He Brought Her A Bag And Me A Keychain Chapter 02

He Brought Her A Bag And Me A Keychain Chapter 02

The next morning, we had a department meeting.

Declan walked into the conference room with Piper in tow.

Dozens of people looked up at once.

“There was an incident last night. Certain comments crossed a line and created serious fallout for the company.”

“Piper was willing to let it go.”

“But since the person involved is my wife—someone in a leadership position—she should be setting an example, not engaging in workplace bullying.”

“Colette, apologize to Piper.”

My gaze skipped past Piper’s red-rimmed eyes and locked on Declan.

“So because I’m your wife, she gets to say whatever she wants about me, and anyone who defends me is suddenly a bully?”

Declan pinched the bridge of his nose, the picture of exasperation.

“Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“Piper’s post didn’t name names. She wasn’t talking about you.”

“Then who was she talking about?”

I didn’t back down.

Piper suddenly sniffled.

“It’s fine, Mr. Ashford.”

“I’m just a junior employee. My side doesn’t matter. Please don’t fight because of me.”

She turned to leave.

I stepped in front of her.

“Declan clearly can’t explain it. So you tell me. Who were you talking about?”

“Don’t turn around later and accuse me of being petty or targeting you.”

Piper’s face crumpled like she’d been deeply wronged.

Tears streamed down her face as she took a step back and gave me a deep bow.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Vance.”

“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have posted it. I’m just too blunt.”

“Even with hot celebrities, I’ll joke about wanting their babies. It’s just how I am.”

“I shouldn’t have posted it. Please don’t hold it against me.” Her voice kept breaking.

Then she ran out of the room crying.

Declan reached for her but was too late.

He shot me a look of pure disappointment, then went after her.

Everyone who’d watched it all unfold sat with their heads down.

The conference room went deathly quiet.

I pulled up the deck I’d already prepared.

“Let’s continue.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Back in my office, there was a knock at the door.

It was the HR manager. He looked deeply uncomfortable.

“Colette, have you seen the announcement?”

I pulled out my phone and opened the company Slack channel.

A termination announcement filled the screen.

The listed reason—conduct damaging to the company’s reputation.

I’d barely finished reading when the HR manager spoke again.

“Mr. Ashford’s upstairs.”

He was clearly telling me to go straight to Declan.

I took the elevator upstairs.

The moment I stepped out, Piper stopped me.

Her makeup was flawless again. Not a trace of the earlier tears.

“Declan isn’t seeing anyone today.”

“And since you no longer work here, you should leave. Don’t make me call security. It won’t be a good look.”

I looked at the smug satisfaction in her eyes and pulled out my phone to message Declan.

[Do you really have to go this far?]

His reply came quickly.

[Wrong actions have consequences. Apologize to Piper and I’ll drop it.]

[Don’t forget, this’s my company. We have a prenup. Whether you keep your job is entirely up to me.]

Piper rose onto her toes and glanced at my screen. A smile spread across her face.

“Colette, I’m not trying to make this hard.”

“If you’re truly sorry, post a public apology in the company Slack channel.”

I gave her a cold look and turned away.

I took the elevator back downstairs.

The second I got to the parking garage, Maeve Crowley, the assistant who’d defended me yesterday, came running up, out of breath.

“Colette, if you’re out, I’m out too.”

“There’s something I have to tell you.”

She held out her phone.

On the screen was Piper’s burner account.