Chapter 4

For a moment, I thought I'd misheard him.

A wedding?

Now?

I'd spent years asking Callum when we were finally going to get married.

Every time I brought it up, he had another excuse.

The company wasn't stable enough. We needed to secure another investor. He couldn't afford distractions while expanding the business.

There was always something more important.

At work, he'd insisted we keep our relationship strictly professional.

I wasn't allowed to call him by his first name in front of our colleagues unless everyone else did. He didn't want us arriving at the office together, either.

He said people might accuse him of giving me special treatment.

I'd understood.

Or at least, I'd tried to.

For six years, I'd taken the train to work every morning while Callum drove his car.

We didn't hold hands at company events. We didn't post pictures together. Most of our employees had no idea we were engaged.

I'd convinced myself that if I stayed patient, he'd eventually be ready.

And now he was offering me the wedding I'd always wanted.

All I had to do was become Briar's assistant.

I almost laughed.

Apparently, marrying me was only worth considering when he needed me to do something for another woman.

I opened my mouth to respond, but a familiar voice came through the phone.

"Callum, maybe this isn't a good idea."

Briar.

Of course she was with him.

"I mean, having Maren work under me? She's already so upset. What if she starts taking it out on me?" Her voice trembled. "I know I'm not as experienced as she is. I'm probably not even smart enough for the position."

"Don't say that, Briar," Callum replied immediately.

His voice turned gentle.

"You're doing great. And don't worry about Maren. I'll make sure she treats you properly."

The tenderness in his voice made my stomach turn.

He sounded more like Briar's boyfriend than mine.

I cut in before she could start crying again. "You seriously expect me to work as Briar's assistant?"

Callum sighed. "We've been over this."

"If she's qualified enough to take over my position, she shouldn't need me holding her hand through every project."

"Maren, don't start."

"Let her handle the accounts herself. I'm sure she'll do a wonderful job."

There was a pause.

Then Callum's voice hardened.

"What exactly is your problem? I just agreed to marry you. Isn't that what you've been asking for all these years?"

I stared at the empty living room.

He genuinely thought he was doing me a favor.

"You're unbelievable," I said.

"No, you're being impossible. I'm giving you everything you wanted, and you're still finding reasons to complain."

He let out an irritated breath.

"Fine. If you don't want to appreciate the opportunity, don't come crying to me when you regret it."

The call ended.

I looked at my phone for a moment before setting it aside.

I called the cleaning service again to confirm the appointment and started unpacking.

By the time the condo was clean, I finally felt comfortable enough to stretch out on the couch.

I opened my laptop and scrolled through industry news, catching up on developments I'd missed while dealing with Callum.

Then my phone buzzed.

An incoming video call from Briar.

I considered ignoring it.

But I was curious what she wanted.

I answered.

Briar was sitting in Callum's office.

Not just anywhere.

In his chair.

She leaned back comfortably, examining her freshly manicured nails while angling the camera to show off the room.

"Hi, Maren!"

Her smile was almost painfully sweet.

"Sorry to bother you. I'm working late with Callum, and I thought I'd say hello."

I said nothing.

She turned the camera toward the desk.

"He's actually getting me some water right now. Isn't that sweet?"

I glanced at the familiar office.

Callum hated people touching his things.

He'd once fired an employee for entering his office without permission to drop off some documents.

Even I wasn't allowed to go through his desk or use his chair.

Yet Briar was sitting there as if she owned the place.

She tilted her head.

"Has Callum ever let you work in here with him?"

I didn't answer.

Her smile widened.

"Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you! He's officially transferred all your accounts to me."

She adjusted her hair.

"I'm taking over your position as vice president, too. Can you believe it?"

I could, actually.

Callum had made his intentions perfectly clear.

Briar leaned closer to the camera.

"I guess things change, huh? One day you're running the place, and the next day you're out."

I smiled.

"Congratulations, Briar. I hope you do an amazing job."

She blinked, clearly disappointed by my reaction.

"Thanks. I will."

"I'm sure you will. Just try not to bankrupt the company before the end of the month."

Her smile disappeared.

"You little—"

A door opened somewhere behind her.

"Briar?"

Callum's voice.

She immediately straightened in his chair.

"I should go!"

The screen went black.

I shook my head.

If Callum genuinely trusted Briar to manage every project I'd left behind, he was in for a rude awakening.

But that wasn't my problem anymore.

The next morning, I went to Asterion Group to meet with their hiring team.

Everything went smoothly. We discussed my responsibilities, compensation, and start date.

I agreed to join as soon as the final paperwork was completed.

Walking out of their building, I felt better than I had in months.

I was halfway down the block when I heard a familiar voice.

"Callum, look! What's going on over there?"

I turned.

Callum and Briar were standing across the street.

A crowd had gathered outside a shopping plaza, where a local radio station was hosting a couples' kissing contest.

The prize was a brand-new kitchen appliance.

Briar's eyes lit up.

"That looks so fun!"

She grabbed Callum's arm.

"Come on, let's enter!"

I almost smiled.

Callum hated that sort of thing.

He'd always called public competitions embarrassing and childish.

There was no way he'd agree.

But then he looked down at Briar and smiled.

"Sure, sweetheart. Whatever you want."