Dumped After Going Public

Seven years of building the company from nothing with Ethan Vance, and we finally went public on the New York Stock Exchange today.

But that very afternoon, he blocked me on Instagram just so he could announce his relationship with Chloe Bennett, his high school sweetheart.

My feed blew up instantly. "Didn't Audrey quit a sixfigure job to build this empire with you?

Now that the company is public, you're just going to kick her to the curb?" one of our mutual friends commented.

Ethan replied, clearly annoyed. "When you have nothing, you don't have the luxury of choice.

I had to take what I could get back then." "Besides, after seven years with Audrey, I've realized one thing: if I'm getting married, it has to be with someone I actually love." The friend tried to reason with him. "But Audrey runs almost the entire operations side.

What happens if she quits because of this?" Ethan hesitated for a second, then doubled down. "She's just an assistant. I can hire ten of her off the street.

The company will survive without her." Little did he know, on the other side of the screen, I was logged into his shared work account, watching him type every single word.

I hope you like the parting gift I'm about to leave you, Ethan. My resignation letter was halfway through the printer when my office door swung open.

Ethan walked in, tossed a thick folder onto my desk, and ordered. "Audrey, redo this financial report." He didn't even look at me.

He was staring down at his phone, a soft, lingering smile playing on his lips. I recognized that smile.

Back in college, whenever he got a text from Chloe, he had that exact same expression. It had been seven years. I had almost forgotten that he was capable of looking so gentle.

It was just never for me. "Mr.

Vance," my voice was flat, "this report was already cleared by the finance department yesterday." He finally looked up, his brows furrowing. "I said redo it.

Do you have a problem with that?" I lowered my eyes, my fingers brushing against the fountain pen on my desk. It was a birthday gift from him during my first year at the company.

It wasn't expensive, but he had picked it out himself. "Fine.

I'll have it for you tomorrow." "I need it before you leave today." He turned to walk out, then paused. "Oh, and order a box of dark chocolate truffles.

Make sure they're imported from Belgium.

I need them for someone." My heart sank. "A client?" "Are you jealous, Audrey?" He smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, they're for a client." "If you want some, order a box for yourself too.

Put it on the company card." "No thanks. I'm cutting back on sugar." I kept my head down, typing the request into my reminders.

Satisfied, he turned and walked away, the sharp click of his leather shoes fading down the hallway.

Outside my window, the confetti from our IPO celebration was still being swept off the streets.

Just yesterday, we were clinking glasses, celebrating the biggest victory of our lives. I thought it was the beginning of our new chapter.

I didn't realize it was just the end of my onesided fairytale. At 4:00 PM, I sent the revised report to Ethan's email. At 5:30 PM, I packed my bag.

As I passed his office, the door was slightly ajar. I saw him standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie. On his desk sat a bouquet of fresh white roses.

They were blooming beautifully, reflecting the anticipation on his face. Zach, my assistant, leaned in and whispered, "Audrey, is Mr.

Vance on a date tonight?" I forced a smile. "Just focus on your work, Zach." In the elevator, I stared at my reflection in the polished metal doors. I was thirty now.

The spark in my eyes from my twenties was gone, replaced by years of exhaustion. When Ethan first started the company, I poured all my savings into his dream.

At our lowest point, I didn't even have a hundred dollars left in my bank account. We used to cram into a tiny, drafty office, sharing instant ramen.

Back then, he would look into my eyes and say: "Audrey, we're going to make it.

When we get rich, I'll pay you a salary bigger than any corporate firm could ever offer." I believed him. It wasn't about the money.

I just believed that one day, he would finally see me. Seven years later, the company was worth billions. But he didn't need me anymore. My phone buzzed.

It was Ethan. "Audrey, cancel tomorrow morning's meeting. I have some personal matters to handle." I already knew, but I asked anyway. "Should I arrange a car for you?" "No need.

I'm picking up Chloe myself." Chloe. He said her name so naturally. "Okay.

Do you need me to prepare anything else?" "No, just..." He paused. "Get some rest." Before the call cut, I heard Chloe's voice in the background: "Ethan, who's calling this late?" "Just my assistant from work.

Just checking in." Assistant. With those two words, he drew a line between us that I could never cross.

The next morning, I arrived early. My resignation letter was sitting quietly in my drawer, waiting for the right moment. My phone vibrated.

It was a text from Chloe. [Audrey, I heard you've taken care of Ethan for all these years.

Thank you for your hard work.] [He told me that if it weren't for your outstanding skills, he wouldn't have kept you around for so long.] [Ethan and I are choosing engagement rings today, so please handle things at the office.] I read the texts blankly, my fingers hovering over the screen.

I didn't reply. Then she sent a zipped file. It was full of photos of Ethan and her traveling over the years. Five years ago. Three years ago. Last year.

They had never stopped seeing each other.

While I was working myself into the ER with acute exhaustion and alcohol poisoning trying to lock down a major investor, they were skiing in the Swiss Alps.

While I was pulling allnighters to rewrite business proposals, they were kissing under the Eiffel Tower.

While I was hooked to an IV drip in a hospital room, taking work calls, they were watching the sunset on a beach in the Maldives. I had asked him to go on trips with me before.

Just a quick weekend getaway. But he would always rub his temples and lean tiredly against my shoulder: "Audrey, I can't relax right now.

Let's wait until the company goes public, okay? I'll take you anywhere you want then." I believed him. I had even made a folder of travel guides.

But every single one of his annual "business trips" was actually a rendezvous with Chloe. I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed. There was no hesitation left.

