Cut Off the Three Million

Aziel: Riley, we aren't right for each other. Let's break up. When this message popped up on my phone, I was standing at the door of the hotel private room, holding a cake. I stared at those words for a few seconds, but did not reply. The door was not fully closed, and laughter drifted out from inside. "Manager Wistar, congratulations! Once you've secured the Grand Prosperity project, things are going to be very different for you." Aziel's voice came through the gap in the door. "Just lucky, I guess." Someone teased, "It's not luck, it's Miss Langley who has good taste, isn't it?" The cake box in my hands felt heavier. Then I heard Aziel say, "Don't talk nonsense. Miss Langley and I are just friends." "Friends?" That person laughed louder. "Friends get your father to promote you straight to project lead?" Aziel did not deny it. The day he joined Everlast as a trainee, he held me and said, "Riley, once I've got my footing here, I'll marry you." He has his footing now. And the first thing he did was kick me. Someone else inside asked, "What about your girlfriend back home? You've been together for years, haven't you?" Aziel paused for a moment. "We've broken up." I gave a small, bitter smile. The person clucked their tongue. "You're okay with that? I heard she even delayed graduating with her master's just to stay with you." "She chose to do that on her own," Aziel's tone was impatient. "Besides, she's just an ordinary girl from a regular family. Her outlook is too narrow. All she ever does is tell me not to go to networking dinners, not to drink, not to push myself too hard. I'm moving up in the world now. She can't keep up. Miss Langley is different. She grew up in business circles. The things she can give me, Riley could never give me in a lifetime." I raised my hand and knocked on the door. Aziel opened it. When he saw me, the smile froze on his face. "What are you doing here?" I held out the cake. "To congratulate you." He did not take it. A dozen pairs of eyes inside the room were watching us. The woman sitting near the head of the table stood up. She wore a white dress, and diamond drop earrings flashed so brightly they hurt the eyes. She smiled and asked, "Aziel, who is this?" Aziel swallowed hard. "Riley Waverly. My ex-girlfriend." 'Ex-girlfriend, he said it so easily, so cleanly.' I nodded. "Freshly broken up, actually." Someone could not help snorting with laughter. Aziel's expression darkened. "Don't make a scene." "I'm not making a scene." I set the cake down on the console table just inside the doorway. "I just came to confirm, you want to end things?" "Yes." He seemed to find his resolve, his tone hardening. "Riley, we really aren't suited. You're too immature, and you rely on me far too much." I almost laughed out loud. I paid his rent. I bought his suits. The referral documents that got him into Everlast in the first place? I stayed up three nights in a row to put those together for him. And now he says I rely on him. Cressida Langley walked over and slipped her arm through his. "Miss Waverly, you can't force these things. Aziel's career is just taking off. He needs someone who understands him and who can support him." I looked straight at her. "And you are?" Her smile faded a little. "Cressida Langley." "Ah." I remembered her then. The only daughter of the Vice President Langley, from the Marketing Department. I took a set of keys from my bag and placed them in Aziel's hand. "For the apartment you're renting. I'll move out tonight." He looked relieved. It was so obvious, like he had finally gotten rid of something he'd been carrying around. Then I pulled out a USB drive. Aziel's face changed instantly. "What is this?" "The original proposal for your project." I gave a faint smile. "Don't worry. I'm not going to humiliate you in front of everyone at your celebration." He stared at me, lowering his voice. "Riley, what are you playing at?" "Nothing at all." I slipped the drive back into my bag. "Just remind you, don't forget how you actually won the bid." Cressida looked at him. "What original proposal?" Aziel spoke quickly, "She's making it up. The proposal was developed entirely by my team." I didn't call him out on it. I turned to leave, but Aziel suddenly grabbed my arm. "Riley, have some dignity." 'Dignity?' I looked back at him. "Aziel, where was your dignity when you stole my work?" The room went dead silent. His fingers trembled. Cressida narrowed her eyes. "Aziel?" He was getting flustered. "Don't listen to her. She just can't handle being broken up with. She's trying to ruin my reputation on purpose." I pulled my arm free. "Then you'd better hope that's all I'm doing."