I Quit My Job Twenty-One Times And He Packed Her Shirt Chapter 01

I Quit My Job Twenty-One Times And He Packed Her Shirt Chapter 01

When my boyfriend accepted yet another corporate relocation assignment, I finally drew the line. I refused his suggestion to quit my job and move with him.

He frowned, completely bewildered by my defiance. “We’ve always done it this way. Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Chloe is coming along on this transfer too,” he added, his voice dripping with annoyance. “If you don’t come, you’re just going to get paranoid again.”

My hands froze around the pruning shears I was using to trim the roses.

Just because I hadn’t wanted him spending all his time alone with his precious junior colleague, I had resigned from twenty-one different jobs over our four years together.

During those four years, I had thrown away countless promotion opportunities. Meanwhile, his career skyrocketed, leaving him highly successful and surrounded by ambitious peers who spoke his language.

He solved endless professional crises for Chloe, yet he had never once turned down a relocation for my sake.

The only time he ever refused an assignment was because Chloe didn’t like the humid tropical weather of the destination.

“I just don’t feel like going anymore,” I replied honestly. My hand shook slightly, accidentally snipping off a perfectly good flower bud.

I silently tossed the bud into the trash. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him text someone, a sharp smirk pulling at the corners of his lips.

“Fine. I’ll check in every single day and keep my distance. Just wait for me to come back,” he said smoothly. I simply nodded.

But when I saw him packing a designer shirt Chloe had gifted him into his suitcase, I made my decision. I opened my email and accepted the multi-year corporate relocation my own company had offered me.

This time, I was the one walking away.

******

Once he finished packing, he pulled out his phone. A notification from Chloe popped up on the screen.

[Hey Julian, are you packed yet? I’m waiting downstairs.]

A faint, barely noticeable smile touched his lips. He locked his phone and looked over at me on the couch.

“Are you absolutely sure you’re staying?”

I tore my eyes away from my laptop screen and looked up at him. I could see a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

Suddenly, a wave of stubborn desperation hit me. I found myself thinking, Just once. What if he chooses me just this once?

“Can you stay?” I asked softly. “My birthday is in a few days. It’s been years since we actually celebrated it together.”

The moment the words left my mouth, irritation and evasion flashed clearly across his face.

An instant later, he smoothed over his expression and dragged out the same old excuses, pretending everything was for my own good.

“Rachel, I’m taking these transfers to save up for our wedding,” he said smoothly. “Don’t you want to marry me as soon as possible?”

I remained silent. The wheels of his heavy suitcase rolled across the hardwood floor again.

“Julian, don’t you think you and Chloe are a little too close?” I countered. “Close enough that it eclipses what we have?”

He rubbed his temples, his patience wearing thin.

“She’s a junior from my alma mater, out here all alone. As her mentor, it’s my responsibility to look out for her. If you’re doubting us over this, you’re wasting your time.”

Wasting my time? I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh but didn’t push further.

Over the years, I had followed him from city to city, sacrificing my own life and getting absolutely nothing in return.

Once, toward the end of an assignment, my father suffered a sudden, severe stroke. I had begged Julian to fly back to New York with me.

Instead, he refused because he wanted to hit a trendy tourist spot with Chloe. We had a massive screaming match over that.

He apologized afterward and spent two grueling weeks at the hospital helping take care of my dad. But on the day my father was discharged, he pulled me aside.

“Are you done making Chloe’s life difficult?” he had asked, his voice entirely flat.

For Chloe’s sake, he was willing to play a humble caretaker for half a month just to appease me. What else was he capable of doing for her?

Bringing my thoughts back to the present, I found the whole situation ludicrous.

Her ambition to take my place was obvious. His favoritism toward her was undeniable. Yet he kept lying to himself.

A sharp knock cut through the silence at the front door. Julian brushed past me and hurried over to open it.

“Julian! What took you so long? I was absolutely melting downstairs!”

She peered into the apartment and caught sight of me. A sweet, innocent smile instantly slid across her face.

“Hey Rachel, we’re on a super tight schedule today. You’ve got to let Julian go.”

She walked over and draped her arm affectionately through mine.

“You’re not one of those crazy, insecure girlfriends, are you? Don’t worry, there’s absolutely nothing going on between me and Julian.”

Then, her smile turned mocking. “Unless… you actually want to tag along but are just too proud to admit it?”

A wave of intense nausea hit my stomach. I nodded and pulled away. “Just leave.”

I didn’t bother arguing.

The sudden release caught Julian off guard—visible relief flooding his face. He grabbed Chloe’s hand, practically fleeing the apartment. “We’re heading out then.”