That evening, to welcome the new hires, Mr. Anderson organized a team dinner.
The venue? ||
A lively
BBQ joint with
hundimited beer on tap.
Everyone was gathered around the long wooden tables, flipping steaks and ribs on the sizzling tabletop grills, passing around side dishes, and clinking their drinks together. []
Sophia had just come back from the sauce station, a cup of dipping sauce in her hands
The walled perfectly fine down the steps leading to mur
o our table.
But the moment she reached me–on completely flat ground–she suddenly tripped, and the entire cup of sauce went flying straight onto my shirt.
A few coworkers who witnessed the whole thing exchanged looks, their faces turning sour.
A
“Really? What is this reality show catfight? That was so obvious.”
Sophia straightened up, brushing nonexistent dust off her outfit like nothing happened.[]
“My had,” she said, her tone light and sickeningly sweet.
“Didn’t mean to ruin Lucas’s little sweetheart’s night-“]
Her passive–aggressive smirk made my stomach turn.
One of the other girls had had enough.
She yanked Sophia by the sleeve, ready to go off
“I hate girls like you,” she snapped
“You knew you were the side chick, so stay in your damn lane!“)
“You really think that whole innocent act still works-“||
Before she could finish, a hand shoved its way between them, pushing her back.
Lucas.
He pulled Sophis into lus arms like she was some delicate princess, shooting me a furious glare.
“Endy, when did you become this petty?” |
I stared at him.
My stained shirt was right there.[]
And yet, he acted like it didn’t exist. [
The pain and confusion 1 felt just moments ago?”||
“Gone. Replaced by something calmer, sharper.
“Lucas,” I said my voice at
“Are those eyes of yours just for decoration?”
petroce
He had known me for years.
Never once had 1 spoken to him like this.
Even when he hurt me, I’d just swallow it, let it slide, wait for him to realize he was wrong and come make it up to me. []
But not this time]
Sephia clung to his chest, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing
“It’s my faut,” she murmured.
“She didn’t trip me–I just lost my balance and spilled my sauce
“Don’t be mad, okay? It’s not good for you.
“She’s just a little upset, and that’s totally normal. I’ll apologize to her.“]
She span her little web of bes so effortlessly.
“I know you two were promised to each other since childhood,” she added with a sad smile, “You’re meant to be together.”
“I understand if you take her side.”
Lucas cut her off. []
“I’m not letting you suffer because of her.”
He turned back to me, his eyes cold.]
“There was no childhood engagement.“[
“My mom was just joking around.“]
“Like hell I’d ever be interested in a jealous, scheming little fale like you.”
With that, he wrapped his arm around Sophia and led her away
She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled.
“Fake? You mean that “white lotus‘ thing you told me about before?”
“Wow you really hit the nail on the head.“]
I clenched my fists!
He got to say whatever he wanted
And all I could do was stand there and take it
I went to the bathroom and tried to scrub the sauce off my dress!]
The cold, damp fabric clung to my skin, and for a second, it felt like my whole heart had frozen over.
When I returned. Sophia was all smiles, looking spotless and radiant
Lucas was sitting next to her]
And their table?
Full of guys–guys who were practically tripping over themselves to pour her drinks, serve her food, and hang onto her every word
My coworker scoffed
“Why do men always go for girls like that?
Yours did. Mine did too.
1 knew her ex–husband had cheated on her with a manipulative little homewrecker.
She’d kicked them both out, and now they were struggling to get by
Honestly, I kind of admired her for it ||
“He’s not my man,” I said, giving her a small bag–one that felt like I was also saying goodbye to my past.]
“He’s hers. They’re perfect for each other.“]
She looked surprised.
“After all these years, you’re really just… letting him go?”
1 sat back down and picked up my chopsticks.
“You ever heard of the sunk cost fallacy?”
This wasn’t just about Sophia.
Lucas himself was the problem
And in a way, I owed her a thank you!]
She showed me exactly who he was–while I still had time to walk away
Maybe this was a blessing in disguise
100
