Chapter 3

"David’s secretary," Marina drawled, rising from his chair with deliberate grace. Her eyes raked over Lily with slow, calculated disdain—from her sensible heels to her neatly pinned-up hair. "Hmm. I don’t see what all the fuss is about." Lily kept her expression neutral, though her fingers tightened around the coffee tray. "Can I help you with something, Ms. Laurent?" Marina smirked, circling her like a predator. "Oh, I’m just… assessing the competition." She paused, tapping a manicured nail against David’s desk. "Tell me, how does it feel? Playing house with someone else’s man for five years?" Lily didn’t flinch. "If you’re referring to my work, all records are up to date. Would you like me to pull the files?" Marina’s smile faltered. She hadn’t expected such precision—such competence. The realization sharpened her voice. "Cute. But we both know you were just a placeholder." She leaned in, her whisper venomous. "David told me everything. How lonely he was. How… convenient you were." She smirked. "Did you really think he’d settle for a glorified coffee girl?" Lily’s pulse roared in her ears, but her reply was steady. "Our arrangement is over. And since this is a workplace, I suggest we keep things professional. Mr. Hadison dislikes distractions." "Ooh, listen to you," Marina mocked, eyes flashing. "Like you know him so well." She snatched the coffee cup from the tray, swirling the dark liquid. "Let me guess—Ethiopian beans? Ninety-six degrees? Pathetic. You could brew this every day for a lifetime, and he’d still never—" Footsteps echoed in the hall. Before Lily could react, Marina tipped the scalding coffee over her own hand. "Ahh!" she gasped, dropping the cup with a clatter just as David strode in. Lily’s breath caught. The scene was unmistakable: Marina cradling her reddened wrist, tears glistening on her lashes, and Lily standing frozen—holding an empty tray. Marina’s voice trembled with practiced hurt. "David… she—she poured it on me!" David's head snapped toward Lily, his expression darkening like a thundercloud. "Lily!" His voice cracked through the office like a whip. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Lily stood frozen, the empty tray still clutched in her hands. Her lips parted in stunned disbelief. "I didn't—" "Enough!" David cut her off sharply. "You think just because you've worked here for years, you can do whatever you want? That I'd tolerate you attacking someone?" Lily's hands trembled. "David, she poured it on herself... I didn't do anything." "She poured it on herself?" His laugh was harsh, disbelieving. "Marina treats her hands like they're made of gold. You really expect me to buy that pathetic excuse?" "It's the truth—" Her voice wavered, thick with hurt. "Apologize." His command left no room for argument. "I won't apologize for something I didn't do." David's jaw tightened. "Then you'll face the consequences." Before Lily could react, he snatched the wine bottle from his desk and upended it over her head. Ice-cold liquor drenched her hair, streaming down her face, and soaking into her blouse. The sharp scent of alcohol filled the air as droplets splattered onto the floor. Across the room, Marina's lips curled in triumph—though she quickly schooled her features into false concern. "David, darling, it's not worth getting so upset..." she murmured, fanning the flames even as she pretended to soothe them. David barely glanced at Lily again, his attention already shifting to Marina's reddened hand. "Let's get you to the hospital," he said tightly, guiding her toward the door with a protective hand at her back. As they swept past, Lily stood motionless, liquor still dripping from her chin. The office had gone deathly quiet—every colleague frozen in their cubicles, eyes wide with shock. The office buzzed with whispers the rest of the morning. Lily could feel the stares burning into her back as she worked—pitying, mocking, triumphant. She was in the restroom cleaning the last traces of wine from her collar when Jenny's unmistakable giggle echoed off the tiles. "—wish you'd seen her face when Mr. Hadison dumped that drink on her!" Jenny crowed to her gaggle of followers. "All these years playing the perfect secretary, and look how he treats his little pet." "We should celebrate tonight," another voice chimed in. "Finally, the gold-digger gets what she deserves." Lily's reflection in the mirror stared back at her—hair still damp, eyes red-rimmed but dry. Something inside her snapped. She yanked the decorative watering can from the windowsill and flung the contents in a wide arc. A chorus of shrieks filled the air as Jenny and her cronies stumbled back, dripping. "You crazy bitch!" Jenny screeched, mascara running down her cheeks. "No," Lily said calmly, setting the can down with a clink. "Just returning the favor for all those times I covered your incompetence." "Let's see—" She ticked off on her fingers. "You can't format a spreadsheet without breaking the formulas, Claire's reports are always late, and Sophie—" A cold smile. "Well, we all know who actually writes your presentations." “So what?" Jenny still had no guilt. "Blame yourself for being so stupid!" Lily caught Jenny's wrist mid-swing and shoved—hard. The other woman went sprawling on the wet tiles. "Go ahead, report me," Lily said, hoisting her bag onto her shoulder. "My resignation's already on David's desk. I'm more interested in seeing how long before he realizes none of you can handle your own projects." Then she turned her heels toward the hallway. When Lily walked out of the building, the afternoon sun glared unforgivingly bright. Lily pulled out her phone and typed with steady fingers: "David - The signed divorce papers are on your desk. P.S. You'll need a new secretary." Then she hit send.