Chapter 2
The bathroom was quiet except for the dripping faucet. Gavin toweled off and automatically reached for his clothes, but found nothing on the hook. For years, Cecilia had always hung his clothes there, neatly prepared. Now the bare hook just reminded him she was gone.
He hesitated just a moment before heading to the closet. Putting on his suit, he tried two different ties, but neither looked right. Annoyed, he ripped them off and left his collar hanging open.
Then he went downstairs, only to find the kitchen cold and empty, with no steaming coffee or plates set out. Lips pressed tight, he left for work without eating.
X
In the CEO’s office, Frank Murphy did a double–take. He never saw his boss eating at his desk before. Leaning in, he said. “Mr. Foster, the morning meeting has been canceled as instructed. Ms. Yates is starting today. I’ve got her set up by your office. She’ll be handling your schedule from now on.”
Gavin looked up, his gaze catching on Stella in her navy suit. His hand stopped in the air. For a second, he could almost see Cecilia sitting in her usual spot by the window.
Shaking off his thoughts, Gavin cleared his throat and gave Frank a half–hearted nod. “Right.” The word came out flat as his eyes drifted back to his own desk.
Frank passed Gavin the project team list for the upcoming exhibition. As Gavin scanned the document, Cecilia’s name jumped out at him from the planners‘ section.
He frowned at the paper. “The Jewelry Exhibition is one of our toughest projects this year.” Tapping the file with his pen, he added, “Since when does Cecilia handle event planning? She’s pushing herself too hard just to prove something.”
Gavin seemed to have forgotten that he and Cecilia both graduated from Aletheia University. “Well, when she can’t handle it, she’ll realize the secretary team is where she fits best.” He tossed the file aside. “Keep her old desk available, Frank.”
Cecilia silenced her sixth alarm and finally woke at 10 am, every muscle protesting last night’s moving chaos. She had worked until dawn, calling in her best friend for emergency help, scrambling to hire last–minute cleaners, hauling boxes until midnight, before finally collapsing in her new villa.
Years back, Cecilia had hoped to reclaim her family’s foreclosed villa, but Gavin’s last–minute schedule change made her miss the auction.
As an apology, he bought her this quiet villa instead. She furnished every inch of the place, though she never actually stayed there. Just having her name on the deed gave her a security nothing else could.
She had more than just the villa. There was also a downtown apartment and a BMW coupe. When the relationship ended, she took everything that belonged to her, no apologies, no explanations.
She wasn’t about to play the self–sacrificing fool just to make some grand gesture. What was hers stayed hers, simple as that.
In the kitchen, Cecilia cooked breakfast with her phone on speaker. “Hello, I’d like to cancel the wedding dress I previously ordered. There’s no need to deliver it. Please dispose of it for me. Thank you.”
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Her best friend, Chloe Norris, walked in yawning, her throat parched. Cecilia pushed a warm mug toward her with an understanding look. “Morning. Made you some honey water.” Chloe cradled the mug in both hands, smiling her thanks.
After listening to Cecilia’s sudden breakup story the night before, Chloe had ranted about that jerk for hours until her voice went hoarse. She checked the clock and rasped, “Shouldn’t you be at work? Did Foster Group go under or what?”
“I’m with Project Division now, finally getting proper weekends off. And I think I’m going to quit.” Cecilia set down plates with sandwiches, flashing a tired but genuine smile. “Fridge is bare, but this’ll do for now.”
Chloe took an eager bite, her eyes lighting up with surprise. “Even your sandwich tastes amazing,” she mumbled through a full mouth, crumbs tumbling onto her lap. She quickly brushed them away before leaning in curiously. “So what’s the plan after quitting?”
Cecilia’s fingers trembled slightly as she traced the edges of the faded family photo. Taking a shaky breath, she whispered, “I haven’t designed a single piece since Dad died.” A determined glint flashed in her eyes as she straightened her shoulders. “But maybe now it’s the time to try again?”
