Chapter 1Meeting's going when my boss starts coughing. Me and Joelle—we both go for our drinks. Same second.
Mine's sad lukewarm tap water. Hers? Fancy ice-cold Perrier with lime.
Boss barely looks up. Takes hers.
HR guy's watching their hands touch. Just staring.
Meeting ends. He pulls me into his office.
"Look, Hayes and Joelle dated for like eight years. You just saw that. They're getting back together."
"Austin's a promotion—sure—but it's a thousand fucking miles away."
"We can't piss off the boss. So... the transfer's gotta be you."
Something twists in my chest. "Yeah. Okay."
I walk out. Text Hayes:
[Let's get divorced.]
---
Back at my desk, I'm just staring at nothing.
Can't stop hearing Beckett's voice in my head:
"Dude, I never even saw Joelle's resume. She just... showed up one day."
"Had to go digging through old college forums just to find out they dated for like eight years."
"Now she walks into his office like—whenever. Doesn't even knock.
"And earlier? You saw that, right? Dude drank straight from her cup. Might as well kiss her."
God.
My chest feels tight. Can't breathe right.
I'm staring at this transfer contract when my coworker taps my desk.
"Hayes wants you upstairs."
"Yeah. Coming."
I shove the unsigned contract in my drawer and head up.
Soon as I'm about to knock, Hayes yanks the door open and pulls me inside.
That stupid clean cedar smell wraps around me.
He rests his chin on top of my head, voice all soft: "You look like shit. When's the last time you slept?
"Just Venmo'd you ten mil. Book a trip or something."
Before I can even open my mouth, he's already planning my life for me.
"Iceland, right? You're always going on about those Northern Lights.
"And that project you've been killing yourself over? Yeah, let's give it to Joelle. She—"
I shove him off.
He actually looks shocked for a second.
Standing there in his stupid expensive suit, collar loose like he rolled out of bed.
Looks like a fucking Calvin Klein ad. Dead inside. Still hot.
When I stay quiet, he drops the smile.
"Okay look—everyone's trashing Joelle. Saying she fucked her way in.
"She closes this, they'll back off."
I actually laugh. "You know this project's been killing me.
"I literally haven't slept through the night in months.
"And now you just wanna... what? Give it to her?"
My brain goes back to earlier. Those assholes in the break room:
"God, she's so desperate. It's pathetic.
"Like Hayes is gonna pick her water over Joelle's.
"She really thinks she's something special."
Everything just crashes down on me.
My throat's burning. I can barely get the words out.
"Fuck it. Let's just get divorced.
"You know what? You two probably should be together."
Hayes stops breathing. Just stares at me tearing up.
"Summer, I—"
The door slams open.
Joelle comes out stretching, looking way too at home. "Hayes, you remembered I sleep like shit? Blackout curtains and headphones?
"God, you're amazing."
Then she sees me. Freezes for a second.
Slaps on this fake concerned look. "Oh—wait, am I interrupting something?
"My bad. I'll go."
Grabs her bag. Right before she walks out, she turns back to Hayes with this flirty little smile.
"Oh—Grayson won't stop bitching about needing a group dinner. Says he's stressed or whatever.
"It's pouring out there. Can I ride with you?"
Hayes doesn't say anything.
Just stares at me. Drops his voice. "You know me and Grayson go way back.
"It's just dinner."
He takes a breath. Even quieter. "I'll tell you everything when I get home, yeah?
"You look dead. Just go crash—I'll get Margot to heat you up something."
I keep my head down.
Can still see her though. Just standing there with that smug-ass look on her face.
Like she won.
I'm thinking about every time I tried to bring this up. Every time Hayes shut me down with "We're done. You're my wife now."
I'm thinking about that transfer paperwork in my drawer.
My nails dig into my palm. I make my voice steady. "Fine. I'll wait.
"We should probably talk about the divorce anyway."
Nothing.
By the time I look up, they're both gone.
Just Joelle's voice carrying from down the hall:
"Honestly, I had no idea your wife was such a pick-me girl.
"Does that bother you? Her acting like that?"
Hayes sounds so fucking bored. "I've told her like a thousand times—
"Joelle and I broke up 'cause we weren't feeling it. We're not getting back together.
"I don't even get what she's so jealous about."
Elevator dings shut.
I laugh bitterly.
So that's what this is. My perfect fucking marriage. Just one big joke.
I'm done thinking about it.
Walk straight back to my desk. Sign the transfer papers.
Whatever. Austin's far, but at least it's closer to home.
Maybe I can actually see my parents for once.
Chapter 2
It's pouring.
Hayes got me a driver.
Car's parked like three blocks down though.
Said he didn't want people knowing we're married. Didn't want me "getting shit" for it.
Right. 'Cause I'm just some nobody from bumfuck nowhere who got lucky.
Why would someone like Hayes Ashford marry someone like me, right?
"Mr. Ashford brought in that chef you liked—from the Italian place," the driver says when we pull up.
"Flew the whole crew here. Oh, and there's a new Hermès drop coming. For you."
I freeze.
Fuck. I'm so tired of this.
He's always like this.
Acts like he's so good to me.
But also treats me like shit.
While I'm zoning out, Hayes calls.
I answer—then realize it's a butt dial.
Someone's sighing on the other end. "Bro, I still can't believe you and Joelle called it quits.
"Eight fucking years. You know how rare that is?
"When you married that Summer girl, we told Joelle we'd literally storm your wedding if she wanted us to."
I stop breathing.
Oh my God. They've hated me the whole time.
