My Fiancé Used Our Wedding Venue for Her Promotion Party

Chapter 3

On the first day of the holiday week, an incident occurred at the Evercrest Mall event.

Starting at 9 that morning, I received more than a dozen calls in a row.

Someone posted a video in the project chat.

A 20-foot urban streetscape installation was supposed to be built in the mall atrium.

To make it more visually dramatic, Avery had raised it to 30 feet at the last minute and removed the safety railings.

The installation failed its fire-safety inspection, and the opening ceremony had to be canceled.

The on-site team lead sounded close to tears.

"Sienna, you have the installation specs. Can you help us?"

"Avery changed the final plan. I don't have her files."

"But we can't reach Ms. Collins or Mr. Whitmore."

Of course the on-site team couldn't reach them.

The celebration dinner the night before had lasted until 3 in the morning.

At noon, Ethan called from a different number.

"Send the original blueprints to the team on-site."

"I'm serving out my notice, and I'm no longer responsible for this project."

"Dozens of people are waiting. You can't take your anger with me out on the project."

Once again, he accused me of something completely unreasonable.

"My design was for a 20-foot installation. Avery changed it yesterday. I also submitted a complete handoff checklist to her, and I didn't sign the liability acknowledgment."

Ethan reined in his anger. "This isn't the time to distinguish who is responsible for what."

"When a project succeeds, the credit belongs to the person in charge. When it fails, suddenly you say there's no point distinguishing who is responsible. The rules can't exist only when they benefit Avery."

After a moment of silence, he said the words for the first time, "I'm begging you to help out."

Part of me still wavered.

Not because of him, but because of the employees left behind to clean up the mess.

I sent the original blueprints to the on-site team lead, along with two contingency plans.

1 hour later, word came from the site.

The 20-foot installation passed inspection.

The opening time was moved to 2 p.m., and no further losses were incurred.

Evercrest Mall's leasing manager wrote in the chat.

Manager: The original plan was very thorough. Sienna, when you have time, come by and let's discuss future work.

Only then did Avery surface.

Avery: I felt sick after dinner last night and overslept. Before we left, Sienna and I discussed contingency measures. Everyone coordinated well.

With a few words, she recast the damage-control measures I had taken as arrangements she had made.

Ethan then posted in the chat.

Ethan: Ms. Collins coordinated everything well. The project team will receive bonuses after the holiday.

He didn't mention me.

The on-site team lead texted me privately.

On-site Team Lead: Sienna, I'm sorry.

Sienna: For what?

On-site Team Lead: Mr. Whitmore told me to delete the chat history and make sure everyone said Ms. Collins had prepared the contingency plan.

I stared at the screen, and the last trace of hesitation inside me vanished.

That evening, Ethan came to my place with a bowl of tortellini soup.

Dad refused to let him in.

"Making her cover someone else's shifts was a misunderstanding? Taking credit for her plan was a misunderstanding? Leaving town with another woman on her mother's birthday was a misunderstanding too?"

Ethan went pale.

"Sir, Avery and I have never been anything more than coworkers."

I stepped out of the apartment.

"Even if nothing happened between you, does that make your favoritism acceptable?"

He held out the tortellini soup.

"It's still hot. Eat it first."

Every time we argued, he bought me a bowl of tortellini soup.

He seemed to think the problem would disappear as long as he soothed me.

"Why did Avery get credit for today's solution?"

He looked away.

"She was just promoted. If her first project failed, the team would never trust her again. You're leaving anyway. The credit is only on paper. It won't change anything for you."

I nodded.

"Since you know I'm leaving, you have even less right to keep using my work."

He gripped the doorframe. "I'll pay you the project bonus out of my own pocket."

"When my name belongs on the work, you give the credit to Avery. When she should be held accountable, you try to pay me to let it go. That's not compensation. That's putting a price on my work and my dignity."

I looked at him.

"Ethan, how little am I worth to you?"