Chapter 2 The Breakup Gift
1142 Words
As soon as Joanne entered the office, the receptionist called out to her and handed her a paper bag from the desk. “Miss Wren, this is your package!”
Joanne took it and, noticing the luxury brand logo on the bag, immediately guessed who had sent it.
Unable to resist, the receptionist asked curiously, “Who sent it? Is it one of your suitors? They sure know how to splurge!”
Joanne smiled without answering. “If you like it, it’s yours.”
“No, no, no!” The receptionist shook her head like a rattle , “This is from BAXTER & CO.! Even their entry-level rings cost thousands, and the clerk who delivered it specifically told me that what’s inside is their high-end jewelry. It’s very expensive, and I was instructed to personally hand it to you.”
Joanne showed no emotional reaction, placing the exquisite dessert that came with the boutique gift in front of the receptionist and smiling. “For you.”
The receptionist repeatedly thanked her. “Thank you, Miss Wren! If I were a man, I’d like you too. You’re not only beautiful, but your personality is so nice as well.”
Joanne carried the paper bag back to her office before opening it.
Inside the square jewelry box was a snake-shaped necklace, fully encrusted with diamonds. The snake’s eyes were inlaid with rubies, making it extraordinarily luxurious and impossible to look away from.
Upon closer inspection, she saw that the snake’s body was studded with over a hundred diamonds, the smallest ones being three or four points in size.
The weight of the necklace was enough to bend her neck. She knew she wouldn’t wear it—there was no occasion for it.
But no woman could dislike such an expensive gift.
To be fair, Zane was truly a generous boss—no, a bed partner.
She couldn’t bring herself to call him her boyfriend, especially since no employer would spend such lavish amounts on a gift for an employee.
In the two years they’d been together, he had given her so much: a duplex apartment in the city center, a high-end SUV, a generous salary, and benefits.
From time to time, he would also send her flowers and precious jewelry.
However, gifts like today’s—this expensive—were usually reserved for special occasions.
Like the day after they got together, or her birthday, Valentine’s Day, and anniversaries.
Today, however, Zane was acting a little out of character.
Upon closer thought, it wasn’t surprising. Joanne concluded this must be a breakup gift.
BAXTER & CO.’s high-end jewelry was available only to VIP clients and purchases had to be pre-ordered.
As expected of Zane—he was so thoughtful, even with a breakup gift.
Her lingering resentment dissipated completely. He was generous, handsome, and in great shape. His performance in bed was excellent too. She wasn’t losing out.
As Joanne locked the necklace in the drawer, Zane stepped out of his private elevator just in time. She grabbed the contract and followed him into the CEO’s office.
The spacious, bright office had simple yet elegant décor, with a superb view. The entire floor-to-ceiling window offered a panoramic view of most of the city.
The tall man stood sideways in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his suit impeccably sharp, exuding an air of sophistication that was impossible to ignore.
Joanne handed over the contract. “Mr. Grey, this is the project proposal from VentureOne Group. I’ve checked it over, please review it again. If there are no issues, then...”
Before she could finish her sentence, Zane took the pen and signed his name with a flourish at the bottom of the page.
Joanne’s breath caught for a moment. He was always so meticulous, yet now, with a contract worth billions, he signed it without even looking at it. What if there was a mistake...
But she quickly realized—he was about to marry Quinn, so naturally, he would treat VentureOne Group with special regard.
After signing, Zane closed the contract and handed it back to Joanne, his gaze falling on the graceful line of her neck.
“Don’t like it?”
Joanne’s mind froze for half a second before she realized what he was referring to. “Thank you, Mr. Grey, I like it very much, but it’s too expensive. It’s not appropriate to wear it at the office.”
Her demure and obedient appearance stopped him from saying what he might have intended.
Joanne waited for about half a minute, noticing that he didn’t speak, and her nervous heart finally settled back into her chest.
It seemed that Zane only intended to break up with her, but didn’t plan on firing her.
That was for the best. She still needed this job, at least for now.
To be precise, she needed money—lots and lots of money.
Her mother had severe burns all over her body, and each skin graft procedure was expensive. The subsequent rehabilitation treatments were no small expense either.
Her brother needed a kidney transplant. The surgery, the kidney, all required money.
On top of that, she had to pay off the massive debts her father had left behind.
These debts were like an endless pit, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t fill it.
So, even though she had other ways of making money, what he gave her was just too much—so much that she couldn’t bear to leave Bos Group.
Just as Joanne returned to her office, she received a call from Mrs. Grey. “Miss Wren, are you busy?”
Joanne replied, “Not at all, is there anything you need?”
Mrs. Grey spoke with a double meaning, smiling as she said, “You’re Zane’s person. How could I dare to give you orders? Anyway, tonight, Zane and I are inviting the Bennett family to dinner at the Majestic Hotel. You should come too.”
Joanne hesitated for a moment. Before she could even refuse, the call was abruptly ended.
Listening to the dial tone, she calmly put away her phone.
She knew exactly what Mrs. Grey’s invitation to the dinner was about.
Her relationship with Zane had been kept a secret from everyone at Bos Group, but it hadn’t been kept from Mrs. Grey. Mrs. Grey had always been uneasy about her presence, like a thorn in her throat.
So, Mrs. Grey likely wanted to use tonight’s dinner to make her face the reality and completely let go of any hope.
Joanne felt that Mrs. Grey was overdoing it. The initiative in her relationship with Zane had never been in her hands.
There was never any possibility for them.
That was also why she had never cared to express her feelings when she was lost in the chaos of emotions.
- Writer
