Chapter 3
I went to the office early the next morning.
The receptionist told me Adrian was in the conference room.
I had just reached the door when Chloe stepped out of the elevator.
When she saw me, she stopped and gave me a cautious smile.
"Ava, please don't fight with Mr. Whitmore about what happened yesterday."
"What Adrian and I discuss is between us."
"I know, but I'm the one who borrowed the money. I'll pay it back."
She pulled a file from her bag.
"These are the things my dad left me. Mr. Whitmore kept them for me for a long time."
I asked, "He kept them because your father asked him to?"
"Yeah."
Then she added softly, "Some things mean even more to him than they do to me."
Footsteps sounded behind us.
Adrian came out.
"Why are you apologizing again?"
"I'm afraid you and Ava will fight."
He turned to me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Here to ask about the money."
"We'll talk in my office."
Chloe stood beside us and quickly shook her head.
"Ava, don't blame Mr. Whitmore. This is all my fault."
I looked at her.
"Who do you think I'm blaming?"
Her eyes immediately reddened, and she fell silent.
Adrian raised an arm and moved Chloe behind him.
"Ava, don't do this in the lobby."
Several people nearby turned to look.
I'd come to ask about my own money, yet somehow I was the one being ushered into an office as if I'd caused a scene.
Once inside, Adrian shut the door.
"Send her an apology."
I looked up.
"What did I do wrong? Why should I apologize?"
"She's just nervous. Reassure her."
"She stood in the lobby with tears in her eyes while everyone watched. Somehow, I'm the one who looks like I'm bullying her."
"She hasn't felt secure since her father died."
"Her father died more than a year ago."
Adrian looked at me, his brow slowly furrowing.
"What exactly are you trying to prove?"
"I'm trying to make you see that every time she shows the slightest weakness, you rush to protect her."
"She's my secretary!"
"She's carrying a file you've kept for her, telling me to my face that some things mean more to you than they do to her. Adrian, does that sound like an ordinary working relationship to you?"
His eyes snapped up.
"She said it without thinking. She didn't mean anything by it."
I gave a humorless smile.
"You remember the things she says without thinking better than you remember anything about me."
He pushed a glass of water toward me.
"Just apologize to her, and we can put this behind us."
"She uses my marriage as a stepping stone, and I'm supposed to make sure it's steady for her?"
"You're my wife. Giving in once isn't going to cost you anything."
I stared at him.
"What about her? Has she ever given in once?"
Adrian said nothing.
A soft knock came from outside.
"Mr. Whitmore, I'm leaving. If Ava doesn't like me, I just won't come back anymore."
Adrian immediately turned toward the door.
I stopped him.
"Where are you going?"
"To walk her downstairs."
"She can't walk by herself?"
He turned back to me, irritation filling his eyes.
"Ava, what do you want from me today?"
I looked at the untouched glass of water.
"I want you to stay."
But Adrian acted as if he hadn't heard me. He opened the door and went after her.
I was left alone in his office.
The coffee mug on his desk was the one I'd given him for our anniversary.
A faint ring of lipstick stained the rim.
I picked up a tissue and wiped at it twice before stopping.
What difference would it make if I cleaned it off?
He'd already given my place to someone else.
I opened my computer and sent an email to the group's HR director.
It contained only three sentences:
【Please verify whether Mr. Whitmore's unauthorized payment of $68,000 on behalf of a subordinate complies with company policy.】
【The funds came from a joint marital account in my name, and I did not authorize the transaction.】
【Please retrieve the relevant approval and transfer records and investigate the matter according to company policy.】
After sending the email, I unpinned Adrian's chat.
I didn't want to keep staring at my phone, waiting for him to use his next explanation to cover his last lie.