~Felicia~

The atmosphere at KingCorp was buzzing and delightful. I was enchanted by the view because I organized the ceremony myself. My CEO boyfriend, Leo Herring was supposed to be the star of the show! But he was nowhere to be seen.

"Nice decorations, Felicia! But where is the man of the event? We should be celebrating him, but he's an hour late to his own party?." A colleague inquired.

"I've been texting him, even called him. He.. seems busy. But I'm positive that he'll be here soon" I said, feeling like a cat on the wall. I had my own doubts. Will he be able to attend to celebrate being the best CEO again? He's on the Forbes list this time, too.

"Come on, pick it up..." I said to myself, greeting three other employees who waved at me. The rooftop of our company building was glimmering in the evening.

"Hey, if boss isn't here, there's no need to celebrate, right? I had plans with my girlfriend. I canceled them for boss Leo." Another colleague approached and I felt like I was on the brink. They were relying on me to bring Leo here because I'm his girlfriend? I was starting to lose hope and patience.

"Yes, just gimme a min—"

"Felicia. You gotta see this." Naina, a friend of mine from another department, suddenly urged me to check the company group chat. My eyebrows knit close in confusion.

-Happy and safe wherever he is. Was injured GHASTLY as the storage fell on my foot. Sad sad me~-

I stared at the caption in disbelief. This can't be happening. It was from Maya Grande, Leo's favorite PA.

"The post was made fifteen minutes ago, Felicia..." Naina pointed out and I looked up to see discomfort etched on everyone's face.

"Um...guess there's no party then. Sorry for wasting your valuable two hours, guys. I'm...Sorry." It felt wrong for me to apologize to them all. But I had no choice. My boyfriend was the one who humiliated them by not showing up. I had to take the blame because I was the 'good girlfriend'. Leo was always a punctual person. But since he made Maya his PA, things have gone downhill.

I had to watch everyone leave. The empty rooftop was filled with eerie silence after the employees and their plus ones left.

Leo Herring, the brilliant CEO recognised by the top tech brands doesn't want to attend his own success party. He loved these things. But he was dedicating his time to someone else. He's been spending more time in the office and less time home and socializing after Maya came into the picture. What's going on?

"Oh dear," I heard Aunt Gemma's voice from behind.

"He's done it again. Prioritized someone else over your efforts and happiness." She stated in a voice laced with compassion. It's been a while since I got that from anyone. I stared at her, wide eyed. Does she know something that I should?

"We all know she's faking it. Never in the history of mankind did an empty box fall from table height and break a foot. I saw it." Aunt Gemma shared as I stared at the railing in disbelief. I bit my lower lip, shaking my head. I was right. Maya was acting.

"Why couldn't he see through her act?" I was just as confused. Leo's not that dumb. Unless he has other intentions with her, spending time in solitude like that.

"He feels obliged to give her his services. I don't want to plant seeds in you, but it seems his interest has shifted." That night, Aunt Gemma helped me open my eyes. At that moment, it felt surreal to even think Leo was capable of cheating on me. It sounded so bitter to me.

We've been together for four years, our anniversary coming up soon. He was always overly kind and dutiful to his employees. Overly being the keyword. It was an attitude that was beaten into him since his childhood. Born to heirs of a multibillion company, this attitude was desired excessively.

"It seemed more than duty to me. Just saying." Aunt Gemma ended her reasoning.

"I'm...tired. i don't care if I wasted a wad of cash from my own pocket for this event. I need to go home and...rest." I spoke my mind. It felt like I lost a piece of me that day. I spent a chunk of my savings on him, and he does this.

"I'll drop you to the mansion then." I nodded and let Aunt Gemma guide me back home safely.

It was around midnight and I found myself pacing around the room. I Couldn't help but notice how everyone in the company chose Maya for some reason. Maya is great, Maya did this, Maya this, Maya that. It was as if my efforts were invisible to everyone. I've worked so hard from the background and contributed to our success. But all the credit went to Maya, somehow.

Out of the blue, the notification lit the room up and I saw it. It was from my boyfriend Leo. Well, not my boyfriend anymore I think.

-Sorry, had to cancel last minute babe. Maya's not well-

I lifted my eyebrow.

-Whatever. Call me first, we need to talk.-

Texting back assertively, I waited for his call to come. Three hours passed and I was fuming at 1 am, holding my phone and tapping my foot impatiently.

*ring ring*

"Oh look who's called me! Mr. Party Canceller!!." I exclaimed the moment he said ‘Hello’.

"Don't talk to me like that, Felicia. My employee wasn't feeling well in my presence. I had to get her to the hospital." He argued without me even telling anything about Maya!

