this late.”
After an awkward silence: “I’m gonna hit the men’s room, then we’ll head home.”
Thirty seconds later, his iPhone lit up on my desk.
Text from Sage: [omg Damon you dork!! who orders like 20 bubble teas at once Imaooo are you trying to make me chunky??]
I kept my expression blank and turned back.
We got home around 11.
I went straight to our bedroom and started packing my personal stuff.
When Damon got out of his shower, he immediately noticed my vanity was half empty.
“Rey, I’m flying to London next month for that merger. Text me a wishlist of stuff you want me to bring back.”
Without hesitation: “Don’t worry about it. I’m good.”
I’d be long gone by then anyway.
Damon tossed his towel on our bed and glared: “So you’re gonna keep this passive–aggressive thing going just because I bought the wrong
Betray
Chapter 2
breakfast?”
I started to explain I wasn’t mad.
He cut me off with a bitter laugh: “You know I can’t deal with manipulative games. You’re way out of line here.”
With that, he stormed into his office and slammed the door.
Seven years of this pattern–Damon starting cold wars, me crawling back to apologize.
Not this time. I honestly didn’t give a damn anymore.
He stayed locked in there all night, probably expecting me to come begging.
Never happened.
Next morning I made breakfast for two out of habit.
Just as I finished eating and grabbed my work bag, Damon emerged looking pissed.
He waved his phone at me: “Take a personal day. I need you to recreate this fondant cake exactly. Have it ready by 5.”
Since we’d gotten serious, I’d been making Damon’s birthday cake from scratch every year.
I recognized that cartoon character on his screen–Sage’s profile pic from Snapchat.
Dead silence in our living room.
Just as Damon was probably realizing how ridiculous his demand was, I nodded.
“AirDrop me the photo. I’ll hit Williams Sonoma for supplies.”
Seven years ago at that work happy hour, if Damon hadn’t intervened when my sleazy manager cornered me, I would’ve been toast.
After this cake, we’d be even.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.