I took my resignation letter straight to the HR department. Sarah, the HR manager, looked at me in absolute shock. "Audrey, you've been here since day one! We just went public.

Why would you leave now?" "And didn't Mr. Vance promise to grant you any wish once we went public?

Isn't it a waste to walk away now?" My love for Ethan was an open secret in the company. But he never allowed any public displays of affection. He never let me cross the line.

He even insisted we take different routes to work. Everyone thought I was just a lovesick assistant who was finally giving up. Maybe that was for the best. Loving him was my choice.

Stopping was my choice, too. As for that "wish," I had planned to use it to ask him to marry me.

He had always told me he didn't believe in marriage, that he wanted to focus on work. I waited seven years. I didn't mind waiting a few more.

But now, I was just too tired. "Yeah, maybe it is a waste. But I really need a break. Let's just process the paperwork, Sarah." Seeing how determined I was, Sarah stopped arguing.

After completing the exit interview, I went back to the apartment we shared. Ethan was sitting at the dining table, staring at a diamond ring.

Seeing me walk in, he quickly hid it under a folder. "You're home? Oh, by the way, I have a business trip tomorrow.

Just letting you know." I put down my keys. "Okay." I never argued. I never questioned his decisions.

As I turned to go to the bedroom, he grabbed my hand. "Audrey, you're not even going to ask how long I'll be gone?" I froze. I didn't expect him to ask me that.

Usually, he just notified me so I could pack his bags. I looked at his guilty eyes and forced a small smile. "Sorry. I had a long day.

My mind is a bit foggy." He smiled gently and kissed me on the cheek. "Audrey, I haven't congratulated you on the IPO yet. Tell me what you want.

I'll make it happen when I get back." I knew I should let go. But a small, foolish part of me wanted to try one last time. Just to give these seven years some closure.

I held his hand and looked at him seriously. "Ethan, if my wish is for us to get married, would you say yes?"

He froze. His eyes flickered, unable to meet mine. After a long, agonizing silence, he forced a tight smile. "Audrey, you know I'm not ready for marriage.

The company just went public, there are so many things to handle..." The answer was clear. I was only humiliating myself by asking.

I masked my heartbreak with a faint smile. "I know. I was just joking," I interrupted, saving him from making up more excuses. He wasn't against marriage.

He was just against marrying me. This realization was like a dull knife, slowly carving away at my chest. I should have known. He always refused to take photos with me.

He never introduced me to his family. To the world, I was only ever his assistant. The signs were always there.

I had just chosen to ignore them. "So, what do you want then?" He seemed relieved, quickly asking, "Shares? A bonus?

Anything you want." I shook my head. "We'll talk when you get back." I walked into the bedroom and started packing. His suitcase, and mine. My phone kept buzzing.

Unsurprisingly, it was Chloe. [Audrey, Ethan is leaving tomorrow. Make sure to pack the new shirts I bought him today.] [I have great taste, don't I?

He looks so much younger in them.] [Audrey, let me handle his wardrobe from now on.

You clearly aren't as capable as everyone says—at least, not at keeping a man.] I bought almost all of Ethan's clothes.

But looking at the closet today, there were indeed several new designer shirts. Inside the pocket of one jacket, there was an unopened box of condoms.

I knew Chloe left them there on purpose. It was a cheap provocation. But I didn't care. I blocked her number. I went back to packing my own things.

After seven years, my belongings were incredibly sparse. Everything fit into a single suitcase. Just like my place in Ethan's life—easily cleared out, leaving no trace.

When I reached for the few evening gowns he had bought me, my hand paused.

He had personally taken me to buy them before our annual gala last year. "You look beautiful in this, Audrey," he had said, smiling as he adjusted my collar.

Now I realized it was just a boss rewarding his most valuable asset. It had nothing to do with love. Just as I zipped my suitcase, I heard his voice from the study.

He was on the phone. "Ethan, are you seriously proposing to Chloe tomorrow? What about Audrey? Are you really okay with letting her go?" "Of course I don't want to let her go.

So keep your mouths shut. Don't let her find out." "Man, you've got it made.

Having your dream girl and your reliable placeholder at the same time." "She's not a placeholder, and she doesn't compare to Chloe. But she'll never leave me.

She's too dependent on me." I stood frozen in the hallway, unable to move. Hearing the man I loved for seven years speak of my devotion so lightly.

There was no affection in his voice. Only arrogance. I listened to every single word. Each syllable felt like a blow to my chest, numbing me completely.

An old college photo slipped out from a book on the shelf. In the photo, I was standing next to Ethan, smiling like an idiot. But his eyes weren't on the camera.

He was looking past it, searching for someone. Now I knew. He was looking for Chloe. Even when Chloe was overseas, even when I was the one holding him through his worst nights.

His heart had never belonged to me. Not even for a second. I tossed the photo into the trash. Along with seven years of my youth and love.

The next morning, when I woke up, Ethan was already gone. There was a note on the table: Audrey, wait for me to come back.

I picked up the note, crumpled it up, and threw it in the bin. Dragging my suitcase to the front door, I took one last look at the place we lived in.

From a tiny rented apartment to this luxury villa, I thought we were building a home. But it was all just my delusion. My phone rang.

It was a text from Ethan. [Audrey, I forgot the gift I bought for the client at home. Find it and send it to this address.] I didn't need to ask. I knew it was the ring.

I called a courier service to deliver the ring, then got into a taxi to the airport. On the way, I sent Ethan one last message. [Ethan, let's break up.]