Chapter 3

At noon, I met Maya at a restaurant downtown.

She was late.

When she finally walked in, she was wearing a cream MaxMara suit and carrying a Hermès Birkin.

That bag used to be mine.

I'd had someone pick it up in Paris last month because I'd planned to give it to an important client.

Then Lila had seen it and wouldn't stop begging until I let her have it.

Now Maya was carrying it.

"Sorry. Traffic was awful."

She sat across from me.

"So what did you want to talk about? Don't tell me you're trying to get Ethan's surprise for tonight out of me."

She gave me a conspiratorial smile, as if she were guarding some sweet romantic secret.

I took a sip of lemon water.

"You and Lila have gotten pretty close lately."

Maya froze for half a second.

Her eyes darted away.

"I guess. You're always working or traveling, so sometimes I ask Lila to shop or grab drinks with me."

"Yeah?"

My eyes dropped to the Birkin beside her.

"That bag looks good on you."

She instinctively pulled it closer.

Her smile stiffened.

"Oh, this? I've been saving for a while. Figured I deserved to treat myself."

"I see."

I didn't confront her.

Instead, I changed the subject.

"I was scrolling TikTok last night. Someone proposed at a rooftop restaurant in Brooklyn."

Maya's fingers tightened around her glass.

Her knuckles went white.

"Oh yeah?"

Her smile went rigid.

"I went to bed early. Didn't see anything."

"Really?" I looked directly at her. "Because I could've sworn I saw you in the video."

She tried her hardest to keep smiling.

But her voice wavered.

"That's impossible. Mia, are you so stressed you're seeing things?"

She let out a nervous laugh.

"Seriously, though, you're always busy. Forget me. Ethan barely gets to see you."

Then her eyes sharpened.

"Men need attention. If your work pushed Ethan away, don't blame someone else for stepping in."

She said it like a joke.

But the cruelty underneath was unmistakable.

I looked at the face I'd once trusted completely.

Suddenly, she felt like a stranger.

Years ago, her ex had drained nearly every dollar she had.

She couldn't even make rent.

I'd let her stay in my old apartment.

I'd referred her for jobs, taught her how to negotiate with clients, and helped her climb to an executive role in just a few years.

This was how my best friend paid me back.

"Thanks for the advice."

I stood.

"I'll keep it in mind."

"Got work to do. See you around."

I didn't go back to the apartment after leaving the restaurant.

I went straight to the office.

The moment I walked into the open workspace, I saw Lila in the marketing lounge, touching up her lipstick.

Several younger male employees were crowded around her.

"Lila, you look amazing today."

"Yeah, my girlfriend copied that GRWM video you posted."

"Grabbed your iced latte downstairs."

Lila took the drink with a playful smile.

"You guys spoil me way too much. No wonder Mia says I shouldn't get too close to you at work. She says you'll all ruin me."

I watched from a distance.

It was ridiculous.

I'd created Lila's marketing assistant role as an easy job because Mom had begged me to help her.

Then Ethan joined senior management.

Somewhere along the way, he'd started letting Lila use company resources for brand deals, content shoots, and her personal TikTok.

She'd been on the payroll for three months.

She hadn't turned in a single decent campaign report.

But she'd turned the office into her personal social club.

I looked away and walked into my office.

"Jenna." I called my assistant through the intercom. "Move my meeting with Priya and legal up to three."

Priya was our CFO.

"And pull Ethan's full financial activity for the past six months, along with marketing's budget records."

Jenna paused.

She clearly knew something was wrong.

But she didn't ask a single unnecessary question.

"Got it. On it now."

At three, Priya walked into my office carrying a thick stack of neatly organized reports.

"We found it."

She spread the documents across my desk, her tone calm and professional.

"This card has extensive spending that doesn't match any legitimate business activity. Luxury restaurants, designer goods, hotels."

She pointed to one line.

"Last month, there was a $38,400 charge at a private jewelry studio on Fifth Avenue. He logged it as a client gift."

I stared at the number.

Priya flipped the page.

"There are also travel expenses in Malibu and San Diego."

Her finger moved lower.

"Lila's name appears on the hotel records."

Then she opened another file.

"Several content-production expenses from Lila's team were actually used for her personal account. Ethan approved every one of them."

I looked down at page after page of company reimbursement forms carrying his signature.

For a second, it was almost funny.

How stupid did they think I was?

Or maybe they'd just believed I'd never actually turn against them.

"Back up everything."

I closed the folder.

"Send a copy to Daniel."

Then I looked at Jenna.

"And I'm leaving on time tonight."

She nodded.

"Of course."

I leaned back in my chair and watched dusk settle over the Hudson.

After all, I had an anniversary dinner to attend.