Part 3The Other Man’s Understudy

The next day at work, Caleb cornered me in the breakroom.

He’s the CEO’s son. We went to the same university. Now that he’s graduated, his dad put him under my wing.

I tried to explain the previous morning.

"You know I was drunk. That wasn't me accepting your confession on WeChat."

Caleb nodded. "I know."

I sighed, relieved. I thought the drama was over.

Then he said: "But we can just go with it."

He looked deadly serious.

"Nora, I’ve thought about it."

"If I can be with you, I don't mind being number four."

"You’re amazing. It’s normal for guys to chase you."

"I don't care about the other guys. I believe if I work hard, I’ll get promoted to boyfriend eventually."

"I haven't met the others, but the guy at your apartment... he seemed old."

"You’re young, beautiful. Can an old man like that keep up with you?"

"Why don't you dump him and let me be the mistress?"

Caleb scratched his head.

"Being the 'mistress' sounds cooler than being 'number four'."

Just then, the breakroom door swung open.

Hayes walked in, face like a thundercloud.

"Who are you calling an old man?"

Hayes’s company had a contract with ours. He was here for a meeting with the CEO.

He just happened to walk in on Caleb badmouthing him.

"Did you forget who got you into that college prep school, kid?"

"If it weren't for my recommendation letter, you wouldn't even be qualified to be number four."

Usually, Hayes wouldn't stoop to arguing with a fresh grad.

But the word "old" was his trigger word this week.

"Biting the hand that feeds you. Is that how your daddy taught you business?"

Caleb didn't flinch.

He looked Hayes dead in the eye and scoffed.

Knowing Hayes was just a "side piece" gave Caleb confidence.

"We’re competitors now."

"I’m just marketing my advantages to Nora."

"I wasn't wrong," Caleb looked Hayes up and down.

"You are older than me."

"Who is the boyfriend and who is the side piece... that's Nora's decision."

"If she prefers youth and dumps you for me, that’s just natural selection, isn't it?"

Every "old" was a dagger in Hayes’s heart.

He laughed, a cold, sharp sound.

He pulled out his phone and dialed the CEO’s office.

Minutes later, Caleb was summoned by his father.

As he left, Caleb gritted his teeth and whispered, "Old fossil. Plays dirty."

Hayes closed his eyes.

When he opened them, he looked calmer.

"It’s Dad’s birthday. Are you going back to the estate?"

I nodded. "I have to."

My mother had called three times to remind me.

"Okay. I’ll wait for you downstairs."

The elevator ride down was silent. Hayes was regretting everything.

Accepting Caleb’s confession on my phone had been a strategic error.

He did it because my actual boyfriend—the love of my life—was returning to the country this week.

Hayes knew he couldn't compete with Dr. Ethan Cole.

So, he tried to throw a wrench in the gears by adding Caleb to the mix. He figured Caleb was a harmless distraction.

He thought, I can’t beat Ethan, but I can definitely beat this college kid.

Now, he realized he’d just played himself.

He didn't hurt Ethan. He just annoyed himself to death.

Hayes sat in the car, unlit cigarette in his mouth. He needed the nicotine, but he wouldn't light it.

I was getting in the car. And I hate the smell of smoke.