He Chose Her, I Chose My Career

Chapter 3

I'll give him this — Aaron really was meticulous.

The next day he simply took the day off and stayed home to keep an eye on me.

I slept until I woke up on my own, and the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Aaron sitting at the head of the bed, fingers clattering away at his phone.

When he saw I was awake, he muttered under his breath, startled, "Did I not put in enough? How's she up this early?"

I asked him what he'd said. He just looked away and told me not to read into it.

Then the buzz of a phone cut through the quiet.

It was Vicky calling.

"Aaron, my presentation's coming up any minute. I'm so nervous."

Aaron shot an uneasy glance at me, fresh out of sleep, and dropped his voice to an apologetic murmur as he stepped out onto the balcony. "Don't be nervous. You've prepared so well. You've got this!"

"Aaron, send me some good luck. Whatever you say is bound to come true."

Aaron's grip tightened around his phone. "Then… here's to a strong start and the promotion in the bag!"

On the other end, Vicky was laughing, delighted.

I watched him from the inside, out there on the balcony — handsome, clean-cut, a soft smile warming his eyes.

My phone lit up the instant Aaron hung up.

It was a photo of Vicky flashing a peace sign at her own computer. It read, "Serena, don't you worry. I won't let all your hard work go to waste. This job is as good as mine!"

I stared at the photo, my frown pulling tighter and tighter.

The data on that screen was unmistakably the records from one of my old projects. Records I had never sent to a single soul.

Which left only one explanation. Aaron.

For a moment, I didn't know what to make of it, only that a hot fury came rising out of my chest.

Aaron really had spared no effort for his precious first love. He'd actually stolen the data from my old project before wiping my files.

And the thought of it suddenly made me feel utterly ridiculous.

This relationship I'd guarded so carefully, cradled like something precious. In the end, I was the fool, trading junk for treasure in my own mind.

I kept clinging to the warmth Aaron once gave me, so I let him walk all over my boundaries and dignity again and again.

I couldn't let go of seven years of feelings, so I believed his pathetic lies.

A man I should have left behind.

Why did I keep giving in? Why did I keep forgiving?

There were four billion men on the planet. What exactly was Aaron worth?

Even the position he held had only fallen to him because I'd turned it down first.

My eyes burned hotter as I looked at him.

I half wished I could scorch a hole straight through his chest, just to see whether there was still a heart in there at all.

"Rena, can I cook you that dinner I promised tomorrow instead of tonight?"

I lifted my eyes and looked at him, my face blank.

"Vicky just wrapped up her bid today, and I'm the only person she knows in the whole country. I want to take her to dinner — let her feel like somebody actually cares.

"I know you of all people get what that's like. Vicky's just like you, you know. I'm the only family she's got here. You wouldn't want her left all alone, would you?"

He looked at me, faintly apologetic, waiting for my answer.

I nodded, calm as anything. "Sure. Go ahead."