Chloe’s eyes lit up as she seized Cecilia’s hands, her grip warm and insistent. “Of course,” she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. “The Jordan family used to be the top jewelry name in Kingsford. Your hands were made for designing, not cooking for some man.”
Chloe’s excitement was infectious. Cecilia felt it too, her eyes lighting up with new possibilities. “What if we opened our own studio?” she ventured, then bit her lip. “I would need a partner, though my savings won’t quite cover everything yet.”
“Took you long enough to ask,” Chloe chuckled, her eyes dancing. “After my divorce, I took half that bastard’s fortune. The interest alone keeps me comfortable. I believe in your talent. I’ll handle the startup money. Let’s go big or go home.”
Chloe immediately picked up her phone to order champagne and flowers. The celebratory pop of the cork signaled their new beginning.
Still in their pajamas, they clinked glasses with exaggerated formality, pretending to toast their future fortunes. Then they collapsed into laughter and a tight embrace.
On Monday, Cecilia caught bits of restroom gossips before the meeting. Two colleagues were whispering that her transfer to Project Division looked like a demotion, especially since Gavin had brought in some bright young girl as his new secretary.
Cecilia shoved the stall door open with a loud bang. The two gossiping women at the sinks froze, one with lipstick smeared across her teeth, the other clutching a half–applied mascara wand in stunned silence.
Meeting their startled reflections in the mirror, Cecilia simply walked past without a word. There was no point arguing with office gossips. They would only twist your words anyway.
**
Cecilia’s exhibition plan showed real thought and attention to detail, surprising Project Manager David Zachary, who had assumed she was just another pretty face.
When she handed in her resignation, David frowned. “Quitting so soon after transferring? At least think it over.”
“Just personal reasons,” Cecilia said with a quiet smile. “But don’t worry, I’ll see the exhibition through to the end.”
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She had set a 30–day reminder on her phone. This final month would be her professional swan song, a chance to leave on her own terms with every project completed properly.
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At the dinner party, Gavin stumbled out drunk, cigarette dangling from his lips as he dialed. When his Maybach arrived, only assistant Frank stepped out. One friend, Charles Lewis, asked in confusion. “Where’s Cecilia? She always picks you up.”
“Ms. Jordan isn’t Mr. Foster’s secretary anymore,” Frank explained. Every head turned toward Gavin, clearly wondering if something had gone wrong between him and Cecilia.
They all knew Gavin and Cecilia had been planning their wedding just weeks earlier. This sudden split didn’t make any
sense.
Gavin’s expression soured as the alcohol’s warmth drained from his face. “She overreacted to some stupid misunderstanding,” he muttered, grinding his cigarette into the pavement. “If she wants to break up, fine. But I’m not begging her to come back.”
Charles shook his head in disbelief. “You two grew up together. You can’t throw that away over some petty argument.” Pulling out his phone, he added, “Let me talk to Cecilia, I’ll smooth things over.”
He put the call on speaker before saying, “Cecilia, Gavin had drunk too much. Can you come pick him up? I’ll text you the location.”
The line went silent for a few seconds before Cecilia’s voice came through, steady and final, “Not my responsibility anymore. Get someone else to babysit him.” The abrupt click of the call ending left the group stunned.
Gavin’s lips curled in amusement. “Don’t you see?” he said, eyes glinting with smug satisfaction. “This breakup is just her way of forcing me to chase her. Now you called her. She would take it as surrender. Your ‘help‘ is only making her dig in harder.”
Xavier Tate, always trying to keep the peace, ventured carefully, “But what if she’s serious this time? She only got jealous because she still cares.”
Gavin brushed off the concern with a dismissive hand, absolutely certain Cecilia would come begging. The other guys all nodded in agreement, laughing at the ridiculous idea that Cecilia would ever actually leave Gavin for good.
Cecilia’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was a message from her mother, [Cecilia, your date is tomorrow at 7pm, Peninsula Café. Are you free?]
She quickly replied that she would be there right on time, and then set her phone aside. The message had come sooner than exp
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