There was no anger in my voice, no accusation, just a quiet, almost desperate question. Chloe’s brow furrowed instantly, a flicker of impatience crossing her features. “Dylan’s just starting his internship here, I was just hosting a welcome party for him. Can you stop being so ridiculously jealous? Honestly, Caleb, it’s suffocating!”
i froze, utterly stunned. I never imagined the woman who, just days ago, had been clinging to me, whispering ‘honey,‘ would so ruth lessly criticize me in front of her entire staff. Perhaps my expression was too nakedly shocked, because a flicker of realization crossed Chloe’s face. A faint flush of panic spread across her cheeks as she quickly stammered an apology. “Caleb, I’m so sorry, I
misspoke. That’s not what I meant.”
My hands clenched into tight fists. I looked her dead in the eye and asked, each word a hammer blow. “Then what did you mean?
And why did you lie about going on a business trip?”
Chipe took my hand, her fingers intertwining with mine. “I wasn’t lying, honey. My plans did change suddenly, the client rescheduled and I just hadn’t had a chance to tell you yet!” Her voice was so affectionate, so natural, that it chipped away at the wall of resent- ment I’d built. But the phantom echo of ‘Prince Charming‘ still grated on my nerves. “Then why were your employees calling Dylan‘
the boss’s Prince Charming‘?”
“Oh, come on, Caleb, it’s just a silly office joke! Who here doesn’t know you, my big jealous bear, are my man?” As she spoke, she squeezed my palm, her thumb tracing patterns on my skin. “Honey, please don’t be mad, okay? It’s your birthday, after all. Tonight, I‘ Il take you somewhere special for dinner.”
I was just about to warn Chloe against such ‘jokes‘ in the future when Dylan suddenly rushed over, looking utterly distraught. Gone was his earlier meekness, replaced by an unmistakable swagger in his voice. “Mr. Caldwell, I am so, so sorry if I caused any trouble. If it really bothers you, I… I can just leave Chloe’s company and find an internship elsewhere. Anything, just please don’t let me cause arguments between you two.” His head hung low, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Everyone else looked on, convinced I was some kind of arrogant bully. They dared not speak, but their eyes silently pleaded with Chloe. Seeing Dylan’s act, Chloe immediately let go of my hand and walked over to him. She spoke to him in soothing tones, her movements gentle and comforting
She didn’t stand me up that night, she really did take me out for dinner. But the food tasted like ash. Because even though she was sitting across from me, her words, every single one of them, were about Dylan.
1013
“Dylan and I grew up together, he’s practically my brother.”
“His parents asked me to help him get an internship, so I brought him into my company.”
“I was worried you’d overthink things, so I just… didn’t tell you.”
“If there was truly something between us, we would have been together years ago, wouldn’t we?”
“Caleb, I know how good you are to me. My heart and my eyes are only for you.”
Chloe sounded so earnest, I found it hard to argue. I just nodded, a dull ache settling in my chest. She pulled out a pair of simple silver couple’s rings. She slipped the female one onto her own finger, then gently slid the male one onto my ring finger. “Caleb, with my current finances, this is all I can afford. I know it’s not much, it feels like I’m… underserving you.” She smiled, a hint of false sincerity in her eyes. “But I promise, when I make it big, I’ll put the most expensive ring in the world on your finger.”
Looking at the girl nestled in my arms, and the ring glinting on my finger, the last of my unease finally began to dissipate.
But she eventually broke that promise.
After that night, Chloe stopped pretending. She and Dylan began openly moving around campus together. Whispers started circula- ting around campus, that Chloe had dumped me for Dylan. Before I could even trace the source of the rumors, Dylan himself show- ed up at my dorm. He’d shed his meek facade completely, now radiating an obnoxious arrogance.
“Caleb, do you know what kind of man is truly pathetic? It’s a doormat like you!” he sneered. “Chloe wants me, not you. Do yourself a favor and back off gracefully!”
My fists clenched at my sides, but I bit back a retort, refusing to engage with his provocations. But his eyes gleamed with a predat- ory certainty. “Since you’re so determined to delude yourself, I’ll be happy to help you see the truth.”
