The San Francisco Bay Bridge Expansion Project. The biggest infrastructure contract in a decade. And my wife just let some punk summer intern swap out the precision explosives for blue fireworks. I moved to stop him. He shoved a termination letter in my face. "Who the hell are you to question me? Do you know who my wife is?" He grabbed my three years of bridge designs—every calculation, every blueprint—and lit them on fire with a Zippo. "Blue fireworks, precision charges, whatever. When this bridge is done, it's taking MY name." My eyes locked on his left hand. On his ring finger sat my wedding band. Custom platinum with micro-engraved coordinates. One of a kind. The same ring that disappeared from my nightstand three months ago. I smiled. Then pulled out my phone and called the Federal Bridge Authority. "Hey, Director William. I heard the project got privately contracted. I'm pulling out." -- The second I hung up, Blake grabbed the remaining structural plans and hurled them out the window. They tumbled down toward the bay. Thirty floors down. He lit a cigarette, looking at me like I was dirt. "I don't care if you call God himself. You're done here." Watching three years of work hit the water below—getting soaked, ruined— My fists clenched. I lunged forward and grabbed his collar. "Do you have any idea what you just destroyed? You don't have enough lives to pay for this!" Security grabbed me before I could finish. Threw me out the conference room door. I hit the floor hard. Knees screaming. Blake flicked ash on my face. His laugh echoed through the office. "Couple pieces of paper. Only wage slaves like you get worked up over trash." "I'm Ava's handpicked project director. Get the fuck out before I have you arrested." The whole office erupted in laughter. "Blake's an Ivy League grad. Those designs? He can redraw them in five minutes." "Blake's marrying the boss. He's gonna OWN this company. Firing a barking dog like you? Child's play." I ignored the pain in my knees. Stared Blake down. "Ava's husband?" "You want her to stand here and say that to my face?" Funny thing was, the woman who shared my bed last night— The woman who promised to reveal our secret marriage once the FBA project finished— Was apparently Blake's wife now. Blake made a show of it, flashing his ring finger. My eyes widened. That ring. MY ring. The one I had custom-made when I proposed. The only one like it in the world. Three months ago, it vanished. Ava told me I probably left it at my workstation during an all-nighter. I'd torn that office apart looking for it. Now I understood. The ring and her heart both went to someone else. Of course I couldn't find it. Blake's voice dripped contempt. "You? You're nobody. Why would my wife waste her time on trash like you?" "You want to keep your job? Get on your knees. Three kowtows. Promise you'll never question my decisions again. Maybe I'll let you stay." I didn't move. Just swept my gaze over the vultures behind him. "Mountain blasting isn't a game. Every explosive is calculated to the gram. Swapping them last minute—using goddamn fireworks—one mistake and this project kills people. Who's taking that responsibility?" Then Blake sneered. "Liam, quit the fear-mongering." "You're just jealous Ava gave me the project. So you're trying to sabotage me." "Don't forget—I'm her husband. If something goes wrong, I've got plenty of people covering my ass." The office door opened. Ava walked in.
