She Left Her Cheating Ex, Then Married His Biggest Rival

I stared out the car window at the neon lights streaking past.

Yeah. I was a fool.

But who could say no to the boy she'd secretly loved for four years, the one who carried her out of a burning building on his back and then confessed his feelings right there in her hospital room?

I'd been naive enough to believe that everything we'd been through together could conquer anything.

I forgot that shared history could never compete with the one who got away—the girl a man kept on a pedestal in his heart.

And if I couldn't compete, then I was done trying.

That night, I slept like a rock in Marcella's guest room.

The next morning, I went to work as usual.

Love was gone, but the career I'd built with my own two hands? That was something I refused to lose.

I'd barely sat down when the internal line rang, summoning me to a meeting in the CEO's office.

I pushed open the conference room door.

Queenie was sitting in my seat—the vice president's chair.

She looked at me and smiled. A slow, deliberate smile.

Barret slid a thick stack of documents across the table toward her.

That was my core project proposal. Three months of late nights. Countless cups of black coffee. Every ounce of strategy I had.

"Queenie is officially joining the company starting today. She'll need to establish herself here with real results." Barret looked at me, his tone leaving no room for discussion. "This project will be handed over to her. She'll have full authority going forward."

I stared at him.

"Say that again."

Queenie blinked innocently, her voice soft and timid. "Maggie, Barret's always praising your work ethic in front of me."

"Like a workhorse, he says. Never asking for anything in return, just quietly grinding away."

"You're so talented—handing this one little project over to me and starting a new one should be a breeze for you, right?"

I walked forward and slammed my palm down on the conference table.

"I'm not handing over anything."

"I spent six months courting those investors. I threw up five times from stress lunches and dinners just to close that deal. And you want to hand it to her on a silver platter?"

Barret's expression darkened. "Maggie, don't bring your personal feelings into the workplace."

"Transfer all data access to Queenie immediately. This is the company's decision."

A cold laugh escaped me. "The company's decision? Half of this company was built on my blood and sweat."

Barret's voice dripped with contempt. "Don't you think a little too highly of yourself?"

"Without my name out there holding things down, you think you—you—could've brought in a single dollar of investment?"

One sentence. That was all it took to erase every year I'd given him.

I looked at this man, and whatever was left inside me went cold.

"Fine. Since you're so incredible."

I unclipped the ID badge from my chest and tossed it onto the table.

"I quit."

Barret let out a scornful laugh and approved it on the spot. "Done. Go file your paperwork." He leaned back. "I'd love to see where you end up without this company."

He was certain I was bluffing—using my career as a bargaining chip. Certain I'd never actually walk away.

After the meeting ended, I went to the break room to get some water.

Queenie followed me in and shut the door behind her.

The fragile act she'd worn in the conference room vanished. Her face was pure satisfaction.

"Maggie, you can't win against me."

"You know what Barret did after you left last night?"

"He got up at three in the morning to make me porridge. Fed it to me spoonful by spoonful."

"He said you're nothing but a money-grubbing shrew. Not a feminine bone in your body."

"He said just touching you made his skin crawl."

I filled a cup with cold water.

Turned around and threw it straight into Queenie's perfectly made-up face.

"Ahhh—!"

She shrieked, clutching her face as she crumpled to the floor.

The door burst open.

Barret rushed in and pulled Queenie behind him in one motion.

He yanked out tissues and dabbed at her face, his expression twisted with concern.