After He Left Me to Burn, I Shot Him

Chapter 3 The Most Important Person

Vanessa gasped for air and slumped to the floor.

She looked up, gratitude flickering in her eyes. But then she saw him—Watson, standing protectively in front of Amber. His face was a mix of concern and anger.

"Who said you could make her drink?" he shouted.

The partner's face darkened. He'd never respected Watson much anyway—just an adopted son running a company that wasn't really his.

He stated, "One drink. That's all I offered. Ms. Pearson downed a bottle. The secretary's daughter too good to have a sip?"

Vanessa's chest tightened. Watson had positioned himself like a wall, shielding Amber completely.

They'd forced an entire bottle of liquor down her throat. Men had crowded around, touched her, made her skin crawl. Watson hadn't said a word.

But the moment someone even suggested Amber take one sip, he shut the whole thing down, didn't care about the deal.

The tension in the room was palpable—until the partner's phone rang.

His face went pale. When he hung up, the hostility was gone.

"My apologies, Ms. Rainer. I didn't realize you were connected to Mr. Dayes. To make it right, we'll give up another point on the project." He was bowing to Amber, but his eyes slid to Watson.

Amber glanced at Vanessa, a smug smile playing on her lips. Then she put on her innocent act. "Oh, but Ms. Pearson worked so hard on this. Maybe she should have it? I don't know anything about business. I couldn't possibly handle something so big."

Since the largest partner bowed his head, the surrounding assistants nodded eagerly.

"Ms. Rainer, you're blessed. You don't need to worry about work at all. Just enjoy life. We'll handle everything and deliver your share directly to you."

"Mr. Dayes must care about you deeply. Soon we'll all be calling you Mrs. Dayes. No one will ever look down on you again."

Vanessa felt a sharp, painful ache in her chest when she saw the tenderness in Watson's eyes as he looked at Amber.

The deeper her love for him, the more intensely she suffered—and trying to move on only made the hurt that much worse.

Everything Vanessa had done and endured meant nothing at all—just a joke.

The biggest deal of the night was handed to Amber on a silver platter. The smaller ones got wrapped up and given to her like party favors.

'Mr. Dayes. Watson, you really know how to love her, don't you?'

Vanessa's legs felt like jelly. The alcohol was still burning through her system. She forced herself to stand and headed for the door.

But Amber's voice stopped her. She stepped away from the crowd, all sweetness. "Ms. Pearson? Mr. Dayes doesn't want me giving the big project to outsiders. But since you want it so badly... I could give you some of the smaller ones."

Her voice dripped with pity. Her eyes sparkled with triumph.

Vanessa's head was pounding. She didn't have the energy for this. "I don't want anything bought by a man. Disgusting."

Amber looked up at Watson, eyes glistening. "Mr. Hayes... do you think I'm disgusting, too?"

Watson shot Vanessa a look. Then he turned to Amber, his voice impossibly soft. "You're innocent and sweet. I could never hate you. I love you."

He paused, his gaze hardening as it left Amber and landed on Vanessa.

A cold smile curved his lips. "Besides... selling yourself for a project? Drinking with other men just to close a deal? That's what's truly cheap. Isn't it?"

He'd let them do it. He'd stood there and watched.

Vanessa bit down on the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood.

'I loved the wrong man. Ten years, and Watson is still a block of ice I can't melt.'

She opened the door. Then a wave of heat slammed into her.

"Fire! Get out! Everyone out!"

Screams erupted. Smoke billowed down the hallway. The room exploded into chaos as everyone scrambled for the exit.

Vanessa dodged a burning beam as it crashed down. Thick black smoke stung her eyes, blinded her.

She finally spotted the way out. And then, a violent shove from behind sent her sprawling.

Watson ran past her, Amber in his arms. He didn't spare Vanessa a single glance.

Vanessa murmured, "Watson..."

Flames consumed his silhouette. And for a moment, Vanessa saw a younger Watson.

The day Travis brought him home, he'd held her close and promised, "I'll always protect Vanessa. She's the most important person to me."

The wood groaned. The ceiling gave way. DeLuxe Dining collapsed in a roar of fire and smoke.

Vanessa was plunged into darkness.