Chapter 6
oghed bitterly. “Nicholas, I resigned from your company because
nted to move
wrything that se
you created! You think
Nicholas let out his frustration, “How
It was exhausting, emotionally, mentally
you honestly bele
mes I told yound (think Courtne
For the past three years, Courtney’s presence h lways bothered m
After all, my relationship with Courtney hard whowys been strained, men from the day Nicholas introduced her to me a
Frey, this is Courtney,” Nicholas had said, bearning with pride
ways should get along because yo
At first, I thought Courtney wo
But it was not long before
It was as though
were destined to be
The first real clash came when I tried to drop off lunch for Nicholas one afternoon..
secretary
high school. Super sharp. I trust her we
I had done it many times before, but that time, Courtory stood in my way, smiling sweetly Richmond is not in his office,” she said ”
“That’s fine replied, brushing past her will wait inside”
But Courtney quickly grabbed the lunch from my hand, her grip tighter than necessary
“He asked not to let anyone in. I will give it to him when he’s coming back t
From that moment, the cold war between us began: I knew she was lying, bet I did not push back
Not then. Instead, I handed her the lunch and walked away, pretending not to care X.
stantly watching for the ne
with a hint of malice
But later, when I saw Nicholas at the house, proudly boasting about the meal Courtney had prepared for him, I realized she had taken credit for my food
The worst thing was Nicholas had not even recognized the taste of my cooking. So, that was the day I stopped bringing him lunch Courtney’s intrusion into our lives did not stop there. She began holding Nicholas phone dunng meetings, screening his calls.2 Every time I tried to mach him, it was Courtney who would answer, her voice dripping with smugness.)
But when I confronted Nicholas, he wired it off, saying, “Courtney’s just making sure I’m not disturbed. You know how intense meetings
can be 7)
But I was not fooled. There was one time when Courtney twisted her ankle in the bathroom, and Nicholas, who had been with me at a client meeting, immediately rushed to her side
The urgency with which he tended to her told me everything I needed to know He only did not want to be disturbed by me.
But I tried to stay patient, convincing myself over and over again that I was still Hicholas‘ priority
I kept hoping, clinging to the idea that our relationship mattered more than the lingering shadow she cast X
But deep down, I always knew the truth I was never a priority to Nicholas anymore
He had stated, and I was left watching, helpless, as Courtney wormed her way deeper into his life. 36
The longer she stayed in the company, the more she undermined me, all while keeping Nicholas completely unaware
it was not just the subtle digs or the possessive glances from her. It was the way she monopolized his time, the way she made sure i
always around, lurking
She made her threats silently, through small acts of sabotage and manipulation. And Nicholas, oblivious as always, continued to trust her with everything, while I was suffocating &
used to think she was the problern. But then I realized it was not just her, it was him too X
tried to bring it up with Flicholas, hoping he would see what I saw, he had always had the same response, delivered
me feel like I was the unreasonable onek
her as my own sister. You know I have known her since high school. She was my sister’s best friend, the one who died in he plane crash with my parents |
“After that, Courtney and I got closer, she lost her best friend too. That’s all it is, Frey Nothing more,” he would say with a sigh, as if I was
en questioning it E
wtale, I was too dumb and choose to believe Jam. I wanted to believe him
nvinced myself that their closeness was both out of tragedy, not love. But as time passed, I could not ignore what was night in
I started to be aware if Courtney did not see Ficholas as a brother. She never did
I I
was nothing but an obstacle, an intruder in their relationship that had started long before I came into the picture. The more I ignored it,
Courtney
did not even try to hide it anymore
And Nicholas? He let it happen. He let her control him, let her control us.
The man I once loved had become a stranger, and all I could do was watch as he drifted further away. The final straw was the elevator accident. I lost the baby, and Nicholas was not there. Not for me. Instead, I watched him coddle his precious secretary, while I laid injured, broken in more ways than one
It was then that I realized I had lost everything, my baby, my dignity, and whatever sliver of love I had left for Nicholas.
I could not take it anymore. I had to leave, before I lost myself completely.
“I do not care anymore, Nick,” I said, my voice cold and firm, the weight of years pressing down on me. “Whatever your reason is, you have made a mistake. You underestimated a woman’s feelings.”
He stared at me, confusion and frustration flickering in his eyes. But I did not stop.
“Girls are easily affected, you know? It does not matter how long you have been with me, five years, fifty years, or five thousand. If you make someone else feel like they are more important to you, they’ll believe it
“And Courtney? She’s been with you longer than I have. You should have known what that meant, Nick. But you did not, and now you have lost me
Nicholas‘ face twisted in anger; his pride clearly stung.
He yelled, his voice sharp and cutting, “So, you do not care anymore, huh? Fine! We are over. You are not as important
are!
And just like that, it was over. At least that was what I thought
However, for a month after my separation with Nicholas, I always felt as if someone followed me.
