Fiancé Chooses Mistress Over Me

The conference room buzzed with anticipation as employees filed in, the air thick with cologne and perfume. I adjusted my blazer and smoothed my hair, trying to ignore the dull throb at my temples—another headache, my constant companion after weeks of eighteen-hour workdays.

"Samantha, you look exhausted," Elena whispered, sliding into the seat beside me. "Are you okay?"

"Just tired," I admitted, massaging my temple. "The Nakamura deal took everything I had."

Elena squeezed my hand. "It was brilliant work. The entire finance team is still talking about how you managed to save that contract."

Before I could respond, Thomas strode to the front of the room, commanding attention with his mere presence. My fiancé—the word still felt strange, the heavy diamond on my finger a constant reminder of our public commitment just two weeks ago.

"Good morning, everyone," Thomas announced, his voice carrying effortlessly. "Today is about celebrating excellence. About recognizing someone who embodies the spirit of Montgomery Enterprises."

My heart quickened despite my exhaustion. The Nakamura deal had been my masterpiece—three months of sleepless nights, skipped meals, and relentless negotiations. I'd personally flown to Tokyo twice, developed the comprehensive proposal, and salvaged the relationship when it nearly collapsed. Thomas had promised recognition once it was finalized.

"It's my pleasure to announce that Carmen Cole has achieved record-breaking sales figures this quarter," Thomas continued, gesturing toward the door as Carmen entered.

The room erupted in applause while I sat frozen, my hands suddenly cold. Carmen glided forward in a perfectly tailored suit, her blonde hair gleaming under the fluorescent lights, her smile humble yet triumphant.

"Carmen's work on the Nakamura account represents the kind of innovation and dedication we value," Thomas said, presenting her with a crystal award. "Which is why I'm promoting her to junior executive, effective immediately."

More applause. More congratulations. I felt Elena's concerned gaze on me, but I couldn't look at her. I couldn't look at anyone. The room blurred as I stared straight ahead, my face a careful mask while something inside me cracked.

Carmen had presented the final proposal—my proposal. She'd attended the closing meeting—after I'd spent three months rebuilding the relationship. She'd shown up for the victory lap after I'd run the marathon.

"I'm so honored," Carmen was saying, her voice soft and gracious. "I couldn't have done this without the support of everyone here, especially Mr. Montgomery's guidance."

Her eyes found mine for just a moment, a flash of something that might have been triumph before she looked away. I maintained my smile, the professional mask I'd perfected over years of corporate politics, while beneath the table, my nails dug crescents into my palms.

The meeting dispersed, and I gathered my papers with mechanical precision, desperate to retreat to my office before the mask slipped.

"Sam, wait," Elena caught up to me in the hallway, pulling me into an empty conference room. "That was your deal. Everyone knows it was your deal."

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter."

"It absolutely matters," Elena pulled out her tablet. "Look at this. I wasn't going to show you because I didn't want to upset you, but after what just happened..."

She opened her email, scrolling to a folder labeled "Evidence." My eyebrows raised involuntarily.

"I've been documenting things," she explained, her voice low. "Look at these email chains. Thomas personally reviews and improves Carmen's work—see these tracked changes? He's practically rewriting her proposals. Meanwhile..."

She scrolled to another email where a senior account manager had requested guidance on a presentation. Thomas's response was brief: "Figure it out. That's what I pay you for."

"There's dozens more like this," Elena continued. "Carmen gets personalized coaching, deadline extensions, access to resources no one else has. Her success is manufactured, Sam. And everyone's starting to notice."

I stared at the evidence, the emails swimming before my eyes. The headache intensified, pounding behind my eyes in time with my heartbeat.

"I have to go," I whispered, unable to process what I was seeing. "I need some air."

Elena caught my arm. "Sam, you can't keep ignoring this. First the engagement party, then the wine incident at the Chang dinner, now this—"

"The what incident?" I asked, suddenly alert.

Elena's eyes widened. "You don't know? It's all over the office. At the dinner with the Chinese investors last week, Carmen spilled wine on you, and Thomas—" She stopped abruptly.

"And Thomas what?" I pressed.

Elena looked away. "He scolded you in front of everyone for overreacting. Then personally escorted Carmen to the bathroom to help her 'recover from the embarrassment.' People are talking, Sam."