Chapter 2

2. Harrison carried her into the house. As he passed me, he threw me a look of blame. "Next time she comes here, remember to let her inside immediately."

I didn't say a word, worried about Lulu's well-being. Luckily, she was just suffering from the cold. When she woke up, she begged Harrison again not to fire her.

Harrison looked like he had run out of options. He spoke with a hint of indulgence. "Alright, you little troublemaker. I'll personally train you. Happy now?"

From then on, Lulu became Harrison's secretary. They worked together every day. As time passed, they grew more in sync.

The cold, sharp CEO and his quirky secretary―even the employees started saying they were a perfect match. "Did you know? Your staff thinks you and Lulu are a couple," I told him, trying to remind him to keep his distance.

He just answered coldly. "You actually care about that? It's just office gossip. Try to be more open-minded."

Harrison and I had fought about Lulu many times, but gut reactions don't lie. He had already lost his heart. I wasn't going to let an unfaithful man waste any more of my life.

I touched my violin again, deciding to cut Harrison out of my heart for good. The youngest son of the Mercer family in Chicago was throwing a birthday bash on a private island. I attended as part of the hired orchestra.

After the performance, my colleagues headed for the dance floor. I sat in a corner and spotted a familiar face. Harrison was teaching Lulu how to dance.

She was clearly a beginner, constantly stepping on his shoes. He wasn't angry. Instead, he just laughed and playfully tapped her nose.

I took a sip of my cocktail and looked away. "Hi there. Could I ask you to be my dance partner?"

A youthful voice spoke near my ear. I looked up at the handsome young man and smiled. "Kid, your ears are turning red."

His face flushed even deeper. He looked at me nervously, like a lost puppy. I was worried he might cry if I kept him waiting, so I reached out my hand. "Sure. I'd love to be your partner."

Before he could touch me, a tall figure stepped between us. "Elara Vance, what do you think you're doing?"

Harrison looked at me with a dark expression. He sneered, "Don't forget, I haven't agreed to the breakup yet."

"A breakup is a notification, not a request for permission," I replied. I ignored him and stepped toward the cute younger guy.

"Fine. Don't regret this," Harrison snapped before walking away. I watched him go, then caught Lulu staring at me with pure hostility.

The young guy beside me was still looking at me expectantly. I took his hand and led him to the dance floor. We moved perfectly in sync.

I was surprised. I'm usually very picky about rhythm, but this partner was incredible. He was actually better than Harrison was the first time we danced.

When we exchanged contact info, I realized he was the star of the party. Damian Mercer. The Mercer family was low-key, so I had never met him before. This grand celebration was for his return from studying abroad.

The party drinks were sweet, but they were stronger than they tasted. While I was still somewhat sober, I decided to head to the beach to clear my head. The salty sea breeze felt refreshing.

But the sight of two figures in the distance instantly ruined my mood. Harrison and Lulu were locked in a passionate kiss.