Chapter 2

Not long after, my assistant came with a screenshot. Forum update:

The CEO actually told off the fiancée in front of everyone because of me! She's the one who grew up with everything handed to her — she must despise me now!!

The comments were ecstatic.

Lily had replied: He's just like that. He finds smart women exhausting. I'm simple and I don't play games, and he likes that. That's all.

A beat. Then another post:

This weekend the CEO is proposing to the fiancée. It was my idea.

I'm happy staying in my little corner as his PA. I don't have any other agenda. I just hope she stops targeting me.

The comments dripped with sympathy — and criticisms of me, quickly deleted the moment they were posted.

Then Lily texted me directly, attaching a pin for a jewellery boutique: Hey lovely. I know you're feeling a bit off. I talked Garrett into giving you a day to yourselves to pick out the ring. Tomorrow he's all yours — so can we let go of the sulk?

She added: He likes you in pastels, by the way. I don't mind giving you a few tips.

I hung up without replying.

The next day I had wall-to-wall meetings. Every room in Holloway HQ, back to back.

When Lily called to say the meeting rooms were being "wasted on a domestic" and could I please not keep Garrett waiting more than thirty extra minutes, I hung up again.

I checked the forum later. Lily had posted a photo of a ring on her own hand.

He said I overthink everyone else's feelings. So he bought me three days and said I can wear this ring openly. He wants me to stop worrying.

Also the fiancée really needs to stop throwing tantrums. He doesn't find it attractive.

Comments: Omg she's going to lose her mind when she sees this, Can we get a chapter update every day?, The fiancée sounds absolutely exhausting, no wonder he prefers you.

I closed the browser.

That evening, Garrett texted the same photo of the ring.

Lily helped choose it. Since you're so determined to prove yourself, I'm taking three days off with her for her birthday. The floor is yours. Let's see what you can do.

My eyebrow went up.

Works perfectly for me.

I knew what he'd done. He'd warned his people inside the company. But I'd never planned to fight them on their own ground. I was going to remove them entirely.