My Fiancée Drank From Her Assistant’s Glass, So I Ended Our Engagement

And whenever the opportunity arose, he found ways to undermine me, sometimes openly, sometimes behind my back.

"Ms. Delgado, Mr. Dickerson, please don't do this." Douglas's voice was soft, conciliatory. "Mr. Dickerson is probably just in a bad mood. I'll come back later."

The words said one thing. His feet said another. He didn't move an inch.

And just like that, Cheryl's heart went out to him.

She took Douglas by the arm, led him into the office, and sat him down on the sofa.

"Douglas, you're too kind for your own good."

"Drew is clearly the one in the wrong, and you're still making excuses for him."

"You sit right here. You're not the one who needs to leave." She turned on me, her expression ice-cold. "Drew, apologize to Douglas. Now."

I let out a dry laugh.

"Apologize? To him?"

I pointed straight at Douglas.

"Do either of you have any idea what he's been doing behind your backs? That hundred-million-dollar bid we lost last month? That was because of him—"

"Enough!" Cheryl cut me off without a shred of hesitation. "Drew, you're becoming impossible."

"Douglas was working on that bid until three in the morning. Where were you?"

"Losing a bid happens. He gave it everything he had."

"What right do you have to blame him?"

Douglas lowered his head at just the right moment, the picture of wounded innocence. "Ms. Delgado, please, don't. Mr. Dickerson only wants what's best for the company. And the bid falling through really was my fault."

"It had nothing to do with you." Cheryl scoffed. "He's jealous of you, plain and simple. Looking for reasons to pick a fight."

"You've been with this company six months, and your results speak for themselves."

"Meanwhile, certain people coast on their board seat, do nothing all day, and have the nerve to criticize everyone else's work."

"It's pathetic."

A chill spread through my chest.

That bid was mine. I'd shepherded it from the ground up, and it had been all but guaranteed.

Then, in the final stretch, while I was away on a business trip, Cheryl made a unilateral decision. She handed full control to Douglas. Said it would be a good learning opportunity for the new guy.

The result? Critical details were altered. The client was furious. A rival firm swooped in and took the deal.

This was my childhood sweetheart. The girl I'd stood by for twenty years.

For the sake of an outsider, she could twist the truth this completely.

Douglas was clearly rattled, but he put on an earnest face and stepped closer to me.

"Mr. Dickerson, if I've done anything wrong, I sincerely apologize."

"We're all on the same team here. There's no need for things to get this ugly."

He was too close. I shoved him back on instinct.

I barely used any force, but Douglas stumbled backward several steps and crashed into the coffee table with a dull grunt.

"Drew! Have you lost your mind?"

Cheryl rushed to his side instantly, steadying him, her eyes blazing.

"You put your hands on him?" Her voice shook with fury. "Douglas has bent over backward to accommodate you, and this is what you do?"

"Is throwing tantrums the only thing you're good at?"

Douglas sagged against Cheryl, shaking his head weakly. "Ms. Delgado, I'm fine. I just slipped. Please don't blame Mr. Dickerson..."

I watched his flawless performance, and something inside me simply gave out.

I was done. Done with this circus.

I turned toward the door.

"Fine. If he's not leaving, I am."

"Stop right there!" Cheryl's voice cracked like a whip. "You haven't apologized to Douglas!"

I stopped walking.

"I'm not going to apologize."

"As of today, I'm done with both of you."

"The board seat? Give it to whoever you want."

"And the arranged engagement... consider it a joke."

Cheryl's brow furrowed. "Drew, are you threatening me?"