Blake spun the story before she could see the truth. "Ava, thank God you're here. Liam publicly challenged my authority. He said he's going to throw me out of the company." Ava's eyes turned to ice when she looked at me. "Liam. Who gave you permission to fire MY people?" I kept my voice level. "First, I didn't fire him. He tried to fire me." "Second, his material budget makes no sense. The calculations are wrong." "Ava, are you really going to let your boy toy build a death trap that'll kill innocent people?" *CRACK.* Her hand came out of nowhere. Open palm across my face. A perfect red handprint bloomed on my cheek. "Guilty minds see guilt everywhere." "Blake graduated top of his class from Yale's Architecture program. He's a genius I brought in at considerable expense. His designs are flawless." "You, on the other hand—you're spreading lies because you're jealous. You owe Blake an apology." I worked my tongue against my stinging cheek. Bitterness spread through my chest. I couldn't remember the last time Ava defended me like this. Blake, a Yale Architecture grad? Funny. As a tenured professor in that exact department, I'd never heard his name. She didn't know, of course. Didn't know this federal bridge project only went to her company because I pulled strings. Because I asked my father to call in favors. Without me, she wouldn't have even been considered for the bid. I gave her everything. And now she wanted to kick me to the curb. Before I could process it, Ava was already at Blake's side. Her voice went soft, doting. "Don't worry. I won't let anyone question your abilities." Blake played the victim perfectly. "Ava, maybe we should let Liam lead the project after all. He's trying to destroy my reputation. How am I supposed to work in this industry after this?" Ava's expression hardened even more. "Liam. You want to stay at this company? Apologize to Blake. Right now." "Or pack your shit and get out." The employees smelled blood in the water. Started piling on. "Ava, you don't know what it's been like. Liam acts like he owns the place just because he's close to you!" "Exactly. Blake earned his position. Unlike some people who wave around fake authority." Listening to them tear me apart, Ava's glare turned colder. "Liam, you're out of control! You finished ONE small project and now you think you run this company. You're even bullying the expert I brought in!" "If I let you continue, you'll tank the whole business!" Her eyes gleamed with calculation. "Effective immediately, you're no longer the chief engineer. You're Blake's assistant." "From now on, he gives the orders. You follow them." I stared at this woman I'd spent five years with. Laughed quietly. To help Ava's company establish itself, I'd turned down offers from global firms. Goldman. McKinsey. Arup. To secure this bridge project—this career-defining, national spotlight project—I'd used my family's connections. Called in every favor. And for what? My wife was fucking a summer intern. Wearing my wedding ring while she did it. Ava whispered in Blake's ear, her eyes full of admiration. Blake kept glancing at me, smug satisfaction radiating from every pore. Ava noticed I wasn't moving. Her affection turned to irritation. "Assistant Liam. What are you waiting for? Apologize to Director Blake. Now." Something in me died right then. I met Ava's eyes. Spoke clearly. "Ava. I want a divorce."
Ava froze. Then something flickered in her eyes. Almost like relief. "Liam, are you sure? This is YOUR idea. I'm not forcing you." I caught the subtext immediately. She'd been wanting this divorce. Just waiting for me to say it first. No wonder she'd been so obvious with Blake. I laughed bitterly. "I'm sure." She pulled a folder from her desk and threw it at me. "Then sign." I opened it. Of course—divorce papers. Already drafted. Her signature already on the line. I read through the terms. My eyebrows shot up. "You want me to leave with nothing?" Ava's tone was casual. "That's right. You leave with nothing, Liam. It's what you promised." "Don't remember? Let me refresh your memory." She pulled up a video on the projector. Me in a tuxedo. Holding flowers. Grinning like an idiot. Off-camera, someone asked: "Liam, what happens if you betray Ava or ask for divorce?" My past self answered immediately: "That'll never happen. I'd never do that." "Words are cheap, Liam. Promise something real on camera." I looked at Ava beside me—stunning in her white wedding dress, tears of joy in her eyes. "If that day ever comes, I'll leave with nothing." "Ava, I love you. You're the only woman I'll ever love." The video cut off. Ava drummed her fingers on the conference table. Smiled smugly. "You made that promise on camera. You're not backing out now." I stared at the frozen frame. The two of us looking at each other. Eyes only for each other. But the real Ava stood next to another man. Looking at me with contempt. When I recorded that video, I believed we'd grow old together. Turns out my "forever" lasted five years. The other employees looked at me with pity. Blake couldn't hide his greed and excitement. "Ava." My voice was calm now. Empty. "Fine. I'll leave with nothing." "And I'm withdrawing from the bridge project." I signed the papers and turned to leave. Needed to get out of this suffocating place. "Stop." Ava's command froze me mid-step. I didn't turn around. "Liam, the bridge project has already started. You can't just quit." "I've already submitted the personnel roster to the FBA. If you go around badmouthing Blake and me, who takes responsibility?" "What do you want?" "You need FBA approval to leave. Until then, you work as Blake's assistant." I spun around, staring at her in disbelief. Taking everything wasn't enough? She wanted me to stay and be humiliated by Blake? Blake grinned at me, malicious and triumphant. "Assistant Liam. Looking forward to working together."
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