"What a convenient time for her to break her foot, right?" I asked condescendingly.

"I needed to ensure she was alright. It wasn't anything out of convenience. What are you implying here?" He asked rudely.

"...Nothing. But let me tell you something interesting. I hope this will ease your heart." I could feel him raise his eyebrow from the other end,

"What?" He sounded annoyed and irritated.

"I'll relieve you from taking care of me and prioritizing me, 'cause we are over."

"What!? Felicia—" He raised his voice to change my mind but I didn't let him. I cut the call and switched my phone off.

~Leo~

I stared at the picture of her profile after she hung up. The room suddenly felt cold and heavy, I could feel my chest being crushed. Felicia never threatened to end our relationship like this before. Minor inconveniences always appeared as hurdles between us. But we were so strong with each other that we overcame all of them.

What's changed then? Why couldn't we let go of this? Her words cut deeper than a knife. I was speechless after she put our relationship on the edge.

But what else could I do myself? I'm an employer, and I know my employees need my help. What's wrong with helping someone in need? Felicia always encouraged me to help the ones in need. Wasn't she being a hypocrite?

Maya must be my top priority - she's my best employee and her wellbeing affects my company and the decisions made. The company always came first, no matter what choice was laid in front. Sitting on the hospital bed for the visitors, I sighed and opened my phone.

"What's this?" There were a ton of unopened messages. I admit that I don't keep track of my messages. Let alone see my Company's group chat because Maya handles everything for me. When I opened them, I was met with a wave of shocking pictures taken of me without my consent. Maya took selfies with me and pictures of me while she was in the hospital. Each was tagged with a misinterpreting tagline.

-Boss pours his heart out to take care of his employees. Everyone's in good hands and we know it, teehee!‐

-Oh god, i can't wait to get back to work. But i might be limping for a while~-

In one particular picture, I was standing right above her and the angle at which it was taken suggested that I was close to her lips.

"Fucking hell..." i was definitely annoyed at Maya. I wasn't sure if she was doing it on purpose. Things spiralled out of control way too quickly. But at the same time, Felicia should be the last person doubting me over this small misunderstanding.

So what if I cancelled the event last minute? I had a duty to take care of my best employee! She can't hold that against me, dangle that blame in my face for our ruined relationship. Felicia ought to understand what it feels like to be in my place.

What was done was done and I reasoned myself to have no further regrets. A knock on the door pulled me out of my invading plethora of thoughts.

"Hey, how is she doing?" My best friend Neil Bonham walked in, I raised an eyebrow.

"How'd you know where to find me?"

"I'm your cabinet member, Leo. I'm in the group chat too." Neil's voice was calm but I could sense some upset attached to it. Neil and I share a special brotherly bond - he knows me the best of all. At times in need like this, he always spawns at the right time to console me. Hence, I opened up.

"I cancelled the party for Maya and my girlfriend is pissed. She organized it especially for me. She had full confidence since last year that I'd win again, but man I ruined it for her." I explained myself and hoped he would understand.

"Buddy, you did what you had to. You shouldn't worry about being misunderstood." Neil assured.

"But Felicia thinks I'm not prioritizing her anymore. She thinks im throwing her to the side while im not. I have my own responsibilities, Neil."

"And you're carrying them out perfectly, Leo. You're a great leader. And if your girlfriend - who needs to trust you the most - isn't giving you any peace, maybe it's better to do the right thing."

"The right thing?" I folded my arms over my chest, sighing as I looked across at Maya.

"Look, we all know what's best for the company. And it's not Felicia right now. It's Maya. She's our top priority. Her wellbeing is." Neil spoke the exact words that were in my mind.

"You stole the words from my mouth."

"That's 'cause I've known you for long enough. Felicia just came into your life four years ago. Can't you see the path that's shining better for you?"

"I don't know which one is shining better for me, Neil. Maya or Felicia?" I asked because I was genuinely stuck at the junction.

"If Felicia is pushing you to make a CHOICE, then it isn't what you think true love is. You shouldn't be in that situation because of Felicia, because only one path can be taken at a time."

"I understand now..." I mumbled slowly. "I get it. Felicia was wrong to make me choose. What happened has happened. I'll try talking to her. I just know she'll make it hard for me because she just wouldn't listen." The thought of wanting to confront Felicia made my hand run down my face.

"You got this buddy." Neil stood up, summoning me to the terrace of the hospital. We shared the whiskey out of paper cups and laughed the entire night. Reminiscing our friendship and hurdles together.

It was around midnight when I drove myself back home. I was slightly tipsy but mostly conscious.

