Right here waiting

Chapter 1

My fiancée, who’s also the CEO, announced that the company was “tight on cash” and slashed my salary in half.

Then I saw her little lapdog assistant flaunting on Instagram.

“The boss just gave me a fat raise and bought me a sweet ride so I wouldn’t be stressed at work! So thoughtful.”

The picture showed him and my fiancée, all smiles, posing in front of a brand-new Porsche – easily worth six figures.

I took a beat, then hit “like.”

That night, she called an “emergency meeting” to chew me out. Said I was “disrupting the company culture” and docked my entire paycheck for the month, handing it to the assistant as “emotional distress compensation.”

Everyone looked at me with pity, waiting for me to blow my top.

But I just calmly packed up my desk, dropped my resignation letter on her desk, and said, “Just a slap on the wrist for bullying a coworker? I’m out of here.”

Her little buddy, Chad, piped up immediately.

“Ethan, how can you just quit over something like this? You’ve been here forever, and Lisa’s always been so great to you. You can’t leave her in the lurch like this!”

“Lisa, you gotta talk some sense into Ethan!”

Lisa probably was going to try to talk me down.

But Chad’s little speech just lit her fuse.

“Talk him down? He wants to leave, he can leave! I’ve got nothing to hide, I don’t care what anyone says.”

She snatched up my resignation, scribbled her signature, and threw it back in my face.

All my colleagues stared at me, waiting for the fireworks.

But I didn’t argue, didn’t beg. Just picked up the resignation off the floor.

“I’ll finish my handover.”

“No handover. Just get out. Now.”

Lisa pointed at the door, then, as an afterthought, added coldly, “You quit, you get no severance.”

My coworkers, the ones I was close to, tried to tell me to just apologize, not to be stubborn.

They all knew that I’d basically built the company with Lisa from the ground up.

Back then, when the company needed money, I was hitting up venture capitalists, getting wasted to seal the deal. When we were behind schedule, I was leading the team through all-nighters. I poured my heart and soul into this place.

Leaving now was like giving up everything.

But my mind was made up. I thanked them, gathered my things, and walked out.

Before I left, I saw a flicker of something in Lisa’s eyes – confusion, maybe regret.

I knew what she was thinking: I wouldn’t leave.

We’d had fights about Chad before, even worse than this. The worst was when Lisa gave Chad all my annual bonus after I challenged him on a shady deal. I blew up at her, threatened to quit, but then, when it came down to it, I swallowed my pride, went back, and pretended nothing had happened.

She thought I’d do it again.

But she didn’t know I was done.

As soon as I left the building, I got a text. It was a wire transfer from my friend, Dave.

That morning, when Lisa had claimed the company was struggling and wanted to cut my salary, my first thought was for her stress level. I’d immediately contacted Dave to borrow fifty grand.

I’d been planning to give it to her, but then I’d accidentally seen Chad’s Instagram post.

And then, I’d known what was really up.

Strangely, I’d felt this odd sense of peace at that moment. No sadness, no jealous rage.

Maybe because it had happened too many times.

Lisa had pulled so much crap for Chad, had done so many ridiculous things, that I couldn’t even tell anymore if I was her boyfriend or if Chad was.

I wired the money back to Dave, thanked him, and headed to the parking garage.

I found my beat-up, ten-year-old Honda, its paint chipped and faded.

Right next to it was a shiny new Porsche – the one Lisa had just given Chad.

The garage was practically empty, but he had to park there, right next to me.

A taunt.

I’d been with Lisa for ten years, and it still wasn’t as good as Chad who’d only been there 10 months.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Without hesitating, I backed out and drove away from the company I’d helped build.

I hadn’t even made it out of the parking lot when someone rear-ended me.

I got out, and who should it be but Lisa and Chad, stepping out of the other car.

“Ethan, why did you slam on the brakes like that? I didn’t have time to react!” Chad said, walking up and patting his dented hood. “Too bad, Lisa had picked it out.”

Lisa’s face darkened.

“Ethan, I saw you staring at Chad’s car in the garage. Be honest, you did this on purpose, didn’t you? You knew Chad was behind you, so you brake-checked him as payback?”

