He Loved Me in Secret, Until I Became Someone He Could Never Have Chapter 03

He Loved Me in Secret, Until I Became Someone He Could Never Have Chapter 03

I went back to the old apartment the company provided for regular employees. Just over two a few hundred square feet—you could see the whole place from the door.

The walls were still covered with photos from college: me and Alessio, Bruno squeezed between us. The stray we’d found behind campus freshman year and taken in.

On the back of one photo, Alessio had written: [Once Rinaldi is stable, I’ll buy you and Bruno a real house.]

He had plenty of houses now. I still lived here.

I let out a short laugh and tossed the photos in the bin.

The next day, I met with Noah Carter, who used to handle our profile at Mercer Group.

That’s when I learned he’d left the company two months ago.

His work email had been deactivated long before.

Which meant the so-called “corporate espionage” carried almost no real exposure.

On top of that, I’d already revised the cost sheet the night before. The crisis was basically contained.

I submitted my findings to the company.

Walking out, I heard coworkers talking in the break room.

“Camilla moved into Riverfront Residence.”

“Wait, seriously? That’s Rinaldi Family’s own luxury property.”

“She’s only been here three months.”

“Alessio isn’t even trying to hide it.”

“You think she’ll end up Mrs. Rinaldi?”

My steps slowed.

Last month I’d told Alessio the AC in my unit was broken. I wanted to move out. And bring Bruno back with me.

What did he say then?

“I need someone I trust in that building. I know it’s a lot to ask. If it really gets to you, come stay at my place on weekends.”

His penthouse downtown was stunning, obviously. But Monday through Friday, he never let me stay the night.

No matter how late our dates ended, he always had his driver take me back.

I kept telling myself it was about avoiding suspicion.

At lunch, Dominic set his tray across from me.

“Alessio had another Riverfront apartment prepared last week.”

He lowered his voice. “I’m pretty sure it’s for you. Vivienne, don’t actually leave.”

I just made a vague sound.

He didn’t know the apartment wasn’t for me. It was for Camilla.

When Rinaldi Holdings first launched, every founding member eventually got Family housing or a subsidy.

Everyone except me.

Not that it mattered now.

That afternoon, I brought my travel expense report to Alessio’s office.

Camilla was sitting beside him while he leaned over, showing her a document.

She smiled sweetly when she saw me. “Vivienne.”

Alessio snapped back into business mode instantly.

“What is it?”

I set the papers down. “Travel reimbursement from the Port Mason client visit last month. I need your signature.”

Camilla grabbed the form before he could.

“This hotel is over the allowed rate. And wasn’t this project outside Vivienne’s scope?”

I looked at her. “Because I went to clean up your client complaint. The client chose the hotel.”

Her face flushed.

But Alessio still said, “Even if the client chose it, you should have requested approval in advance. Five years at Rinaldi and you don’t know procedure?”

He pushed the form back. “Handle it yourself.”

I stared down at the pages.

Three days. Cleaning up Camilla’s mess. And now I’d be paying for my own hotel.

I knew Alessio would probably transfer the funds from his personal profile tonight. But I was done accepting his secret handouts.

I took the papers and left. Sure enough, at nine that night, a transfer hit my phone. Exactly the amount of the reimbursement.

His message followed: [Important client tomorrow. Dress formally.]

I stared at it for a long time.

Then I sent the funds back.

And typed one line. [Alessio, we’re done.]