Chapter 2

2.

When I woke up the next morning, Rowan was already gone.

She had left a note on the dining table.

"I'm sorry about your birthday. I'll come home early tonight and make it up to you."

I crumpled the note into a ball and tossed it into the trash.

Rowan only had a photo shoot scheduled for today. Her manager could handle it; she didn't need me.

She only kept me close when she was filming, using me as her personal pack mule.

If I was going to end this, I needed to quit being her assistant too.

I arrived at the agency before the HR manager.

Word was they had all stayed out late drinking and would be coming in late.

I found a spot in the lounge and waited.

An hour later, the HR head walked in, smelling like a brewery.

When she saw my resignation letter, she rolled her eyes.

"You're quitting a job this good? I don't know what's wrong with you!"

Only Rowan's manager knew about our actual relationship.

Everyone else in the office thought I was just some loser obsessed with Rowan, clinging to her like a leech.

They had no idea I turned down a six-figure salary at a top firm just to take care of her as an underpaid assistant.

I walked past the breakroom and heard some new interns gossiping.

"Did you see? Rowan basically went public with Ian last night. It was so romantic!"

Another girl chimed in.

"I was at the party! Ian was so sweet to her. They were even making out in the corner! It was goals!"

"I'm just glad Devon wasn't there. He's always hovering around her. He would've caused a scene for sure."

The others laughed in agreement.

"He really thinks he has a chance just because they went to college together. What a joke."

One of the girls sneered.

"Devon? Rowan told me he's just a helpful assistant. Why would she ever look at him?"

"A goddess like Rowan belongs with a guy like Ian."

I had planned to just walk away, but the smell of lilies in the room made me sneeze.

The girls jumped and went silent when they saw me.

As I turned to leave, I ran right into Rowan and Ian.

I tried to walk past them, but Ian spoke first.

"Hey, Devon. I'm so sorry I dragged everyone out to celebrate last night and forgot it was your birthday."

He gave me a smug, punchable look.

"Don't apologize to him," Rowan said gently. "It wasn't your fault."

The way she looked at him was full of a tenderness she hadn't shown me in years.

"I'll take him out for a birthday dinner after the shoot today anyway."

"He doesn't care about small things like that."

Normally, I would have started a fight with her. Now, I just wanted to get out.

Rowan texted me the restaurant address and told me to be there at seven.

She claimed she had a surprise for me.

As they walked away hand-in-hand, Ian looked back at me with a look of pure triumph.

I didn't care. I just took my signed resignation and went home.