Chapter 2

2.

The next morning, the Manhattan fog had not yet lifted.

Evelyn carried an elegant paper bag from Sant Ambroeus on Madison Avenue. Inside was Graham's favorite veal Milanese and a special order of gluten-free pasta.

Over their seven years of marriage, Graham had sacrificed his health for the expansion of the Hayes Corporation, working tirelessly behind that lavish desk. Stomach problems were the only crack in his elite persona. Although Evelyn no longer cooked for him herself―it wasn't a good use of her time as the Reed family heiress and a top designer―she still maintained a certain habit: during his most demanding projects, she would personally arrange and deliver his favorite lunch.

It was a silent declaration: she was not only his wife but also the manager of his life and his partner.

But this time, she wasn’t stepping into the Hayes Tower to play the part of the perfect, supportive wife. She was here for an “inspection,” to see just how far Graham’s specially promoted executive assistant―Nina Vance―had overstepped her bounds.

Top floor.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Graham's chief administrative assistant, Sharon, rushed over, her expression flustered.

"Mrs. Hayes," Sharon said, blocking the massive double mahogany doors, her professional smile looking a bit stiff. "Mr. Hayes is in a private strategic meeting right now. He can't see any visitors."

Evelyn stopped, dressed in a minimalist coat by The Row and Manolo Blahnik heels, exuding an aura of cold, unquestionable authority.

"Sharon, I am his wife and a member of the company’s board," Evelyn’s voice was low but sharp as an icicle. "Do you think I count as a 'visitor'?"

She didn't give Sharon a chance to respond, pushing open the doors that symbolized the core of power.

There was no meeting in the office.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating a piercing scene: Graham was standing behind Nina, leaning slightly forward, his hands seeming to fiddle with something around her neck. They were so close they could have been sharing the same breath, the air thick with the kind of intimacy reserved for lovers.

The moment the door opened, the atmosphere was shattered.

"Oh!"

When Nina saw Evelyn enter, she didn’t jump away in a panic. Instead, she slowly turned around, a blush on her cheeks that seemed innocent but was full of provocation.

"Hi, Evelyn. Did you bring Graham another one of your special lunches?" Nina pointed to her own neck, her tone light. "The clasp of my necklace got caught in my hair just now, and it was really painful, so Graham was just being nice and helping me get it undone. It was just a little workplace accident. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

The explanation was so pathetic it was laughable. In the world of Wall Street, what CEO would personally help his assistant with such a trivial matter?

Evelyn's gaze fell on Nina. This wasn't their first meeting, but it was the first time she was sizing her up as a rival.

Nina was wearing a tight Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress with a neckline that was just low enough to be professional yet revealing when she bent over. Her face was young and vibrant, with the naivety of a recent graduate, but her eyes held a hidden ambition and allure.

Was this her, seven years ago? No, Evelyn rejected the thought. The Evelyn of seven years ago was proud. She would never have resorted to such tactics to get ahead.

Graham had given Nina too many privileges at the company. In this strictly hierarchical corporate empire, every employee had to respectfully address Evelyn as "Mrs. Hayes." Only Nina could call her "Evelyn" and even call the boss "Graham" in a professional setting.

This was what they called "favoritism"―it was a transfer of power and an answer in itself.

No wonder they dared to be so brazen in the office that symbolized the Hayes family's power.

Evelyn felt a deep exhaustion, a weariness from this deceptive relationship. But her expression remained unchanged as she gently placed the paper bag on the coffee table in the seating area.

"I don't mind," Evelyn replied coolly. "After all, you're just 'colleagues.' I trust Graham's professional ethics."

She looked up, her gaze as sharp as a blade, and scanned Graham. She caught the flicker of panic in his eyes.

Graham quickly composed himself, adjusted his cuffs, and strode over, attempting to hug her from behind.

"Evelyn…"

As he got closer, Evelyn caught a whiff of an unfamiliar perfume―Le Labo's Another 13. It wasn’t Graham’s usual scent. It was Nina’s.

Evelyn subtly turned her body, avoiding his embrace, pretending to straighten some documents on the table.

"I thought your schedule was packed today. Why did you come all this way to bring me lunch? You're making my heart ache," Graham said, his hands falling to his sides. He quickly recovered, his face adorned with the perfect smile of a public figure. "Evelyn, don't make a big deal out of this. Nina is Caleb's sister. She represents Vance Capital's interests in the company. We're building a closer relationship through her. This kind of mentor-mentee interaction is normal in the workplace. I have a board pre-meeting in ten minutes. You can sit on the sofa for a bit. I'll eat the lunch after my meeting. I’ve booked a table at Le Bernardin tonight to take you for your favorite French food. How does that sound as an apology?"

Seeing her nod calmly, Graham secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He turned, picked up a file from his desk, shot Nina a look, and hurried out of the office.

The heavy door closed, shutting out the outside world.

Only the two women remained in the office. The air instantly dropped to a freezing point.

"Evelyn, you don't come to the office often. How about I show you around?" Nina walked over to Graham’s desk and boldly perched on its edge, her tone laced with a subtle boast. "Graham has introduced me to all the department heads. I know this building very well."

