CHAPTER 002

Ava's POV

Liar.

He said he would be back soon, but he left me waiting all night.

I dragged myself to Campbell Group where I work. The company is owned by Jason’s family, and Jason is the CEO and my boss.

Sally Parker, my best friend and colleague, greeted me with concern the moment I walked into my office.

“Ava, are you okay? You don’t look well.”

Forcing a smile, I nodded. “I’m fine, just tired.”

She looked at me skeptical but decided not to press further. “Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that today they’re announcing the new design director. It has to be you, Ava. You’ve worked so hard for it. Congratulations in advance.”

“Thanks, Sal. I appreciate your support.”

I am somewhat calm because I knew the position would be mine. Jason had assured me and I was ready to take on the responsibilities of the design director.

I noticed everyone's phone buzzing with a new notification including mine.

“I know it must be the appointment notification.” Sally hurriedly checked her phone.

Her brows furrowed as she read the message, she looked up at me, her expression mixed with confusion and misbelief.

“The new design director is Laura Martinez. Who the hell is Laura Martinez?”

“What?” I gasped. The name sent a chill through me.

Laura Martinez here in this company? It couldn’t be the same woman from last night, could it?

Yet the name was unmistakable, leaving me frozen in disbelief. How could this be happening?

Snatching up Sally's phone, I read the notice again, hoping for some clarification that would dispel my shock.

But there it was plain as day: Laura Martinez was indeed appointed as the new design director.

My heart sank. How could Jason bring Laura into my world like this?

The chatter around me grew louder as whispers of the appointment spread through the office.

“Ava,” a colleague said, tapping my shoulder, “we were asked to go to the conference room. The CEO wants to introduce the new design director.”

I nodded mechanically, still reeling from the news. Sally walked silently beside me, her eyes filled with questions she didn’t voice.

As we neared the conference room, snippets of conversation floated around me.

“Did you hear? The new design director is the CEO’s wife.”

The words hit me like a slap.

“Oh, now I understand why he appointed her and not Ava. I feel so bad for Ava; the position was meant to be hers.”

“She can’t compete with the CEO’s wife, can she?” Chloe Morgan interjected, her tone filled with spite.

Sally squeezed my hand gently in support. I glanced at her, forcing a smile that I didn’t feel.

Inside the conference room, the tension was palpable. All eyes turned as Laura walked in. Her confident stride and poised smile commanded attention, her navy blue suit fitting her perfectly.

I felt a sharp pain as I watched her greet everyone with ease. She moved to Jason’s side and leaned in, whispering something that made his face light up.

My hands tightened into fists as I fought back tears.

Beside me, Sally noticed and whispered, “Don’t let them see it, Ava. You’re stronger than this.”

Jason stood and announced proudly, “Everyone, this is Laura Martinez, the new design director. Her ideas and creativity will take our company to new heights. Please cooperate with her.”

The room erupted into applause, but all I felt was numbness.

After the announcement, I returned to my office. Anger bubbled inside me, and I thought about storming into Jason’s office to demand an explanation.

But I couldn’t. A confrontation like that would draw attention, and I didn’t want people questioning us. Because apart from Sally no one knows I was the CEO's wife.

I tried to focus on work, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Laura, Jason, and the betrayal I felt.

Minutes felt like hours until a knock on my door interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Jason walked in, guilt etched on his face.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, closing the door behind him.

I crossed my arms, waiting for an explanation.

“Ava, I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he began, his voice low. “But I owe Laura and her family a debt… a huge one.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

He hesitated, his gaze dropping. “You know Campbell Group almost went bankrupt some years ago, right? We were on the verge of losing everything.”

I nodded, my heart racing as I tried to piece together his words.

“A competitor found out about our financial troubles and tried to sabotage us. Laura’s parents stepped in. They lent us a significant amount of money when no one else would."

"It saved the company, but… it cost them everything. Their deaths were partly because of the risks they took to help us.”

My breath caught.

“I owe them, Ava,” Jason said quietly. “That’s why I had to appoint Laura. She’s their daughter, and after everything her family did, I couldn’t turn her away."

"It wasn’t about choosing her over you. I just didn’t know how else to repay what her family sacrificed for us.”

The weight of his words settled over me. It didn’t erase the pain, but it explained his actions in a way I couldn’t ignore.

“And before you think anything else—Laura and I, we were together a long time ago, but it ended. I don’t feel anything for her anymore. I just… I need to take care of her out of gratitude. I hope you can understand that.”

His honesty softened something inside me. It hurt, but I could see his sincerity.

“I understand,” I said quietly. “It’s a lot to take in, but I get it. You were doing what you had to for the company.”

Relief washed over his face. “Thank you, Ava. You mean everything to me.”

I nodded. “Just don’t keep me in the dark next time.”

“I promise,” he said, leaning in to kiss my forehead before leaving.

The office felt unbearably quiet after he left. I sat down, trying to process everything.

Before I knew it, it was completely dark. I checked the time, it was almost ten o'clock in the evening. I rubbed my neck which was sore from fatigue and decided to go home.

As I was leaving, I noticed the light in Jason's office was still on.

I felt a strong urge to go to his door like something was pulling me there.

Just as I got close to his door I heard Jason's gentle voice, “Don't cry, you will ruin your makeup.”

A shiver ran down my spine. Jason has never spoken to me this gently before and a bad idea crept into my mind.

I lifted my legs to leave not wanting to face this potentially cruel fact but my legs remained rooted to the spot.

I pushed the door open just a crack and saw Jason gently running his fingers through Laura’s hair as she curled up against him, crying softly in a voice that could melt anyone's heart.

I blinked rapidly trying to make sense of the shocking scene before me. What she said next froze me in place.

“But you know that I got divorced because of you.”