Hayes laughs. Sounds dead tired. "Fuck off. There wasn't even a wedding to crash.
"Jo and I are over. Eight years? We're basically family at that point."
Joelle jumps in. Sounds like such a bitch. "Yeah, and family sticks together forever, idiot.
"Think you won't get tired of your boring trophy wife?
"You're not even with her right now. Face it—she's just a shiny new toy. Three years, tops. Probably less."
Nothing for a while.
Just hear him breathing.
He doesn't say anything.
Honestly? Kind of a relief.
I'm leaving anyway.
Better now than never, I guess.
Hayes comes home late that night. I just finished writing up the divorce papers.
"Hayes—"
"Sorry, miss. Mr. Ashford's pretty fucked up," the driver says, helping him collapse on the couch.
"Everyone else stayed at the hotel, but he wouldn't shut up about getting home to you. Rain made the drive hell."
I glance at Hayes.
He's collapsed on the couch. Jacket half off. Tie loose. Eyes barely open but somehow still on me.
Total disaster. Hot disaster, but still.
His voice comes out rough. "Babe. Come here."
Driver slips out. Door clicks shut.
I walk to the kitchen. Might as well make him something for tomorrow.
Then I hear it. Barely a whisper. "Joelle.
"Jo..."
Clang.
The spoon drops.
Hits the tile. Just... breaks.
Margot comes running over, starts picking up the pieces. Trying to make me feel better:
"Honey, don't read into it. They dated for eight years—muscle memory takes time.
"But he married you, remember?
"All that effort he put in to get you to say yes? That's real."
I don't argue.
'Cause I know the truth.
I'm done with this.
This whole fucking year, same story. Doesn't matter what me and Hayes are doing. Joelle calls? He's gone.
One day her car got bumped.
Next day someone's following her or whatever.
Didn't stop till Hayes hired her two months back. Kept her close.
Stupid little dramas. Constantly.
I can't keep doing this. Twisting myself up trying to make him happy.
I'm done seeing Hayes.
Done trying to "talk things through."
So while Margot's busy in the kitchen, I start packing. Every single designer thing he ever bought me. Bags, shoes, jewelry, clothes.
Eighteen massive suitcases.
Call a moving truck.
Then leave here.
Chapter 3
I book a suite near the office.
Gonna stay here till the transfer goes through.
Every extra day I wait feels like torture.
So I go in early, drop the divorce papers on Hayes's desk, and find Beckett to ask how soon I can leave.
He's looking over some files when we hear someone screaming outside.
We both run out.
Joelle's passed out on the floor.
Everyone's freaking out, no clue what to do.
I remember Hayes said she has low blood sugar.
I'm digging through my bag looking for juice when Hayes bursts in.
Shoves me to the side—zero warning. Just barks, "Move."
Pushes hard enough I go stumbling back.
My legs hit a desk and next thing I know something's trickling down my leg.
Hayes doesn't even notice.
Just snaps at everyone: "Someone call 911?"
Soon as he hears yeah, he drops down next to Joelle. Taps her shoulder real gentle.
She moves a little. He finally relaxes.
His assistant hands him some glucose tablets and he gets one in her mouth.
Five minutes later, she's awake.
Ambulance shows up.
Hayes gets up. Calm as ever. "I know you've always had this problem.
"I've kept glucose tablets on me for years."
He leaves with her.
Doesn't look at me once.
I look down at my leg—still bleeding—and take a picture. Send it to Hayes.
Then put in for time off and head to the hospital by myself.
Once they stitch me up, I finally check my phone.
Hayes sent me ten million dollars.
[Be more careful.]
[Get the best meds.]
[I've got something urgent. Can't come yet.]
I pull up my bank account and just stare at all those zeroes.
End up texting back: [Okay.]
Beckett tells me once I close this project, I'm free to go.
I'm finally calm. "Thanks."
I pull an all-nighter getting everything ready.
When I contact the client in the morning, their assistant sounds confused.
"We signed yesterday."
My stomach drops. "What?"
"Yeah. Mr. Ashford brought somebody else with him.
"The final pitch wasn't as strong as what we had before, but it was good enough—"
POP.
Confetti goes everywhere.
Hayes's secretary starts clapping. "Congrats to Joelle for landing the deal!
"Mr. Ashford says everyone's getting double bonuses!"
Joelle's standing right in the middle, face all red, just loving it.
I don't even think.
Walk straight into Hayes's office.
Hayes just got in.
He's leaning back on the couch, rubbing his temples. Looks completely drained.
Second he sees me, he tries to smile. Voice sounds rough: "Knew you'd come.
"Sorry. Joelle's celebration thing went all night. Didn't make it home till morning.
"Did you sleep alright?"
I look at the divorce papers.
Still right there on his desk where I left them.
I look back at him. Keep my face blank. "That was my project. Who said you could hand it off to Joelle?
"I don't care how you hired her, but it screws me over—"
"Summer." He cuts me off. Now he's frowning. "Do I not give you enough? You're really gonna be mad about a bonus?
"I told you—she's gotta show she can actually do this."
He sees my hands are shaking. His whole face changes.
"Fine. Soon as she's good enough to work alone, I'll get her transferred.
"Austin's got something coming up. I'll put her there.
"Can we stop doing this? Fighting over nothing? I'm dead."
Hayes walks over to his desk.
Picks up the divorce papers.
Freezes.
Just then, the desk phone rings.
He answers on speaker.
Beckett's voice comes through: "Mr. Ashford, project's done—
"Want me to put through Summer Reeves's transfer?"
