Chapter 2
824words
I instinctively released my hold on Ruby.
Relief flooded through me at the sight of him, but before I could move, someone darted past me: "Yves! What took you so damn long!"
Ruby scrambled to her feet and rushed to him, pounding her fists dramatically against his chest.
The realization hit me like a truck—they knew each other.
And not just casually. Their body language screamed intimacy.
"Yves... you two know each other?"
Watching their familiar interaction, my fingers trembled around the broken pendant.
Yves didn't even acknowledge my question. Instead, he looked me up and down with undisguised disgust. "Why are you here making a scene instead of job hunting?"
My father had never approved of Yves during our relationship.
He'd given me just one condition: if I insisted on dating Yves, I had to hide my true identity.
So Yves had no idea I was now the CEO.
Before I could explain, Ruby jumped in: "She's just some delusional intern claiming to be the CEO. Can you believe it?"
"No wonder she's so damn arrogant, not even bothering to greet me properly. So she's your little girlfriend~"
"Shut your mouth!"
I wanted to rip her smug face off, but she ducked behind Yves, taunting me with childish expressions.
Yves fixed me with a cold stare. "You seriously think dropping my name will get you a job here?"
"I get that you're trying to save face by spinning this CEO fantasy to Ruby, but this company is way out of your league."
"I graduated from an elite university. Do you really think I'd stoop to such pathetic tactics?"
I asked, my voice dripping with contempt.
Ruby suddenly gasped and stumbled against Yves with theatrical precision. "Oh my god, is this the girlfriend you've been hiding? She's... underwhelming."
Seeing my unfazed expression, Ruby pursed her lips before suddenly crying out in "pain" and collapsing into Yves' waiting arms.
"What happened?"
He cradled her with concerning familiarity.
"I just made a tiny comment about your girlfriend, and she went ballistic and hit me. My stomach... it really hurts."
Yves instantly tensed, completely forgetting my presence. "Where does it hurt? Are you okay? You need to be careful with the baby..."
He shot me an accusatory glare. "You've always been impulsive, but Ruby's condition is delicate. Don't you realize even a small push could be dangerous?"
"Apologize to her. Now!"
Watching him fuss over another woman with such tenderness, my heart plummeted. "Why should I apologize for something I never did?"
Ruby responded with exaggerated moans of pain, pressing herself closer to Yves.
I took a steadying breath. "Yves, who do you believe—her or me?"
Yves barely glanced my way. "Ruby can be blunt sometimes, but she doesn't lie."
"So I'm the liar?"
The dam finally broke, tears spilling down my cheeks:
"We're done, Yves."
Yves rolled his eyes. "Can you stop with the dramatics? We'll talk at home."
I wiped my tears and turned toward the elevators. "There's nothing to discuss. We're finished."
Before I could take three steps, he grabbed my arm. "This is my workplace. What are you even doing here? Planning to whine to management?"
"I AM the CEO. This entire company is mine. Why wouldn't I go in?"
"Have you lost your mind? I'm a supervisor here with the board's full confidence. My career's taking off. Stop with these insane delusions!"
"Supervisor? That's what you call 'career advancement'?"
I couldn't help but laugh.
Ruby suddenly piped up with mock enlightenment. "Oh, I see what's happening! Poor thing's bitter about being dumped, so she's creating this fantasy to save face!"
I swallowed my rage and pulled out my phone. "Manager Lewis? It's the new CEO. I need two people from HR terminated immediately."
When I ended the call, both Ruby and Yves stood frozen, clearly shocked that I'd actually called the general manager.
Ruby recovered quickly, shouting for security.
"Remove this disruptive woman! Everyone knows Lewis is overseas right now. She's obviously bluffing!"
Yves added with a hiss, "Stop embarrassing yourself—and me—in public!"
The growing crowd snickered behind their hands.
"As if someone like her could get Manager Lewis on speed dial!"
I said nothing, mentally photographing every smirking face in the crowd.
I strode toward the executive elevator only to find a security guard blocking my path.
"Ma'am, this elevator is reserved for executive management only."
"Damn, Yves, your ex has completely lost it! She actually thinks she's the CEO!"
"That's rich! If she can open that elevator, I'll eat my damn shoes!"
Just as the crowd expected me to slink away in humiliation, I calmly pressed my thumb to the scanner. The light flashed green.
"Satisfied?"
The security guard's jaw dropped. I stepped into the elevator as the doors closed on their stunned faces, whisking me upward to the executive floor.
