He Sold My Future to Please Her, I Bought My Freedom With His Money Chapter 03

He Sold My Future to Please Her, I Bought My Freedom With His Money Chapter 03

My last day, the company threw a party on the top floor. Officially, it was my send-off. In practice, it felt more like a celebration of Project Starlight’s new owner.

Julian took the stage in the suit I’d picked out for him.

“None of what we’ve built over the past three years would’ve been possible without this team. And I want to give special thanks to the new people who’ve stepped up and brought real energy to the work.”

His eyes landed on Chloe in the crowd. He raised his glass, and every head in the room turned to follow.

Chloe ducked her head, cheeks pink. Not once, in the entire speech, did Julian say my name.

I sat in the corner, cutting my steak.

“Ms. Hayes, I wanted to raise a glass to you.” Chloe walked over, wine in hand.

When she lifted her glass, her sleeve slid back just enough to show the bracelet on her wrist — the one Julian had won at auction last week. A client gift, he’d said.

“I hope everything goes well for you in Oakhaven. I’ll take good care of the project.” She held the glass out to me. I didn’t take it.

Julian appeared beside us — I hadn’t heard him walk over. He stopped one chair away.

“She’s got an early flight — go easy on her tonight.”

He took the wine from her hand — playing protector for my sake, while his eyes stayed on her. I picked up my water and touched it to Chloe’s glass.

“To both of you. Bright futures.”

The party broke up in a downpour. Julian pulled the Maybach around to the entrance.

He opened an umbrella and turned to Chloe.

“It’s bad out there — let me give you a ride. You’re on my way.”

He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Thank you, Mr. Sterling.”

Chloe hesitated, glancing over at me. “Ms. Hayes, do you want to ride with us?”

“I’m fine. I’ll get a cab.” The window slid up, and the Maybach rolled away into the rain.

I stood there watching the taillights bleed into the dark. My phone buzzed — a message from AE Corp’s regional president.

[Valerie, the jet is ready. The regional president’s office in Oakhaven is officially yours. We can’t wait to have you.]

I sent back, [See you tomorrow.] and flagged a cab. Back at the condo, I pulled my suitcase out of the closet — already packed.

At the bottom of the vanity drawer sat a plain silver band. He’d bought it from a street stall the day we signed our marriage license.

Once the company went public, he’d said, he’d replace it with a proper diamond ring. I slipped the band off my finger and locked it in the drawer with every other gift he’d ever given me.

I dropped the key into the toilet and flushed. Julian came home well past midnight.

He had a takeout bag in his hand.

“Are you still awake?”

I didn’t answer. “Picked up your favorite chicken noodle soup on my way home — still hot,” he continued, setting the bag on the coffee table and reaching for me.

I stepped back before he could.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Are you upset I didn’t drive you home tonight?”

“She lives way out there. The rain was awful. I’m her boss — I couldn’t just leave her there.”

“I know.” I stared at the takeout bag. Broth was already leaking through the bottom of the paper.

“My flight’s tomorrow morning. Can you take me to the airport?” He didn’t answer right away. His fingers tapped his knee — once, twice.

“Something came up — I’ve got an eight a.m. meeting. I can’t make it. I’ll have the driver take you.”

“Don’t bother.”

I got up and wheeled my suitcase toward the guest room.

“Valerie.”

His voice came from behind me.

“When you get back…”

I didn’t stop.