Victoria burst into the restroom, retching so hard she felt like her insides mighte up.
She''d never been this miserable before. When she was pregnant with Gwh, her daughter had been the picture of tranquility—no morning sickness, no drama, nothing like this.
Once she finished dry heaving, Victoria smoothed her hair and returned to her desk.
Passing Paul''s makeshift office, she noticed McNeil was gone.
She exhaled in relief.
With McNeil out of sight, her whole body felt lighter.
It was such a sharp contrast to before, when she used to count the hours until he came home, her heart inexplicably lifting at the sight of him. Back then, all her happiness seemed toe from him.
Now, just seeing McNeil made her temples throb in pain.
She couldn''t understand why, back when he was with Violet, she''d been so desperate to see him, clinging to him with the melodrama of a soap opera-tears, tantrums, and all.
But once she shifted her focus to making money, it was like someone had flipped a switch inside her.
She remembered those endless days and nights helping McNeil turn The Langford Group around. The challenges were relentless, yes, but she''d never grown so much, never felt so alive.
Ironically, in the years when The Langford Group had finally stabilized, her life became stagnant. Nothing new, nothing exciting-just Gwh and McNeil, day after day. Her energy, her spark, her very soul seemed to dull.
But now, even with a baby on the way and the asional bout of nausea, she felt more alive than ever.
Her mind was always buzzing, her ideas sharper, her body more agile with every passing day.
While Victoria was settling back in, Ailie slipped over from the break room, cradling a cup of coffee.
Victoria nced up as Ailie tiptoed in, looking like a mischievous cat.
"So, did your husband give you hellst night? Are you two okay?" Ailie asked in a conspiratorial whisper.
Ailie had gotten a little too wild at the party yesterday. When the police showed up, she''d been so out of it she thought they were part of some borate prank. It wasn''t until the officer asked for her ID that she snapped back to reality—she''d even tried to climb out a window before being hauled back in.
After they checked everyone''s IDs, the police let the women go, but the poor guys weren''t so lucky. Ailie had been beside herself, wanting to help but too scared to try.
"No, nothing happened," Victoria replied, epting the coffee Ailie poured for her. She eyed it, then set it aside. Probably not the best idea for someone pregnant.
Ailie copsed dramatically into the chair beside her, sighing like a tragic actress.
Victoria couldn''t help butugh. "What''s wrong now?"
Wasn''t this exactly the kind of fun Ailie wanted?
"It''s nothing," Ailie groaned. "I just keep thinking that old saying is so true: ''Pleasure is fleeting, but morning alwayses too soon.'' God, how wonderful it would be to stay in bed with a handsome man and not have to get up for work! Money really *is* great. Gorgeous men, luxury, all of it-if only itsted a little longer."
If she''d known, she wouldn''t have wasted time drinking. She hadn''t even enjoyed the best part, and now all the guys were gone.
Victoria snorted. "Alright, stop fantasizing this early in the morning. Get back to work."
Ailie clung to the door frame, hopeful. "Vicky, will there be a next time?"
Victoria almost shut down herputer without saving her work. She shot Ailie an exasperated look, but there was a glimmer ofughter in her eyes.
"There will, there will. With my budget, there''ll be plenty more wild nights for you." Ailie beamed. "That''s what I like to hear! You''re stuck with me for life, bestie."
She skipped away happily, leaving Victoria shaking her head. Her smile lingered in her reflection on theputer screen, and for a moment, Victoria just stared.
She hadn''t realized how genuine happiness felt until now.
"Victoria, can youe over here for a moment? Ms. Marchand wants all the department heads in her office-she specifically asked for you," George called, interrupting her thoughts.
Victoria powered down herputer, unfazed.
Last week, Violet had been rushed out of the office with a bleeding ulcer. It had only been a week, and she was already back at work.
Victoria couldn''t help butpare herself to Violet.
She''d long since realized her ownziness stemmed from one thing: her bank ount had more zeroes than she could count. With that kind of cushion, wasn''t it understandable to take things easy sometimes?
She followed George to the conference room, where Curtis was already waiting.
The tech department had been mmedtely. Curtis had tried to ask her out a few times, but she''d always been buried in work. Eventually, even he''d stopped asking her refusals weren''t just polite excuses.
George was a consummate professional, and Curtis knew if he kept chasing Victoria around the office, the rumor mill would turn on him fast. As CEO, he couldn''t afford that kind of talk.
Curtis''s feelings for Victoria wereplicated.
He''d managed to keep them in check only because he still didn''t know if she was divorced or still with her husband. Day after day, working alongside her, unable to make a move—he was quietly going mad.
He wasn''t the type to meddle in someone''s marriage, after all.
When Victoria entered, Curtis gave her a small, reserved nod. She took the seat beside him, unfazed by what anyone might think.
Gossip was already swirling about her-what was one more rumor?
Once everyone had settled, Curtis stood and addressed the room.
"We''ve called this executive meeting because there are two major announcements. First, Ms. Marchand is resigning."
The entire room erupted in shock.
Violet, leaving? It seemed unthinkable.
Everyone remembered how relentless she''d been since taking over-burning the midnight oil, driving thepany forward. Justst week, she''d been carried out on a stretcher, everyone aware it was a bleeding ulcer from overwork.
Yet here she was, lookingposed, almost serene, as if none of this fazed her. Not a trace of sadness on her face.