Chapter 4
Summer went to work as usual on Monday. During lunch, her father called.
“There's my girl. I'm in town on business, and I'm right outside your building. Come down.”
Delighted, she hurried downstairs and joined him at a nearby café.
At the end of her lunch break, he hugged her and brought several gifts out of his car.
She was still smiling when she entered the building. Then she noticed the peculiar looks everyone was giving her.
Back in the executive office, she found Vivian sitting at her desk, watching her with mocking contempt.
“I've been wondering, Summer. How much does that old man pay to sleep with you?”
Summer frowned sharply. “What are you talking about?”
A coworker who had never liked her spoke up.
“The pictures are in the group chat. You hugging that old guy, and all those gifts he gave you. His hair's already gray, and you're still getting into bed with him? Have you no shame?”
Vivian laughed.
“You have to work with what you've got if you want a sugar daddy. Someone who looks like Summer can only get an old man. What young guy would want her?”
Laughter broke out around them.
Summer checked the pictures in the chat, then looked up.
“That's my father.”
The others hesitated. Vivian only laughed harder.
“Your daddy, sure. His car costs over a million dollars. His clothes are custom-made. And look at you in that bargain-rack outfit—”
“Vivian.”
Adrian emerged from the conference room and moved through the crowd.
“Ms. Bennett isn't that kind of person.”
He had seen the pictures too. He didn't recognize the man, but Summer had worked for him for years. He knew she wasn't like that.
Vivian's expression tightened. She pointed at the bags in Summer's hands.
“Do you know her that well, Adrian? Why would someone give her all those luxury gifts if he wasn't keeping her?”
She pulled open Summer's drawer and took out a pen.
“And this? How could an assistant afford a pen worth over a hundred thousand dollars unless someone was paying for her?”
Both Summer and Adrian went still.
He had given her that pen after a business trip the previous year.
Summer instinctively looked at him. His answering look held a warning.
She understood. She wasn't to reveal their relationship.
The man who had just defended her spoke coldly.
“Ms. Bennett's inappropriate conduct has damaged the company's reputation. Demote her three grades and cancel her annual performance award and bonus.”
That settled it.
Summer stiffened. She stared at him in disbelief, digging her nails into her palm.
To hide the truth about a pen, he would let Vivian ruin her reputation? He would condemn her himself?
What had five years of loving him and staying by his side meant to him?
Her eyes reddened, but only for a moment. She quickly regained control.
It didn't matter. Whatever he chose to think or do, she was done caring.
Her coworkers whispered around her. Their contemptuous glances hurt, but she no longer wanted to argue. Even another sentence felt exhausting.
She would be gone soon anyway. Once she went home and her identity became public, the truth would be obvious.
She nodded.
“Understood.”
Adrian had feared she might blurt out their relationship. He hadn't expected her simply to accept his decision.
His chest tightened with guilt and an unfamiliar apprehension.
Watching her push through the crowd and return to her desk, he suddenly spoke.
“This ends here. No one is to bring it up again or discuss it privately. Anyone who does will be fired.”
Everyone lowered their eyes and hurried away.
Summer resumed her work. Later, as she came out of the restroom, Adrian caught her arm and pulled her into the stairwell.
