Part 1This girlfriend is not worth keeping.

When my girlfriend went through airport security, the metal detector blared.

Ashley’s ears turned bright red. “I just got my nipples pierced last week,” she whispered, mortified. “They told me it wouldn’t set off the alarm.”

I froze for a second, then lifted her suitcase off the conveyor belt. “When did you get nipple piercings? You didn’t even mention it to me.”

She avoided my eyes. “I wanted it to be a surprise. And, you know, for a better… experience.”

“Who told you that?” I pressed, staring at her.

Her gaze flickered. “Just… stuff I read online,” she said with a forced smile.

…

Ashley showed the TSA agent her piercing studio receipt. My heart sank.

Ashley never trusted anything she read online. And she would never, ever do something like that by herself.

While she was undergoing a more thorough check, I pulled up our company’s recent attendance records on my phone.

There was only one person whose vacation days perfectly aligned with Ashley’s: a new streamer, still on probation, named Leo Chen.

“Okay, all clear. We can go on our vacation now!” Ashley said cheerfully when she returned.

I closed the attendance file and met her gaze. “You did it yourself?”

“Mhmm,” she mumbled, fussing with her suitcase. “It would be way too embarrassing to have a stranger do that.”

I was silent for a moment. All desire to go on vacation had evaporated. “Something just came up at work. I have to go back.”

She looked surprised, but not disappointed. There wasn’t a hint of frustration at having our long-awaited trip canceled.

“Jayce, I’ve been looking forward to this for so long. You’re bailing on me again? Fine. I know you’re a workaholic. It’s not easy being your girlfriend.”

Seeing the relief in her eyes, I sighed.

On the drive back, she was quiet, glued to her phone, a small smile playing on her lips as she texted.

“Did you really want to go on this trip with me?” I asked.

It took her a few seconds to register my question. “Hm? What did you say?”

I shook my head and closed my eyes.

The moment I got back to the office, I had my assistant send Leo to my office.

He was wearing a crisp white shirt, his hair neatly styled. He looked clean-cut and professional, not at all like the male model he used to be.

“Mr. Crawford, aren’t you on vacation? Is there something you needed?”

“How did you know I was on vacation?”

Leo stammered. “I… I heard it from your assistant.”

I gave him a cold look. “You took a week off this month? You’re still a probationary streamer. Shouldn’t you be focused on training?”

A flash of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly composed himself. “I’m sorry, sir. My sister was sick. It’s just the two of us, so I had to be there for her.”

His sister’s illness just happened to coincide perfectly with Ashley’s time off? The coincidence was a little too convenient.

My eyes scanned him, landing on the sports watch on his wrist. The khaki-colored band was unremarkable, but I remembered buying the exact same Miu Miu band years ago, back when I was still living off my family’s money. Before I’d started my own company and learned the value of a dollar. I wouldn’t spend two hundred bucks on a watch band now.

“Nice watch band,” I said casually. “Must have been expensive. A gift from your girlfriend?”

He flinched, a barely perceptible tremor running through his shoulders. He quickly unclasped the watch and hid it behind his back, forcing a smile.

So, it was a gift from Ashley.

“You can go now,” I said.

The moment he was gone, I called my childhood friend, Mark. He’d just finalized a long, messy divorce a few months ago. He picked up on the second ring.

“Jayce! What tropical paradise are you calling me from? To what do I owe the honor?”

I looked out my office window at the city skyline. “I need a favor.”

“I need you to run a check on Ashley for the past six months. Financials, travel records, hotel stays, credit card statements… everything. Oh, and a guy named Leo Chen. Do him, too.”

Mark’s interest was piqued. “You came to the right guy. I know the drill. Told you you can’t trust any of them.”

I sighed and hung up.

I had just put my phone down when Ashley burst into my office.

“I was getting coffee for everyone, so I brought you one!” She held it out to me with a saccharine smile. She must have already heard that I’d spoken to Leo.

“I hear you were checking attendance records,” she said.

I met her eyes. “What, are you worried about him?”

“Of course not…” She cleared her throat. “I just think you could be a little more compassionate. The kid’s had a tough life…”

I cut her off. “I’m a businessman, not a philanthropist. Take the coffee with you. And…”

“Next time you enter the CEO’s office, knock.”

Ashley stood there, speechless, before turning and walking out. A moment later, a message from my assistant popped up.

[Mr. Crawford, Leo Chen just submitted his resignation.]