Evelyn watched her aggressive posture, the pose of a woman claiming her territory.

Evelyn ignored her suggestion and walked straight to the desk. She pulled out the twenty-thousand-dollar Eames leather executive chair and sat down gracefully. She folded her hands and stared coldly at Nina.

"Nina, Graham isn't here now. You can drop the 'innocent new girl' act. You’re not tired of it, but the audience is."

Evelyn scanned the office, her eyes landing on the massive abstract oil painting on the wall.

"If you'd done your homework, you'd know that every inch of interior design on this floor, every piece of art, was personally selected by me. I'm far more familiar with this place than you can imagine. If you think you can humiliate me today with some cheap display of Graham's 'favoritism,' you've completely miscalculated."

The smile on Nina’s face froze. She slowly dropped the innocent act, her eyes becoming sharp and sarcastic.

"Evelyn, you're so considerate, always running over here. I guess with Graham being so busy, someone has to take care of his… 'home front,' right? I’m just worried..." Nina let out a small laugh, her fingers tracing the crystal paperweight on the desk. "His life is moving in a new direction, and you... you might not be in his plans anymore."

"Evelyn, you're a smart woman. You should know that in our world, marriage is a merger of assets, but love is a different story. Graham needs something new, something fresh. He needs a woman who worships him, who makes him feel young and alive, not a partner who constantly reminds him of how heavy reality is."

"You're a smart woman. You must know that Graham's heart hasn't been in this for a long time, right? If you keep holding on, you're just clinging to the empty title of 'Mrs. Hayes.' Don't drag yourself down into becoming some pathetic, scorned wife. You should cut your losses, don't you think?"

Nina even pulled a business card from her pocket. It was for a shell investment company owned by the Vance family.

"Name your price. If you need compensation beyond alimony, I'll have my brother wire it to you. Take the money and make a graceful exit."

Evelyn looked as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. She watched Nina calmly, as if observing a clown.

"Money?"

Evelyn stood up and walked toward Nina. The sheer force of her presence, built from years of experience and a powerful background, made Nina instinctively take half a step back.

"Nina, seven years ago, I was already named Designer of the Year by Architectural Digest. The annual dividends from my family's trust fund are enough to buy your entire family. I've wasted twenty minutes of my time listening to your nonsense. My time is worth about fifty thousand dollars. Tell me, can you afford to pay that bill?"

Nina’s brow furrowed. She was speechless, her face flushing red.

Evelyn looked away and reached for the wedding photo of her and Graham on his desk. In the picture, they were smiling, a perfect match. Now, it was just ironic. She gently caressed the frame with her thumb, then, right in front of Nina, turned the photo face down on the desk.

"You think my seven years with Graham wasn't love. Then what do you call the few short months you've had with him? The thrill of an office affair? Or his obsession with your young body?"

"A man like Graham will never be short of young, beautiful Ivy League girls. You might be able to push me out today, but tomorrow, another 'Nina' will come along and push you out."

"He doesn't love me as a business ally, and he won't love you for just a pretty face. Graham doesn't have a heart. The only things he will ever love are himself and his business empire."

"You think this is love? Nina, you are nothing but a 'sweetener' to keep the Vance family's funding secure. Once the Series B round closes, do you really think he'll still be 'mentoring' you like this?"

After she finished, Evelyn reached for the lunch bag on the coffee table.

Graham didn't deserve the effort she had put into it. She was going to take this bag of trash with her.

But her words had completely enraged Nina. Jealousy and the shame of being exposed made her lose control. She lunged forward, grabbing Evelyn's arm, refusing to let her leave.

"You have no right to question his feelings for me!" Nina's voice was shrill with emotion. "You think this is just a fling? Ask him about the weekend we spent in the Hamptons! Ask him why he remembers the name of my favorite little bistro in Paris! Evelyn, you've had him for seven years, but besides those charity galas you put on for show, what real passion is left between you?"

Evelyn felt a sharp pain in her chest, like being pricked by a needle, but she quickly curved her lips into a mocking smile.

"How pathetic. He only loves your submission and adoration, and you're smugly convinced it's love. Has he ever once acknowledged you in public?"

That last sentence was the final straw that broke Nina's sanity. Jealousy screamed in her mind, and Nina raised her hand to shove Evelyn!

"Shut up! Don't you dare talk about him like that!"

"Let go!"

Evelyn instinctively raised her arm to block her. In the struggle, the unopened lunch bag on the coffee table was knocked over. Hot sauce and pasta spilled out, splashing all over Nina's hand and dress.

"Ah―!"

Nina let out an exaggerated scream, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. She clutched her hand and crumpled to the floor, looking pitiful with her reddened eyes.

Just then, the office door was thrown open.

Graham, on a break from his meeting, had heard the commotion and rushed back. He saw Nina on the floor and Evelyn standing beside her with a cold expression.

His face darkened instantly, and he strode toward Nina.

"Nina! Are you okay?!"

He didn't even ask what had happened. That instinctive favoritism was like a loud slap across Evelyn's face.