Her gaze froze for a moment. "The company’s decisions don’t seem to be yours to question, do they?"
"Yes, you’re right—it’s not my place," I nodded. "That’s why I’m choosing to walk away. Out of sight, out of mind."
With that, I stepped around her and kept walking.
She clearly hadn’t expected me to be so decisive. She froze for a moment, then came after me again, heels clicking sharply.
"Raymond! What are you making a fuss about? Just because I didn’t make you a director?"
I looked at her, suddenly finding it laughable. She still thought I was sulking just over the position.
"Megan." I spoke each word clearly. "We’ve known each other for so many years—when have you ever seen me lose my temper over work?"
She froze for a moment, as if my words had caught her off guard. But soon, she lifted her chin again. "Then what are you angry about?"
I looked straight into her eyes. "You know better than anyone."
Her gaze flickered slightly. "I… I don’t understand what you’re talking about."
I got straight to the point and asked her what was going on with the cufflinks and the watch.
Megan was momentarily stunned, then explained openly. "The cufflinks were a reward I gave Brian for his hard work. As for the watch—since you don’t wear it anyway, what’s the harm in giving it to him?"
I almost laughed from sheer anger. So the things I had treasured so dearly had never meant anything to her.
Megan casually brushed a loose strand of hair from her ear, the corners of her red lips curling up. "Raymond, when did you become so petty? It’s just two little items. If you want, I can always buy you more."
She turned her head toward the conference room, her tone light and airy. "Brian has been staying up late every day for the project lately—I have to show some appreciation."
"Appreciation?"
It felt like a block of ice had been shoved into my chest.
Ever since Brian joined the company, the arguments between us had only grown more frequent. Every single time, it had been because of Brian—and every single time, I had been the one to give in.
But this time, I wouldn’t.
"Megan, that year on your birthday, I searched every antique shop in Paris before I finally found that pair of 19th-century dark-gold cufflinks. You said you loved the story behind them, that they were the most thoughtful gift you’d ever received."