Chapter 5: Final Humiliation and Heartbreak

But Chris wasn’t done. He tilted his head, smirking. “Want your money? Kneel down and beg me!”

I laughed, even though my hands were shaking. No way I was giving him that satisfaction.

This guy really thought I’d beg? I’d see him in court. My cousin’s husband is a labor lawyer—he was practically drooling over the case.

Once all the paperwork was done, I left the company with my box. Tom at the front desk gave me a sad little nod. I nodded back, hugging my box like it was a life raft.

The company’s projects were always a mess. The boss was stingy, never hired enough people. I spent more nights at my desk than in my own bed. My takeout app knew my order by heart. Now, I could finally rest.

I thought about taking Sarah to Aspen—she’d been showing me ski photos nonstop. Maybe I’d finally surprise her with something nice.

I was finally sleeping when someone yanked off my blanket. It was Sarah, still in her work clothes, looking furious.

“Sleep? All you do is sleep! Jake Foster, how could you get fired?”

I wiped my face, trying not to snap. “Isn’t it because your ex is gunning for me? Come on—”

She cut me off, waving manicured nails in my face. “That’s impossible. Chris isn’t like that! Even after your fight, he apologized to me…”

For a second, I almost laughed. She sounded more upset about the job than about me.

Chris. She never called me by my first name, not once in three years. But for him? It rolled right off her tongue.

“Thought you blocked him after the last mess. Or was that just for show?”

Sarah’s eyes darted away, and I knew—this wasn’t just about my job. Something else was slipping away, and I wasn’t sure I could get it back.