Chapter 1
Tessa's POV:
My boyfriend came back from his business trip to Valenne with gifts for everyone.
"Elise, thanks for all your hard work on this trip. I brought you two necklaces so you can alternate between them."
His executive assistant, Elise, took the necklaces, looking surprised and delighted.
"Thank you, Mr. Voss! You're the best boss anyone could ask for!" she said sweetly.
Even the company's security guard got a local souvenir he'd brought back.
But the necklace I'd been talking about for 2 whole months had slipped his mind completely.
Everyone turned to look at me.
Nolan slapped his forehead and gave me an apologetic smile.
"Honestly, my memory is terrible. Elise kept rushing me so we wouldn't miss our flight, and I forgot yours."
The coworkers who'd been joking a moment earlier suddenly stopped smiling.
I looked at him.
"I asked for that necklace for my birthday. I reminded you more than once."
He frowned.
"Everyone's watching. I'll buy you one later, all right?"
Watching him act as if this were perfectly reasonable, I suddenly smiled.
'This is the 21st time in 3 months he's forgotten something that matters to me because of Elise.'
I looked down and picked up my phone to message the studio that had just offered me a job for the fifth time.
Tessa: I accept the offer.
Their reply came almost instantly.
Studio: Wonderful! The position and compensation package are still yours. We look forward to having you join us whenever you're ready!
I put my phone away. By the time I looked up, my expression was calm again.
Nolan was surrounded by coworkers.
Elise stood beside him, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Someone called out teasingly, "Mr. Voss, you'd better make this up to Tessa. Don't forget next time!"
Nolan came over to me and smiled at everyone. "Tessa isn't that petty."
I didn't pull away. I just smiled.
That evening, I joined an online meeting from home.
The studio had offered me a job five times. I'd turned them down four times for Nolan's sake. This time, I'd said yes.
Before the meeting ended, the HR director said warmly, "Your talent shouldn't go to waste. Once you arrive, I'll show you around Bellhaven myself."
"Go where?" Nolan's voice suddenly cut in.
I turned around, only then realizing he'd come home.
"What are you doing back so soon?"
He paused at my question, then set the vanilla cake he was carrying on the table. "What's that supposed to mean?"
For a moment, I was caught off guard, too. 'Maybe he still remembers it's my birthday.'
I went to the table and reached to unwrap the cake. My voice softened. "Did you get this for me?"
"Don't touch it!" Nolan slapped my hand away, leaving the back of it red. "Ellie's going to the movies in a bit. I brought that for her. This is for you."
As he spoke, he put a bottle of mango drink on the table.
Then he turned to a drawer and fished out two movie tickets. "Ellie landed a project for the company, so I'm taking her to a movie tonight," he said, as though it were nothing. He looked at me seriously, as if to explain himself. "Don't read anything into it. I'm just giving an employee some encouragement."
I nodded, my eyes settling on the bottle of mango drink.
Back in college, Nolan had given me a bottle of mango drink. After drinking it, I'd spent 3 days in the hospital.
He'd been terrified and sworn he'd never let me near anything with mango in it again.
'Now he's forgotten.'
I stared blankly at the bottle for a while, then turned to leave.
Nolan stood to one side. He glanced at me as I turned away and frowned in annoyance. "You don't like it? Ellie said this brand was good."
"I never drink milk, and I don't eat mangoes."
"Really?" His brow furrowed, then he looked away as if it were nothing. "I forgot. Why do you have to be so difficult?" He tugged irritably at his tie. "You've been sulking all day over one necklace. Isn't that enough? You never used to be like this. Why do you keep making such a big deal out of little things?"
I looked him in the eye, unable to stop the ache in my chest.
"Do you even remember what day it is?"
Nolan stared at me for a long moment.
"It's... Thursday? I know you're upset because I didn't bring you a gift. Next time... Next time I'll set a reminder!"
I gave a bitter smile.
'Yet he remembers every word Elise says. He even remembers when her period is due.'
When I said nothing, he reached out and ruffled my hair.
"Ellie's waiting for me. We'll talk when I get back!"
He waved the movie tickets at me, then turned and left.
As I glanced at the tickets, I saw the purchase date. It was yesterday.
I didn't say anything else. 'I'll be leaving soon anyway. After that, he can go to the movies with whoever he wants.'
