The Escape Plan Chapter 2

Christian didn't come home all night.

I didn't sleep a wink.

The next morning, I walked into the office with a heavy heart. Christian was already there.

Impeccably dressed. Stern face.

Radiating the oppressive aura of a CEO.

A complete 180 from the childish drunk he was last night.

I presented my performance review nervously. When I finished, he applauded with everyone else.

His gaze was calm, even friendly.

I was confused. Did me ignoring him actually fix things?

After the meeting, I noticed a small gift box on everyone's desk.

The Finance Director next to me eyes lit up. "Wow, having a CEO boyfriend is nice. You get a promotion, we get gifts?"

The admin girl cleared her throat. "This is a welcome gift from the new Executive Assistant."

The Finance Director was shocked. "Everyone gets a limited edition perfume as a hello?"

"What is this, a new way for rich kids to flex on us peasants?"

The admin glanced at me uneasily.

She pulled the Finance Director aside. "The new assistant is the only daughter of the Bai Group, our biggest client."

"Mr. Pei paid for the gifts. Said he wanted to help his childhood friend make a good impression."

Bella.

I understood immediately.

Bella had always wanted to work at Pei Corp to get close to Christian.

The Bai family had proposed a marriage alliance multiple times.

Christian had always refused because of me.

But after one night, he agreed.

And he put her in the CEO's office as his private assistant.

A position I, his official girlfriend, wasn't allowed to hold.

I tried not to think about what happened between them last night.

I opened a file, trying to work.

A colleague told me Christian was looking for me.

I headed straight to his office.

When I walked in, I saw Bella sitting on Christian's desk, her back to me.

Her waist, snatched in a pencil skirt, was leaning against Christian's hand.

My palms stung.

I never thought I'd see Christian intimate with someone else.

I coughed lightly. Bella jumped off the desk.

Seeing it was me, her smile vanished.

She pouted. "You've worked here for years, don't you know how to knock?"

I paused.

I never knocked when entering Christian's office.

"Sorry. Next time you guys are doing something inappropriate, lock the door."

Christian, who was expecting me to explode, changed his expression slightly.

But he kept his cool.

"Did you need something, Mr. Pei?"

He replied calmly, "The board decided to put your promotion on hold."

Bella shot me a triumphant look.

I stared at my shoes. "Mhm."

He didn't lie.

Just because I didn't baby him last night, he halted my career.

It felt like a boulder crushing my chest.

My eyes burned.

Thanks to the floating comments, I was prepared enough to keep my composure.

"Okay. Understood."

Silence stretched between us. Dead air.

"If you want to fight for it..."

I cut him off. "I don't. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

I turned quickly. He called out.

"Also, the Project A account. Bella will handle it from now on. Hand it over to her today."

I whipped around. "What did you say?"

I had spent six months prepping Project A. No days off.

The stress was so bad I needed pills to sleep.

This project was my hope.

I wanted to prove I wasn't just riding Christian's coattails.

He knew how much it meant to me.

He even helped me get resources behind the scenes.

Now, right before the finish line, he was giving it to Bella?

"Bella is new. She needs a win to establish herself."

"Project A is high profile and almost done. Perfect for her to practice on."

I fought back tears. "You know this project is my life."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

He smiled vindictively. "I told you. I'm petty."

"Besides, I'm the boss. I don't need your permission to assign projects."

"If you don't like it, you can quit."

Bella giggled, covering her mouth.

I looked at them coldly.

One gloating, one arrogant.

Both sure I wouldn't leave.

"Fine. I quit."

Christian's smile vanished. He stared at me in disbelief.

He raised his voice. "Chloe, don't think being my girlfriend gives you the right to throw tantrums."

"Don't test me. I will let you go!"

I looked him dead in the eye. "Mr. Pei, you seem to forget. We broke up."

He choked.

Bella, seeing the tension, smirked.

She put on a worried act.

"Christian, maybe we should forget it. Don't fight because of me."

She added provocatively, "I'm so clumsy. What if I ruin Chloe's hard work?"

He patted Bella's head indulgently.

"It doesn't matter if you ruin it. It's just a small project. Worthless."

Blood rushed to my head.

It took everything I had not to slap them both.

My nails dug into my palms until they bled.

"A company that uses projects to flirt with women isn't worth staying at."

"Consider my years of hard work dog food."

Bella put her hands on her hips. "Who are you calling a dog?"

I sneered. "If the collar fits."

"Chloe!"

Christian's face was livid.

I turned and walked out without looking back.