Chapter 7

Some were crumpled. Some bore footprints. Adrian had picked them all up and stacked them neatly.

“These belong to you,” he said above her. “Vivian shouldn't have invaded your privacy. I'm sorry on her behalf.”

Summer found it almost laughable. Without looking up, she took the pages to the shredder and fed them in.

Adrian watched, his eyes darkening with renewed irritation.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

Those letters traced years of her falling for him, of loving him in secret. They were her most private thoughts.

And now she was destroying them without a pause, without the slightest hesitation or expression.

He flexed his fingers, increasingly unsettled.

“Summer…” He started to speak, then noticed her desk. “Why are you packing?”

“You've apparently forgotten, Mr. Cole. I applied for leave.”

Even if she was taking time off, why clear everything away?

Anxiety stirred, but someone behind him called him to a meeting.

He hesitated.

“Get some rest. The gossip will die down soon.”

Summer was no longer paying attention. The summons came again, and he had to leave.

She finished packing. On her way out, she passed Vivian coming in on her heels.

Vivian leaned close to her ear.

“You think you're safe because he didn't fire you? Just wait.”

Summer ignored her and walked out.

The next day, as she was packing at home, Adrian called. He sounded barely in control of his anger.

“Get back here immediately. It's about the South Bay project.”

Summer frowned. Her family's company was developing South Bay, and Cole Group was one of the bidders. She had managed the early work on their proposal. The bids were being decided that day.

Since it concerned her work, she returned as quickly as she could.

She was sent straight to Adrian's office.

As she opened the door, a folder struck her in the face, leaving a bloody scratch.

Her cheek burned. She looked up into his furious eyes.

“You sold our bid information? For money?”

“What?”

She bent to pick up the folder. Inside were screenshots of supposed conversations between her and a rival company. They claimed she had disclosed Cole Group's bid for $75,000. Another screenshot showed a matching deposit into her personal account.

She closed the folder and met his eyes, angry now herself.

“I didn't do this.”

“You're still denying it?” His anger was mixed with disappointment. “If Vivian hadn't discovered this in time for me to change our bid, we'd have lost by a single dollar. The evidence is right there. What more can you possibly say?”

He stared at her.

“Where are your standards? Your professional ethics?”

“It wasn't me.” She spoke through clenched teeth. “I'm calling the police—”

“The police? If I hadn't stopped them today, the board would already have reported you for stealing confidential information. And you're still making excuses?”

“I told you I didn't do it!” Her eyes reddened. “Mr. Cole, I want a proper investigation.”

She held his gaze. Her professional reputation was at stake. She would not accept this.

“There's no need. You sold company secrets. You're fired.”

For a moment, Summer heard nothing but a ringing in her ears. Then anger and helplessness overwhelmed her.

He was trampling everything she was. This was the man she had loved for five years.

Apparently, she didn't have to love him anymore for him to hurt her.

She looked at him for a long moment, then swallowed the explanations and arguments she had been about to make.

There was no point. The truth would come out soon enough.

She tossed her employee badge onto his desk and left without another word, walking out of Cole Group under her coworkers' contemptuous stares.

Back at her apartment, she took her luggage and ended her lease. Then she went straight to the airport and boarded a flight to Boston.

Meanwhile, news of the Bennett heiress's return after five years on her own spread across social media.

Bennett Group's official account posted a photograph of her exquisite profile beside the South Bay development plan.

[A new chapter: Summer Bennett returns to lead the South Bay project.]

The portrait drew attention almost immediately.

[Was the Bennett heiress God's final project? Because that is flawless.]

[Even heaven would stop to admire that face.]

[I'm in love. That tiny beauty mark on her nose? My heart can't take it.]

At Cole Group, Adrian accepted a tablet from his assistant and saw the announcement.

He glanced at the development plan first. Then he opened the photograph.