I almost started laughing.

Here we go again.

Blaming me before even asking what happened.

Chad sighed dramatically.

“It’s okay, Lisa, don’t blame Ethan. He lost his job because of me, it’s normal he would be angry.”

“Honestly, it’s my fault. If I had been paying attention…”

He made a fist and “lightly” hit his own forehead

Lisa didn’t see the act, and grabbed his head, coddling him, “It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself. I’ll get it fixed.”

Then, she pointed a finger at my forehead hard.

“Why can’t you learn from Chad, have a little responsibility?”

“He already knows how to be humble, you’ve worked for so many years and still so childish?”

I stumbled, realizing how ridiculous this was.

For the past year, Chad had been stealing my credit, backstabbing me, and now he’s the responsible one and I’m immature.

Knowing there was no point in arguing, I turned to leave.

Lisa stopped me again.

I thought she was going to continue defending Chad, but instead, she pulled me aside.

“Ethan, I have high expectations for you, that’s why I’m so strict.”

“Why can’t you understand that?”

Hearing her soft voice, I was confused.

Then, she patted my shoulder.

“I’m going to retract your resignation. You should think about apologizing to Chad.”

“Also, you’re at fault for the accident, you should wire Chad the amount.”

It clicked.

I looked over at Chad.

He clearly knew exactly what Lisa was going to say, and had an smug look on his face.

I sneered.

“I’m not paying. We can check the dashcam footage or call the cops. And I’ve got things to do, gotta run.”

I turned and left.

Lisa was furious. “I gave you a chance, Ethan. Don’t regret this!”

Regret?

No way.

I got back in my car and texted Dave:

“I quit. I’m free to start at your company tomorrow.”

Chapter 2

In less than a second, Dave called back, practically shouting with excitement. “You serious? What about Lisa?”

Dave and Lisa had started their companies around the same time.

But Dave had more resources and a better offer to pull me over. He also knew my relations with Lisa, so he suggested the offer as part time.

But for Lisa, I turned him down.

When I almost froze to death, it was Lisa who dragged me in and saved me.

I had a soft spot for her, so I put everything in to growing Lisa’s company.

Now it seems I should have listened to Dave.

“I can decide.”

I talked to Dave for a bit, finalizing the time to sign the contract.

I drove home to collect my things.

It was the house that I completely paid for, but it was filled with Lisa.

First, I cleaned out under the bed to find a collection of sketches.

Some showed her smiling, some were of her in deep thought, some were of her peeling an apple, and some were of her putting on makeup in the mirror.

Every expression of Lisa was captured.

She also liked the sketches, treasuring them and put them up.

But since Chad came, she seemed to be impatient, complaining how it was old-fashioned, a waste of time and suggested cameras.

The sketches were carelessly dumped under the bed, yellowed and faded.

I let out a laugh.

I dumped them into a pan and light a corner on fire.

The flames ate through the pages, turning to ash.

Just like our love, burned out.

Then I cleared out all my belongings.

I crashed on the couch, looking for apartments.

I opened the phone and was bombarded by images posted by Chad in the group chat.

The photos were of Lisa and Chad, the background was a arcade and Lisa held a stack of dolls, gazing towards Chad with the biggest smile.

I had not seen her smile like that in a while.

I had brought her to the arcade once but as soon as we got the tokens she turned and left, saying it was childish.

She never had the time.

But she had the time for Chad.

She wasn’t busy, she just didn’t like me.

A few colleagues started commenting on how Lisa was beautiful, as if she was a goddess, and asked if things were getting serious.

They knew I was her boyfriend.

But they commented it because Lisa never hid her relation with Chad.

I would usually get angry and tell Lisa to get her shit together.

But I pretended like nothing happened.

Then I noticed a few minutes later that the posts had been recalled including the original photos.

I figured she would not come back until late.

Then Lisa walked into the room chatting with Chad in a good mood.

Seeing me, she glanced with shock then composed herself, rolled her eyes and went into the room.

She was waiting for me to talk.

