No Love Left for Him Chapter 1

The day the two boxes of oranges my mom sent arrived at the office was the day I found my boyfriend’s closest friend, Victoria, tearing my desk apart.

“A twenty-thousand-dollar Van Cleef & Arpels,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain for anyone who cared to listen. “Besides her, the charity case from the middle of nowhere, who else in this office would even be desperate enough to steal it?”

I stood frozen at the entrance, clutching the box of oranges.

Tired of rummaging, Victoria plopped down into my chair, casting a casual, playful glance at Lucas Knight. “Lucas, darling, Nina’s your girlfriend. Can’t you just ask her to give me back my bracelet?”

They had grown up together, sharing a bond that was different, deeper than any other. Even I, his actual girlfriend, had to admit that the effortless intimacy between them sparked a sharp sting of jealousy. Whenever they started reminiscing about their childhood, their shared history, I was always the silent outsider, unable to find a single foothold in their conversation.

But this time, Lucas didn’t play along. He didn't even look at her.

His voice was a calm, level sea. “What bracelet? I’ll just buy you a new one.”

The office erupted in a wave of whispers.

“What does the boss mean by that? Did Nina really steal it?”

“Why are you surprised? Everyone knows she’s broke. And she was the only one who left the office during the all-hands meeting.”

“But that’s Van Cleef & Arpels… that’s more than half a year of her salary.”

“I heard her mom had a reputation back home for being… light-fingered.”

* * *

I remained at the doorway, feeling as though I’d been struck by lightning. A tremor ran through my entire body. I had no idea that the same people who smiled and greeted me every day were saying such things behind my back.

Just then, someone’s voice cut through the buzz. “Nina’s back?”

The atmosphere froze. Every eye in the room turned to me. In that instant, I felt like a criminal under a spotlight, awaiting my sentence. I lowered my head, biting my lip, and saw Lucas turn to look at me.

Maybe it was a trick of the light, but in his eyes, I saw disappointment.