Part 3The Lover in the Shadows

Another night of perfect sleep.

The first thing I did when I woke up was check my program.

Thank god. It ran perfectly.

After showering and having breakfast at the hotel, I saw a new message from Isabella.

“All the parts are arriving today. Don’t leave after work. Go to Leo’s place and build the computer for him.”

I scrolled up. The seller had sent an installation guide with a mockup of the finished computer, including a custom-etched LED panel for the case.

The design was a piece of custom art Isabella must have commissioned.

The irony was so thick I almost laughed.

I was a software developer, not a professional PC builder.

I typed up my resignation letter, went to the office, and handed it to HR.

The moment I did, a massive weight lifted from my shoulders.

Even the stale office air felt fresh.

I worked until closing time, packed up my personal laptop, and prepared to leave for the last time.

An unwelcome figure blocked my path.

Isabella, her face a mask of displeasure.

I tried to walk around her, but she grabbed my arm.

“Matt, where do you think you’re going?”

Her sharp tone made heads turn.

I pointed at the clock on the wall, my voice laced with confusion. “Home? It’s quitting time.”

Her voice was ice. “Quitting time? The entire project department is still here working. What makes you think you can leave?”

“My work is done. Why should I work overtime?”

As my coworkers stared in shock, I turned to leave, Isabella’s angry shouts echoing behind me.

“Matt! If you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back tomorrow!”

I ignored her and called a cab.

Back at the apartment, I pulled out a suitcase and started packing.

It didn’t take long. Everything I owned fit into a single suitcase.

The bulkiest items were my desktop computer and my two monitors.

After arranging for a courier to ship my things, I booked a red-eye flight to New York.

I left my key on the shoe cabinet. A second later, my phone rang. It was Isabella.

“My clothes are dirty. Bring me a change.”

She hung up before I could reply. A location pin followed.

I grabbed the gift bag from the dealership. Twenty minutes later, I was standing outside the door of a private room at a high-end club.

The door was slightly ajar. As I reached for the handle, I heard my name.

“Isabella, I thought you were just messing around with Matt. Why haven’t you dumped him yet?”

“It’s been three years! Don’t tell me you actually fell for him? Leo came all the way back for you!”

Isabella’s reply dripped with scorn.

“How could I fall for a kid like Matt? He’s annoying as hell. But I will admit one thing.”

“What? What is it?” her friends chimed in.

Her voice was smug. “These past few years, as clingy and irritating as he is, he’s been completely obedient. He waits on me hand and foot. He’s like a well-trained puppy. I can forgive a little whining now and then.”

“Oh, and he’s a ridiculously hard worker. Never slacks off, always takes on extra tasks. For one person’s salary, I get the output of three. Where else am I going to find such a useful workhorse?”

The room filled with laughter.

“So, Isabella, who are you going to marry? Him or Leo?”

“Yeah, we’re all shipping you and Leo! You can’t break up our favorite couple!”

Isabella laughed. “What does marriage matter? Marriage is one thing, love is another. If we’re talking about marriage, Matt’s honestly the more suitable choice. He can cook, clean, and he works his ass off.”

That’s when I pushed the door open. The lively atmosphere froze.

Isabella saw me, and a flicker of panic crossed her face, quickly replaced by annoyance.

She said, with a casual wave of her hand, “See? Told you he’d be here in a flash.”

Dozens of eyes were on me, all wearing the same expression: they were waiting for the punchline of a joke.

I tossed the bag onto the table in front of her. She glanced at it.

“I told you to bring clothes. What’s this tiny bag from a car dealership going to hold?”

I smiled faintly. “I sold the car. They gave me the bag as a thank you gift.”

Someone immediately jumped to her defense.

“Matt, are you insane? Why would you sell your car? Did Isabella even say you could?”

I snorted.

“My car got dirty, so I sold it. What’s it got to do with Isabella? It’s not like she bought it for me.”

“And it does have your clothes in it. The ones Leo personally took off you.”

“Honestly, you two. You’re grown adults. Couldn’t you get a room? You just had to do it in my car. Do you need me to play the dashcam footage to jog your memory?”