Chapter 25 The Cost of Being Good
“Sarah,” Shane’s voice came through the line, “there’s an issue with the project you handed off to Nora. Come over and take care of it.”
Sarah laughed.
Of course.
Just as she’d expected.
Shane never called unless it was about Nora.
“Was I the one who caused the problem?”
“…Don’t be difficult.”
His voice still held that light, practiced smile.
But Sarah knew him–knew that the more upset he was, the more he smiled.
“This was the client’s request. They specifically named you.”
That part did catch Sarah off guard.
She knew some clients had been happy with her in the past, but to be insisted on?
“This isn’t my project.”
“It was yours.”
Shane pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration flickering in his
eyes.
“You and your team spent nearly two weeks sealing that deal. Sarah, I know you don’t want everyone’s effort to go to waste.”
That was true.
They had pulled all–nighters, worked through weekends, made it happen.
So why, when Nora wanted it, had he given it away without hesitation?
Did love really cloud Shane’s judgment that badly?
Sarah didn’t want to see their efforts ruined. Half willingly, half dragged by guilt, she returned to the office.
Her coworkers had been expecting her–they looked at her like she was their last hope.
Given how urgent things were, Shane and Nora were both present in the meeting room.
They stood close. They looked… oddly fitting together.
“Sarah, I’m sorry.” Nora spoke first, her eyes glossy with tears. “I’ve been so distracted lately. I messed things up. You can be mad at me, just… don’t abandon the project, okay?”
Shane handed her a file without a word, his eyes quictly observing her.
“I remember you’ve worked with Simone Corp before. You should be familiar with them.”
Chapter 25 The Cost of Being Good
Simone Corp?
Sarah’s face paled slightly at the mention.
Familiar didn’t even begin to cover it. It had nearly become a police matter.
She steadied herself and asked, “Is the rep still Henry?”
“Yes,” Shane said, after a short pause.
At the confirmation, a cold heaviness clouded her eyes.
Henry was infamous in Astrovia. Arrogant. Predatory. Disrespectful.
Every woman in the industry knew to avoid him.
And Shane… knew this.
Yet he had still called her.
+8 Pearls
“Sarah, we all know Henry’s reputation.” Shane said, trying to sound measured. “And we wouldn’t normally ask this of you. But he insisted on meeting you. You wouldn’t want all that effort to go to waste, right?”
Nora dabbed her tears, playing the innocent.
A coworker chimed in, “That’s right, Sarah. You’re so good at this, and we’ve already come so far with the project…”
All eyes turned to her–hopeful, pleading… and some with thinly veiled schadenfreude.
Sarah took it all in.
So this was it?
Because she was nice, because she had originally led the project, she was now expected to clean up the mess?
No one cared that Henry might harass her. That she’d be walking straight into a toxic situation.
“Mr. Shane,” she asked quietly, “are you sure you want me to go?”
Shane blinked, surprised.
He noticed the faint chill in her expression and frowned.
She was still upset after all this time?
She was getting more emotional by the day.
“It’s just a meeting. Henry won’t do anything reckless.”
He hesitated, then tried a softer approach. “I promise–from now on, you’ll be in charge of the whole project.
A bitter chill seeped into Sarah’s heart.
For the first time, she saw the truth behind Shane’s smile–his coldness, his hypocrisy, how ruthless he could be beneath the mask of decency.
This was the man she’d loved for five years.
3:53 PM
Chapter 25 The Cost of Being Good
She had poured her soul into this deal, only for him to hand it to Nora like stolen goods.
+8 Pearls
Now that it was failing–and the only available contact was a known predator–he passed the burden back to her.
His love, his loyalties, his choices… had been clear all along.
Sarah lowered her gaze. When she spoke again, her voice was calm.
“I’ll handle the negotiation. On one condition.”
She lifted her eyes, steady and cold.
“Once the deal is secured, the project goes to Ms. Nora.”
After all, she was the one who’d taken it.