Every disagreement she wanted me to apologize and ask for her forgiveness.

Even if she was at fault I had to suck it up and take the blame.

I had thought I needed to do this for a long time.

I went back to what I was doing.

Then Lisa barged out.

“Did you see the post in the group chat?”

“What post?”

She sighed of relief, “There was nothing, just something with work.”

I wanted to laugh.

What was she doing when I was not around?

“Chad said his car was fixed, was yours?”

Lisa asked.

I knew she was trying to make up.

In the past, I would have run to her side to make her feel better.

“It’s just an old car,” I said.

Lisa frowned, “What do you mean?”

I raised my head, not knowing what she wanted.

She had said the same thing when my car had been scratched before.

I thought she would get angry but she took a breath.

“I know you are angry with the company, but Chad has been working really hard so I got him a new car.”

I laughed.

Chad did not have the experience, the things he did wrong was uncountable.

Things like bringing white tea instead of milk tea for clients.

Hiring him wasn’t as good as having a dog.

Lisa pulled me aside and said, “You are my boyfriend and we are going to get married, isn’t the company going to be yours. So why would you care about money and him?”

“The reason I did what I did was for the company so others didn’t think I was showing favor.”

Other colleagues thought she favored Chad and was bullying me.

She ignored that.

I didn’t want to argue, “Okay, I’m done with the company so you do you.”

Lisa sighed.

Then she stood up and gave me a hug, whispering.

“We want you to rest and take a break to think about the wedding.”

“When are you going to propose?”

She smiled.

But I had proposed multiple times but was rejected.

Sometimes, I thought of myself as a dog she played with.

Lisa scratched my chin, “Don’t be mad, can you smile?”

Then, she tried to kiss me.

I smelt Chad’s cologne on her.

My stomach churned and I pushed her back, grabbed some tissue and wiped my lips.

Chapter 3

Lisa was shocked.

“You disgusted by me?”

“I’m heading out soon, let me change.”

I walked off, leaving Lisa in the dust.

Lisa tried to follow but I slammed the door.

“Whatever Ethan, regret this!”

Lisa kicked the door then left.

When I came out the house was empty.

Lisa posted that she wanted to invite everyone to dinner, asking who wanted to come.

Everyone was quiet.

Then Chad started sending happy emojis.

Lisa was trying to provoke me.

Usually I would get angry.

I got ready, then got a hold of a rental apartment.

Then I called up a realtor to sell the house.

But Lisa’s name was on the title.

So she would need to sign as well.

I contacted Lisa but was blocked.

She would block me.

I was afraid for her so I would call back.

Lisa would ask, “Do you know what you did wrong?”

I would eat crow.

Well this time it was for a house.

“Come back home, there is something I want to talk to you about.”

“What, I’m busy.”

Lisa said.

“Come home.”

Lisa let out a snort.

“You pushed me away but want me back? Do I owe you? This is how you want to apologize?”

“Have I been too nice that you forgot how to?”

Lisa.

Finally, Lisa replied.

“I’m waiting.”

I calmed myself and posted it.

That night, I contacted Dave and signed the contract.

Dave was so excited, that he made a big deal out of it.

I was going to head home but Lisa probably wasn’t coming home so I stayed.

After a few glasses I went to the bathroom and overheard some chatter.

I stopped.

Peeking through the door, I saw Lisa in Chad’s arms, laughing and smiling.

Chad quickly kissed her on the lips.

Chapter 4

Lisa froze but didn’t pull back.

“Lisa, when are you going to break up with Ethan?”

“I can’t stand you guys, it’s hard.”

Chad whined.

“Don’t you like Ethan?”

Lisa then hugged Chad, patting his back.

“Of course not, it’s just that if I break up with Ethan it might affect your future, I’ll give it time.”

“I knew you liked me more.”

Both huddled together.

I snorted and left, but I remember that scene.

Back at the room I took a few shots.

I got to my car and saw Dave.

Dave took me to a new Porche and asked if I liked it.

I didn’t understand and nodded.

Then Dave threw me the keys.

“Your old car sucks, might as well get a new one.”

