Chapter 3
I woke before dawn, my mind already racing with the proof I'd carefully compiled. The timestamps on the emails showed clearly that Chloe had accessed and altered my data after I'd transferred the files. Sleep-deprived but determined, I printed the evidence and headed to the office early, rehearsing what I would say to Jason.
The hallways were empty as I made my way to his office, clutching the folder of evidence like a shield. I'd given this man six years of my life, my talents, my love. Today, I would demand the respect I deserved.
I found him reviewing documents, his desk lamp casting sharp shadows across his face. He didn't look up when I entered.
"I need to speak with you," I said, my voice steadier than I expected.
"Make it quick. I have a meeting in twenty minutes."
I placed the folder in front of him. "Chloe deliberately altered my data on the Mercer account. These timestamps prove it. She's framing me for errors I didn't make."
Jason flipped through the papers with disinterest, his expression hardening. "And you spent company time investigating a colleague instead of focusing on your new responsibilities?"
The dismissal hit like a slap. "These are my projects, Jason. My work. She's sabotaging me, and you're letting it happen."
He closed the folder with a snap. "You sound jealous, Jennifer. It's not a good look."
"Jealous?" The word burned in my throat. "This isn't about jealousy. It's about integrity."
"Chloe has brought fresh perspectives to this company. Perspectives we desperately needed." His eyes met mine, cold and distant. "I suggest you focus on your own work instead of undermining hers. Consider this a warning."
I stood there, stunned by the finality in his voice. The man before me wasn't just my boss dismissing valid concerns. He was my husband choosing someone else over me, again.
"Is that all?" he asked, already reaching for his phone.
I left without another word, the evidence abandoned on his desk.
---
The office emptied gradually, lights clicking off one by one until only the security lamps remained. I sat in my closet-office, trying to focus on mundane administrative tasks that now filled my days. The demotion stung, but something else gnawed at me—a growing suspicion that there was more I didn't know.
Jason had mentioned a late meeting with investors. His calendar, which I could still access, showed nothing scheduled. Another lie.
On impulse, I logged into his email account. He'd never changed his password—*JennyBear2017*—a remnant from when he still called me by that pet name. I rarely checked it anymore, respecting boundaries even as he crossed them. Tonight was different.
I scrolled through recent messages, finding nothing unusual until I spotted one from Cartier. My stomach clenched as I opened it.
*Mr. Carter, attached are the ring style options you requested. As discussed, these selections would complement Ms. Reed's preference for contemporary designs. Please confirm your choice so we can prepare for your specified timeline.*
Attached were images of engagement rings—elegant, expensive, exactly the kind Chloe would wear.
The room seemed to tilt. Jason was planning to propose to Chloe. While still married to me.
I closed the email, logged out, and sat in the darkness, a strange calm washing over me. Six years of my life, sacrificed for a man who could discard me so completely. The pain was beyond tears now.
---
"Jennifer, please take a seat."
David Lee's office felt suffocating, his nervous energy filling the small space. I sat across from him, already knowing what was coming.
"The company is... restructuring certain positions in preparation for the IPO," he began, not meeting my eyes. "Your role is being... recategorized."
"Just say it, David."
He swallowed hard. "Effective immediately, you're being demoted to administrative support staff. This comes with a forty percent reduction in salary."
The number hung in the air between us. Forty percent. Almost half my income, gone.
"The decision is final," he added, sliding a document across the desk. "You'll need to sign this acknowledgment."
"On whose authority?" I asked, though I already knew.
David's gaze dropped to his desk. "The directive came from Mr. Carter directly. I'm sorry, Jennifer."
I stared at the paper, seeing not words but the systematic dismantling of my career, my marriage, my life. In the span of twenty-four hours, I'd discovered my husband planned to propose to another woman and had slashed my salary to a level that would make independence nearly impossible.
"I'll need time to review this," I said, taking the document.
David nodded, relief washing over his face at avoiding further confrontation.
As I left his office, a terrible clarity settled over me. This wasn't just a professional betrayal. This was Jason ensuring I remained dependent, controlled, invisible—while he prepared for his new life with Chloe.
The question wasn't whether my marriage was over. It was whether I would let Jason destroy me in the process.
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