The Hero Never Loved Me Chapter 2

When I refused to budge, Jonathan stormed out, slamming the glass door so hard it rattled in its frame.

I slumped into my chair, an icy calm settling over my bones.

By the time five o'clock rolled around, the usually buzzing office was dead quiet. The moment I stepped out of my suite, the small clusters of gossiping employees instantly scattered.

David, the senior developer who had been with me since we were working out of a garage, stood up. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Boss, word is you're blocking the company trip?"

I raised an eyebrow. I had merely refused to let Lara use my corporate Amex, but somehow, the narrative had spun into me canceling their vacation entirely.

I cut my gaze to Lara. She shrank back slightly, offering a weak, defensive murmur. "I... Jonathan and I were just trying to boost morale. We just want what's best for the company."

The rest of the staff glared at me. The hostility in the room was a living, breathing thing.

I squared my shoulders. "I have no problem with you all going to Cabo."

Right on cue, Jonathan emerged from his office. "Great. Then hand the Amex to Lara so she can book the tickets."

Thinking I had caved, Lara took an eager step forward, reaching out for the metal card in my hand.

I closed my fist around it, my voice dropping to a quiet, lethal register. "I don't hand my corporate cards to people with hidden agendas."

Jonathan exploded.

"Why are you being such a bitch?" he shouted, the word echoing off the concrete walls. "Lara is trying to do something nice for this company, and you’re accusing her of having an agenda? Apologize to her. Now."

In the old days, whenever he used that tone, I would shrink. I would apologize to keep the peace. I loved him too much to lose him.

But now? I wished nothing but the worst for this parasitic pair.

"If I'm such a bitch, let's get a divorce," I said, the words slipping out with terrifying ease. "Since Lara is exactly what you want, I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

Jonathan’s face drained of color. He clearly hadn't expected me to push back, let alone drop the D-word in front of the whole floor.

Lara’s eyes widened, shimmering with perfectly timed tears. "Tori, please, don't say that. Jonathan and I just grew up in the system together, we're just siblings. Please don't be mad. I even booked the honeymoon suite for the two of you!"

The staff couldn't hold back anymore.

"Jesus, Tori, be the bigger person. Lara is trying to do something nice for your marriage," one of the junior designers scoffed.

"Every time we do 'team building,' it's bowling in the suburbs. It sucks," another muttered.

"We bleed for this company, and you can't even stomach sending us to Mexico? You really are a corporate tyrant."

The voices layered over one another, a chorus of resentment entirely on Lara's side.

I looked at these people and felt a profound, chilling emptiness. Aside from federal holidays, I personally paid out of pocket for our monthly off-sites and weekly catered lunches. And I was the tyrant.

Seeing me cornered, a flicker of pure, malicious triumph crossed Lara’s face. She fanned the flames. "Well, since Tori won't allow it, I'll just cancel the resort. I guess we'll just get back to being wage slaves, grinding to make her richer!"

That was the breaking point.

The simmering frustration in the room boiled over. A hotheaded account manager snatched up his half-full iced coffee and hurled it at my face.

Someone else slammed a stack of heavy pitch decks against my chest.

The crowd surged forward, shoving me. My heels slipped on the polished concrete floor, and I crashed down hard, my knee taking the brunt of the impact.

The fury I had been keeping locked away tore out of me.

"Who the hell said I was canceling the trip?!" I screamed, my voice raw and echoing. "I said she is not using my company card!"

The movement stopped. They looked at each other, confused.

"What's wrong with using the corporate card? It gets the rewards points," David muttered. He pulled out his own wallet and slid a silver company card across the nearest desk toward Lara. "Here. Use mine. The limit isn't infinite like the boss's, but it's enough for Cabo."

Lara's triumphant smile froze. Reluctantly, she picked up the card.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, my nails digging so hard into my palms they drew blood.