“That ring… Is that a limited-edition Cartier? Must be worth over a million!”
“Sir Ross’s always been so aloof. Turns out he just hadn’t met the right woman until recently.”
Each comment was like a needle pricking my chest from every direction.
I listened to their chatter, my throat tightening until it felt hard to breathe.
Meanwhile, Ross remained gentle and composed with that pride and radiance in his eyes that everyone envied.
Finally, a kind coworker spoke up for me.
“Issy has given so much to this company. She practically carried every major project. She was supposed to be the next director, right? Replacing her like this just isn’t fair.”
Another voice quickly hushed her. “Shh! Keep it down. Miss Zamora’s the daughter of a very wealthy family. Their marriage could take the company to the next level. Issy’s effort can’t compare.”
“Exactly. She’s an orphan. How could she compete with the kind of connections a rich daughter can offer Sir Ross?”
“People just aren’t born equal, you know.”
Their words blended with laughter, each one cutting into me like a small, sharp blade.
Quietly, I closed my laptop. I slipped the signed contract and my resignation letter into a folder.
Then I stood up and walked steadily toward Ross’s office.
Through the glass door, I could see him and Zamora inside—giggling together, the air between them intimate.
Without hesitation, I laid my resignation letter on his desk.
“You’re quitting?” Ross’s voice was low and cold, his thin lips pressed into a hard line. “What nonsense are you up to this time?”
Before I could say anything, Zamora let out a chuckle and interjected, “Ross, don’t be so harsh on her. Maybe she’s still not feeling well and got a little emotional.”
She turned to me, her tone gentle. “Issy, don’t act on impulse. Ross’s just worried about you. You’ve been with the company for years. You can’t just walk away like that.”
“What does my resignation have to do with you?” I looked up at her, my lips curling faintly.
That gentle, considerate tone of hers—she carried herself exactly like she was his rightful wife.
Ross let out a sneer. “Don’t bother with her, Zamora. She’s just used to getting her way—trying to piss me off by threatening to quit.”