Chapter 3

3.

But now, I just took the folder from him and looked him in the eye.

"I'm in. I'll take the assignment."

During these eight years, everyone else had been promoted. I was the only one stuck in the same spot because I was too busy being Hayden's shadow. I knew people laughed at me behind my back for wasting my potential on a man who didn't appreciate me.

My boss looked surprised. He had clearly prepared a long speech to convince me.

"What about Hayden?" he asked.

"I can make my own decisions," I replied calmly. "You're right. I can't reach thirty with nothing to my name."

"That's the spirit. I know you'll crush it. Go get ready."

He patted my shoulder, and I took a deep breath.

For eight years, I had chased Hayden like a stray dog. I got nothing but scraps of his attention. Work was different. Work was fair. If I put in the effort, I got the reward.

Preparing for the London move kept me busy until sunset. I didn't even have time to think about Hayden.

As the office emptied out, my colleague, Sarah, tapped my shoulder.

"Jade, your boyfriend has been waiting outside for an hour. Aren't you going down?"

I looked up, confused. Sarah laughed.

"Everyone's talking about it. We thought you were giving him the cold shoulder on purpose."

She joked about me finally having the upper hand and left. I checked my phone. Hayden had left dozens of missed calls and messages. They went from annoyed to desperate.

"I'm sorry, I really am. I booked a table at that steakhouse you like. Don't be mad, please?"

I read the text and felt a cold smirk touch my lips.

Men are such pathetic creatures. When I used to cling to him, he found me annoying. Now that I was ignoring him, he was suddenly obsessed.

I saw him standing by his car downstairs. He waved at me enthusiastically, like he was calling over a pet.

I checked the time, grabbed my documents, and walked out. It was time for a final showdown.

"Jade! Over here!"

The second I stepped out, Hayden tried to pull me into a hug. He was hiding a bouquet of roses behind his back.

I looked into his big, puppy-dog eyes and felt nothing but irritation. I pushed him away.

"Let's go."

I climbed into the backseat instead of the passenger side. Hayden stood there for a few seconds, stunned, but he didn't blow up.

"Jade, look at these flowers. Aren't they beautiful? I thought you wanted us to be like a normal couple."

He held the roses out like a trophy. I coughed to hide my discomfort. Roses were Seraphina's favorite flowers. I actually hated them.

He couldn't even remember my favorite flower, yet he was acting like he was the most romantic man alive.

On the way to the restaurant, Hayden kept trying to start a conversation. I didn't play along. I just stared out the window, giving him one-word answers.

Eventually, his patience wore thin, and he stopped talking, focusing on the road.

We arrived at a trendy bistro that was all over Instagram. There were couples everywhere.

Hayden frowned and grabbed my wrist tightly.

Maybe he was afraid I'd run away. He put on a fake smile and led me inside.