Fruit of Ruin

After Alan finished talking, he paused again and looked at me seriously.

"Don't worry. This time, I'll introduce you properly and won't let Larissa stir anything up."

I lifted my head and glanced calmly at him. I knew very well this was his attempt to make up for last night.

Fine by me. Terminating the Westarken contract would take a few days of paperwork, anyway.

Announcing it on the day of the press conference would be perfect.

That evening, like always, I arrived early at the restaurant to wait for him.

After ten years together, it had become a habit.

While I waited, I got a call from overseas.

It was from Joe Meskill, the representative of the other party during the last negotiation. He was also an old friend from college.

Joe sounded relaxed as he laughed and asked, "Myra, have you thought about my offer to bring you into Dominex Corp? Holt Enterprise is too small for someone with your talent."

This was the third time he had tried to recruit me.

The first time was seven years ago, when I turned down a high-paying job at a foreign firm and joined Alan's tiny company instead, earning only 2,500 dollars a month.

And out of that, I still had to pay 1,000 dollars toward the rent for the place Alan and I shared.

Joe nearly lost his mind trying to persuade me back then, but nothing he said changed my decision.

The second time was just a few days ago at the negotiation table. I had pressured him so hard during the talks that he could barely hold his ground.

When it ended, he was half impressed and half nervous as he told me, "Myra, I heard you only make 5,000 a month at Holt Enterprise. Come work for me. Don't let your talent go to waste on people who don't appreciate it."

I turned him down with a smile. How could my talent be wasted?

It was Alan's company. It was the empire that the two of us had built together over seven years.

And now, here came his third attempt.

I only hesitated for three seconds. Then, I told the waiter to bring a bottle of red wine and said yes without another thought.

"Send me the address. I'll start next Tuesday."

Joe froze for two seconds, then burst into loud, excited laughter.

Afraid I would take it back, he quickly said, "Great!" and hung up.

I was smiling and about to put my phone down when a notification popped up.

It was from Alan.

[Change of plans. Larissa couldn't wait, so I'm taking her on the first flight out. Get dinner on your own. I'll bring you a surprise when I'm back.]

A moment later, Larissa posted something on social media that was only visible to me.

[Thanks to my Prince Charming for making my dream come true. I'll buy him a big dinner as a reward tomorrow!]

The picture showed Larissa holding Alan's hand, the two of them standing under the Presian Tower.

It was the exact same pose as the photo Alan and I took seven years ago.

I stared at the photo for two seconds, then calmly opened my chat with Joe.

[I'll bring you a gift when I start. Want the Westarken contract worth 200 million?]

My phone was silent for a moment. A second later, it started vibrating nonstop.

[Yes! Yes! Yes! You're seriously the best! Yesterday was your birthday, right? The gift I sent should have arrived. Don't forget to pick it up!]

I froze, then a small laugh slipped out of my throat and slowly grew louder.

Right. Yesterday was my birthday.

When Alan watched me drink that mango juice, did he remember what day it was?

When he was putting a bandage on Larissa's hand while I lay alone in a hospital bed, did he think about getting his wife of five years a birthday gift?

Probably not.

But it didn't matter anymore. We were getting divorced.

Who would want a birthday gift from an ex-husband, anyway?

After I finished my dinner, I didn't rest at all. I threw myself completely into the Westarken contract.