"Felicia? Felicia! We need to talk, baby. Come to me!" I loudly announced down the stairs. When I got no response, I forced myself upstairs and checked her room. My heart sank and I never felt so sober so quick. Felicia's room was cleared out, all her belongings gone.

I realized what she'd done to me over a slight misunderstanding and broke down on her sweet smelling bed.

~Felicia~

FEW HOURS EARLIER...

The lump sat deep in my throat which wouldn't go away. I put the last photo frame in the storage box and stared at the emptiness of the wall. The nails lasted longer than these photos, I thought to myself. It's okay, it's alright. I'm worth more than this humiliation. Once I get back home, I can feel loved and belong again.

My tears turned into hard crystals that rolled down my chin as I stared at the empty closet. Half of them were his gifts, top labelled fashion brands filled my walk-in closet and I had a new outfit for every day of the year.

I thought I'd make more memories here, bear his kids and watch them create havoc in this little room, this mansion. But my dreams were crushed too soon.

"Get ahold of yourself, Felicia. You're stronger than this." I spoke to myself in loneliness.

I was hallways across the country on a train when my phone buzzed with the ringtone; I sleepily clicked the green button and didn't even see the contact.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Felicia. Please think this over. You're leaving him at his worst state and walking out of his life when he did so much for you." My eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm walking out of his life, Neil? How ironic. I thought he did that before I could. So I'm going my own way too." I reasoned with assertion.

"Just because he couldn't attend the party, you're punishing him for a lifetime."

"JUST a party?" I emphasized, "Do you even realize how embarrassed I was consoling my own colleagues of HIS absence? Meanwhile, he was grooming his PA in the hospital for her fake injury." I hissed in anger.

"If you're taking his side and pushing me under the bus, forget about contacting me ever again. Goodnight." Saying, I hung up and switched my phone off. I dreamed of a perfect life with Leo Herring. I didn't even love him for his money or looks. I fell in love with his kind, generous and sweet personality.

"To hell with them!" I grunted under my breath and went back to sleep uncomfortably.

I reached back to my hometown, walking into the crappy old apartment I grew up in. My parents died seven years ago in a car crash. As I looked at the empty walls, sadness wallowed my heart and I broke down. Finally. The catharsis felt liberating and I didn't feel numbness in my heart any longer. I started unpacking after a nice shower and resolved to clean the apartment. It would be a nice distraction against thinking about Leo and our past life. Which I'm over with.

After everything was done, I was setting up my cheap ramen from a cup and cheese strings when my phone vibrated again. I anticipated Maya or Neil trying to change my mind about Leo again. I rolled my eyes and saw the name displayed, my eyes widened at the surprise.

It was Leo himself.

-I need to see you, Felicia. Baby, please don't punish me like this...-

I stared at the screen with my heart on my sleeves. Did he really think persuading me like a maniac would fix things between us?

My hands were trembling. As much as I didn't want to admit, I still cared for Leo.

-Not after you ditched me and disregarded my feelings like that. Goodbye.-

I tried to end the conversation desperately. But soon after, he was dialling me. I didn't want to pick it up, letting the rings go off about three times. I stared at the red button hard on the fourth ring and my finger betrayed me by sliding the green one.

"Felicia, hey. Where are you? Send me your location, I'm coming to get you."

"I'm far out of your reach. Now you know how it feels like to stay apart, to be ignored."

"Felicia...please. Your punishments are unreasonable. I know that I hurt you. But I assure you it's not because of Maya. I'm her boss, I ought to help her out. Just like all my employees, im responsible for her wellbeing too!"

I laughed at his explanation.

"Leo, she's always injured herself in convenient times. Like your birthday and other events that should bring us together. Don't you find it petty and planned?"

"Oh come on! You're being delusional! Accidents happen all the time, alright! You know that pretty well. I saved you countless times too." He exclaimed as I scoffed in disbelief.

"Countless times!? Stop talking to me!" I growled out.

"That's a bit childish of you. I don't expect you to understand my stance but you're taking this too far. Send me your location or I'll pull strings and get you myself." I scoffed again. This man's head was too high in the clouds!

"Did you just call me childish? I hid my disdain with your friendship with Maya and didn't utter a single word against your past with her. And now you rub it on my face that I'm childish. Well played, boss!"

"Stop it, Felicia. It's getting annoying. I'm stumped with work and consoling you should be the last thing on my list. I do care about you. There's no other reason I cried when I saw your empty room and am calling you right now." He said and I felt my lower lip wobble.

"Don't contact me ever again. We're over." I repeated the words from yesterday and did the same. Cut the call and went on about my day.