"Natalie, remember President Zhao from the Wuzhen conference?" His voice was silk. "He wants to discuss the AI internet project. Why don't you send your assistant ahead and ride with me?"
"Okay."
No hesitation. Not even a breath.
Everything I'd said to her moments ago? Gone. Erased. As if the words had never left my mouth.
She stepped out of our car and slid into his.
Something cracked open in my chest—sharp, hollow, spreading. It wasn't jealousy. Jealousy would have been easier. This was loneliness so thick it pressed against my lungs, made each breath feel borrowed.
The taillights shrank into the distance.
I stood there for a long time. Then I went home.
---
Past ten o'clock when I unlocked the door. The TV blared. Mom, Dad, and my younger brother huddled in the living room like they'd been waiting for me—or waiting for something.
Mom smiled and walked over. "Liam, what took you so long?"
"I just... missed you guys." The lie scraped my throat. "Wanted to see you and Dad."
Dad chuckled from the sofa. "You've got a big-shot CEO girlfriend and you still miss us? Speaking of which—where is she? Didn't come up?"
He didn't wait for an answer.