I was going to refuse but Dave knew what I was going to say, “Lisa got Chad a new car, I didn’t want to get outdone.”

“Chad’s stuff has been copied, I don’t know how he still works there.”

Dave said.

He was right and his stuff was stolen from me.

Lisa couldn’t see.

Dave said it was to be taken out of my salary.

The car was so expensive it would take me years to pay off.

I thanked him.

We took a ride home.

When I got home Lisa was waiting.

“Where were you, you know I was waiting, how long are you going to make me wait!”

Lisa was angry.

Usually she wouldn’t come home until 3 or 4 am.

I was reminded of Lisa and Chad in each other’s arms.

It churned my stomach.

“With a friend.”

Then I handed her the paperwork.

“You’re drunk.”

“You said you wouldn’t drink unless I was there!”

Lisa said.

I could only drink when I was around to entertain?

I didn’t say anything.

Lisa started smiling, “You’re just mad that I was with Chad, you just had to get drunk? That’s all you needed to say.”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

I put the paperwork in her hands, “Take a look.”

Lisa laughed, “What is it? A letter?”

“I was mad that you are here, I won’t take an apology.”

“Don’t get me mad.”

Lisa.

I said, “It’s a surprise.”

Lisa was curious but her phone went off.

“Lisa, I got in an accident!”

Chad whined.

“Send me the address.”

She got up to leave, neglecting me.

I moved in front of her, “Do mine first, it’s urgent.”

Lisa sighed, “Can’t you have a heart? Chad is more important.”

“You’re acting childish.”

She still didn’t look at me.

Then Chad screamed.

“They are beating me!”

“Don’t worry!”

Lisa was getting worried.

She signed the last page without looking.

As she left I asked, “Don’t you want to know what you signed?”

“Who cares? You can’t get me a contract!”

I thought it was funny.

She had to look at the contracts and make sure it was good.

She ran off without a care in the world for Chad.

Too bad, less things to worry about.

Lisa didn’t come back.

Then I saw a text from Chad.

(Ethan, I know you know what happened.

You are not in Lisa’s heart, I’m going to have her.

Just get lost.

What a laugh.

Lisa liked me too!

Then I went to sleep.

I heard Chad was pissed so it worked.

I went to sleep early.

I gave the realtor the signed forms in the morning.

They were interested in the house.

I said I was divorcing my fiance.

I told them I was hurt.

We signed the paper that night.

I was moving out soon.

Chapter 6

When I came home, I saw a pair of shoes.

Then I didn’t see my slippers.

Guess it was Chad.

I found some disposable slippers.

Chad and Lisa were in the kitchen.

“No, you are doing it wrong, I can teach you.”

Chad hugged Lisa from behind.

Chad wore my clothes and my slippers.

Lisa wore matching clothes and smiled, it was easy and relaxing.

Lisa usually didn’t like me getting too close.

She thought it was repulsive.

I snorted.

Lisa saw me, then quickly got out of Chad’s arm.

“Why are you home so early.”

I didn’t say anything.

“It’s not what it looks like, I was just teaching her.”

Chad gave me a face.

Lisa said, “It’s Chad’s birthday.”

She could not even remember my birthday.

“Okay.”

Chad and Lisa seemed confused.

Lisa wanted me to get angry.

I was going to move out soon.

Chad barged in.

“It looks more empty, so I’m right.”

I ignored Chad.

“Hello, I’m talking to you.”

He touched my shoulder and shoved me, his face went red.

“So? You’re not moving in.”

“You!”

Chad wanted to hit me but Lisa came in.

Chad then dropped the food.

“Chad?”

Lisa pushed me and hugged Chad.

I cut myself on the glass.

Lisa coddled Chad.

“I was trying to be nice and bring the food but…”

If I wasn’t there I would have believed it.

I liked cake and have said it so many times.

Lisa forgot.

Lisa pointed, “Why are you pushing Chad, just get out of the house, go!”

Lisa shouted.

I remember in the past Lisa would have been more civil.

“Are you going to plan the wedding?”

“Apologize.”

“I agree to break up.”