My Best Friend Stole My Cheating Boyfriend, I Called It Double Blessing Chapter 04
When I got back to the front desk, Lewis was with two visitors. I stepped closer and recognized Chloe’s parents. Lewis’s eyes were practically glowing with gossip.
“These are Chloe’s parents. They’re here to meet their future son-in-law.” She dropped her voice. “Guess who? Mr. Carter! I knew they were together.”
My mind flashed back to last year. Chloe said her parents were pressuring her to get married and begged Nathan to pretend to be her boyfriend. I hated the idea, but Nathan agreed, said it was just an act.
Turns out, if you act long enough, it stops being an act.
I picked up the desk phone and dialed Nathan’s office, dead-faced. “Mr. Carter, your future in-laws are at the front desk. They’d like to see you.”
Two beats of silence. Then a cold, mocking laugh. “Eve, what stunt are you pulling now? Using your parents to guilt-trip me? Really?”
Chloe hurried out at that moment and leaned in close. “Eve, I’m so sorry. They showed up out of nowhere. Nathan just needs to run the bit one more time to keep them happy. Please don’t be mad. I swear it’s the last time.”
I almost laughed. “We’re broken up. You don’t have to explain anything to me.”
Nathan walked out then, made a beeline for Chloe’s parents, and turned on the full charm. Then his head swiveled toward me.
“Eve, don’t just stand there. Bring us some tea.”
Mrs. Bennett swept a dismissive glance over me. “Nathan, sweetheart, you really ought to raise the bar for your front desk. I’m not saying everyone needs to be as exceptional as our Chloe, but surely you can do better than… that.”
Nathan smiled and agreed. I stood there, listening to them chime in, and felt absolutely nothing.
After work, Nathan took Chloe’s family out to dinner. I went home, packed my suitcase, and spent the night at a hotel.
The next morning, I showed up to handle my final exit paperwork. The second I walked into the lobby, Lewis rushed toward me, face pale.
“Eve! Everything went to hell! The deal we landed yesterday? It’s dead!”
I stopped.
“They’re saying someone inside leaked confidential data. The client’s threatening to come after us.”
My phone rang. Nathan. “My office. Now.”
I walked in to find Chloe already there, looking devastated.
“Eve, why would you do this? Do you have any idea how many people’s bonuses were riding on this deal?”
It hit like a thunderclap. I swung my gaze to Nathan. “You think I leaked it?”
Nathan’s expression was complicated. He didn’t deny it. Panic spiked through me.
“What proof do you have?”
Nathan stepped forward. “Yesterday, you were the only other person who went into my office.”
My hands shook with rage. I forced myself steady. “No. Chloe was there. And her parents. They all went in. Pull the security footage.”
Chloe’s voice cracked on cue. “Eve, I know you’re upset because my parents embarrassed you yesterday. But this deal was so important. If you’re mad, take it out on me, not the company. Don’t destroy everyone’s hard work.”
Nathan’s gaze curdled into pure disappointment. “Eve, you’re unbelievable. The penalty alone is a hundred and eighty grand. And that’s coming out of your pocket.”
Blood roared in my ears. I forced each word out. “I didn’t do it. I won’t confess to something I didn’t do. Either call the cops on me or drop it.”
I didn’t even grab my things. I walked out of the office with every pair of eyes drilling into my back.
“That’s her—she leaked the data to get back at Chloe.”
“She seemed so quiet, and now we find out she was trying to steal Mr. Carter?”
“She has to pay up! Serves her right!”
Nathan’s message landed in my phone right then. [Eve, apologize in front of the whole company, and I’ll take care of the money.]
I let out a bitter laugh, powered my phone off, and walked out of the building for good.
…
That night, Nathan dragged himself back to his parents’ house, completely drained. He’d spent hours doing damage control with the staff, and with the deal dead, his head was pounding. He dropped onto the couch, thumb refreshing his chat with me over and over.
Not a single reply.
His mother, Mrs. Carter, took one look at his worn-out face and let out a sharp huff. “That girl has no sense of responsibility. You’re running yourself into the ground, and instead of being here taking care of you, she actually had the nerve to storm off?”
Nathan jerked upright, confused. “Mom, what did you say?”
“Eve left. You didn’t know?”
He shot to his feet. His phone hit the floor with a crack.