8
I stood my ground, silent, waiting to see what Amber’s endgame was.
Sure enough, she turned back to me. The tears and snot were still on her face, but her expression was pure
triumph.
“Everything my husband bought you belongs to me,” she declared. “Give me that watch, and return everythi- ng else he ever gave you. If you do that, I might find it in my heart to forgive you.”
She was playing the benevolent victim again. “After all,” she added magnanimously, “everyone makes mista-
kes.”
But I had no intention of letting her win.
“You keep calling me a mistress,” I said, my voice ringing through the silent office. “Why don’t we get your ‘
Mark‘ down here and clear this up, face to face?”
Her expression flickered. “Mark is an incredibly busy man. As the mother of his child, the last thing I want to
do is cause him more trouble!”
I had been watching her closely and saw the flash of panic in her eyes.
I raised my voice so everyone could hear. “This isn’t trouble? You’re slandering me, ruining my reputation! Why should I just let it go? Either you call your husband down here right now, or we call the police and let
them sort it out.”
Gita nodded firmly. “She’s right, Amber. You need to get the actual person involved. If this is all a misunders- tanding, Mia’s career here is finished.”
Amber shrank back, seeing the looks of doubt on the faces in the crowd. Finally, she relented.
“Fine! You all just wait. When my husband gets here, Mia Kim will never work in this city again!”
A few minutes later, Mr. Evans appeared, panting as if he’d run a marathon. “What’s going on? What’s all the
commotion?”
Amber, having wiped away her tears, pointed a trembling finger at me, her voice a pitiful whine. “Mark! Why would you buy her such an expensive watch? You promised me… you promised you would only have eyes for
me from now on.”
Gita’s jaw dropped. Jessica looked like she’d just swallowed a bug. The rest of the office was in a state of
collective shock.
Because Amber was barely in her twenties, and Mr. Evans… Mr. Evans was pushing forty.
Just as I thought.
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12:44
12.44
Chapter 2
Amber had seen his text asking me to dinner and immediately assumed he was my rich boyfriend.
Mr. Evans followed Amber’s pointing finger. His gaze landed on me.
The color drained from his face.
