Chapter 1
ELORA
“I'm sorry Elora, your promotion has been withheld."
Pause. Rewind that. My breath faltered for a minute.
“I know you worked so hard, I know you deserve this more than anybody but I really don't know what to say.”
I stared at Marcy, my team lead talk. Her thin lips generously painted with a red lipstick were moving graciously.
It wasn't the first time I heard her speak, but the words felt alien and strange.
This wasn't the information I was supposed to hear.
“Director Ethan was strongly against your promotion. He voted against it, but I don't know why. Have you done anything against him? Have you crossed his path?”
Marcy's brown eyes blinked at me waiting for a response, but I was dumbfounded.
How could Ethan, MY FIANCE, do this to me?
I stared. “That doesn’t make sense. I have not done anything wrong to him.”
Marcy sighed. “I’m sorry, Elora. Maybe you should go and talk to him.”
"Thank you, Marcy.” I mumbled.
I walked out of her office, my legs stiff, my mind swirling with questions. Ethan? Against me? That couldn’t be right. There had to be some misunderstanding.
Right?
I overworked myself, prepared his reports, worked on his projects and did so much for him. Ethan would never do this. He loves me too much. We are going to get married.
I arrived at his office. The door was slightly open again. His secretary was not on his seat. I walked towards the door.
“Fuck! I love when you do that baby..”
I paused and took a few silent steps backward and looked up at the name on the door and it was written in bold calligraphy.
ETHAN GRAYSON
I swallowed hard and walked back towards the door. It was slightly open, so I pushed it a bit. I gasped as my eyes fell on Ethan and his Assistant, Ava.
One of his hands held her full breasts firmly as he suckled her nipples hungrily. His other hands were in between her fleshy pale thighs.
I could not imagine what they were doing in there.
He never touched me with such hunger or desire. He only wanted sex from me and he always demanded it so harshly.
Of course I refused. He was always so angry. If I gave in would he have held me this way?
My eyes became misty. I began connecting the dots. He never allowed me to come up to his office so as not to spike rumours. He said to only come to his office whenever Marcy asked me to. So this was why.
Here he was with Ava. He had refused to make our relationship public because he said he didn’t want to breach work ethics and all that crappy bullshit. But his fucking Personal Assistant should have known! Right?
I sniffled back a tear as I noticed her push him backwards, his hazel eyes sparkled with a sly grin plastered on his face. “What’s the problem?” He asked her.
“What about that fiancee of yours?” She asked, pretending to return her big breasts back into her bra.
“What about her?” He grimaced. She didn’t give him a response, but pretended to be angry. He sighed. “Fine. She may be smart, but she’s still a country bumpkin. I don’t care how competent she is,” Ethan added. “Promoting her will just give her unnecessary wings to fly, so I denied it.”
Why would he do that to me?!
Ava responded smoothly like a sly fox. “But Elora worked on most of the campaigns this quarter. The board’s impressed after the presentation.”
“I know,” Ethan agreed, “Besides, she’s comfortable where she is. I don’t think she’s cut out for more… visible roles.”
My pulse thundered in my ears. Comfortable? I’d practically broken my back for his stupid presentations, gone above and beyond even outside office hours. And now I wasn’t cut out for visibility?
“I have no plans on pushing through with the marriage, I just need her around long enough to take my rightful place from my uncle. After that… who knows.” He added.
The world tilted beneath me. My mind began to dance around the promises he made to me, the engagement ring sitting pretty in my wallet on my desk, I began to think about the dreams of our future that we had discussed over and over again.
I'm sorry, but he's using you. Vio's friend had said that at the auction.
I covered my mouth with a trembling hand and walked away and just as I arrived at our office, I bumped into Marcy again.
Marcy was in front of me, concern etched across her usually stoic features. “Elora? Are you okay? You look pale.”
I hesitated, then nodded. “I think… I need to go home.”
“Go,” she said gently. “I’ll move your tasks till tomorrow.”
“Thank you." I replied hoarsely.
I got my bag and walked out of the multi-million dollars building complex of the Graysons. As soon as I arrived outside, I heard Tom call out.
“Thanks for the coffee, El. You are a sweetheart.”
I forced on a polite smile in response and walked away. Tom was the chief security at the Grayson’s corporation. It was kinda my thing to get everyone coffee.
Ringggg
I picked without even looking who called.
“Oh El. Sorry I'm disturbing you at work, but tell me you got the promotion. You nailed it right?"
Gemma's voice was energetic. I could already imagine her green eyes lightning up like sunlight on green roses.
“No Gem. Far worse." I muttered.
“What? Tell me what's wrong El."
“Ethan is cheating on me.” I said, my voice almost in whispers like I still couldn’t believe them. Of course the words were too heavy and disheartening.
But this was my reality.
“What? How did you know this?” Gemma asked.
“I overheard him speaking and making out with his personal secretary earlier. He mentioned things and you know…” I sniffled. “I can’t believe it, Gem. I’m so confused!”
"What the fuck do you mean confused?!” Gemma yelled.
" I… I mean.. just.."
“Forget it, let's meet up after work." Gemma cut me off.
" I took the day off.” I replied.
" Great! I could do the same. I’ll just speak to my eldest brother and be out in a bit. Let's meet at Ardent Towers.” She suggested.
Gemma’s family owns a guest house uptown. She being the amazing youtuber she was, created lots of video content about the place.
" What the hell, Gem? Do you know how expensive it is there?” I retorted.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten that your son of a bitch fiance had gotten you a membership card there?” She asked.
Yeah he did.
It was on one of those nights he wanted me to work overnight on a presentation for him. The only available rooms were for members only. He reluctantly got me one, not wanting me to stay over in his room.
“Okay. I'll meet you there." I replied.
“See you in a bit. Hang in there love." Gemma said soothingly before the line went dead.
I hailed a cab and arrived at Ardent Towers. The sun was high up, already signifying that the day had split in half. I stared at my phone to check the time.
Past one pm.
I sighed and walked inside the sophisticated ambiance with plush seating, soft lighting, and curated art.
I found my way to the bar. It was dimly lit with velvet stools, mirrored walls, and a glowing backlit bar stand wondering where it all went wrong.
