Chapter 1: The Jeans She Laughed At
Tiana laughed when she saw me in the café.
Not a polite laugh. Not the kind people use when they are uncomfortable.
It was loud, deliberate, and designed to humiliate me.
“Three years,” she announced, looking down at my faded jeans.
“And you still dress like that?””
Two women sitting across from her exchanged amused glances.
I stood beside the counter, holding a black coffee in one hand and my phone in the other. My jeans were old. My sneakers had a small tear near the left heel. My gray jacket had survived more winters than I cared to count.
But I wasn't embarrassed.
Not anymore.
Tiana sat in a corner booth wearing a fitted cream dress, expensive heels, and a diamond ring that probably cost more than my first apartment. Her blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her designer handbag occupied the empty chair beside her.
She looked successful.
Comfortable.
Like someone who had finally gotten everything she wanted.
Apparently, she still needed me to know she thought I had gotten nothing.
“Still drinking cheap coffee?”” she asked.
I glanced at the cup.
“It's coffee, Tiana. Not a financial investment.””
One of her friends laughed.
Tiana didn't.
“You always had an answer for everything.””
“And you always had a question when you wanted attention.””
Her expression tightened.
Three years earlier, we'd shared a tiny apartment in Chicago. The heating barely worked, the kitchen faucet leaked, and my business plan covered half the dining table.
I was building software designed to help companies manage international logistics.
At the time, I had one investor, two employees, and a bank account that made me nervous every morning.
Tiana had been patient.
Until she wasn't.
She used to sit beside me at night, rubbing my shoulders while I worked.
Then the questions started.
"When are we going to have a normal life, Marcus?""
"Why can't you get a real job?""
"Do you know how embarrassing it is when my friends ask what you do?""
I kept telling her we were close.
She kept telling me she was tired.
Then Devon Hayes entered the picture.
Devon had been my business partner, the man I'd trusted with early financial projections and confidential investor presentations.
He also happened to own a luxury apartment downtown and drive a car that cost more than our entire apartment building.
Tiana started mentioning him frequently.
Then she started staying late at work.
Eventually, she stopped coming home.
The night she left, she stood beside our bedroom door with two suitcases.
"I'm not spending another three years waiting for you to become somebody," she said.
I remember looking at the woman I'd imagined marrying.
"Is this about Devon?""
She didn't answer immediately.
That silence told me everything.
"I'm choosing a better future, Marcus.""
Then she walked out.
Now, three years later, she was sitting in a café laughing at my clothes.
"Still trying to launch that little company?"" she asked.
I took a slow sip of coffee.
"It launched.""
She raised an eyebrow.
"Really?""
"Yes.""
"How's it doing?""
I glanced at my watch.
"Busy.""
Tiana burst out laughing.
"You're unbelievable. You make everything sound important. I bet you still work out of that little apartment.""
I didn't respond.
My phone vibrated.
A message from my chief operating officer appeared.
*Boardroom ready. The acquisition documents are waiting for your signature.*
I locked the screen.
Tiana noticed.
"Someone important?""
"Work.""
She rolled her eyes.
"Of course.""
Her phone buzzed on the table.
She glanced down.
Her smile disappeared.
I recognized the name before she turned the screen over.
Devon.
She grabbed the phone.
"Excuse me," she muttered.
"Take your time," I said.
She shot me a warning look.
"That's none of your business.""
"You're right.""
But her fingers were trembling.
Before she could say anything else, the café door opened.
A sharply dressed man entered, carrying a black leather folder. He was in his early forties, wearing a charcoal suit and polished shoes.
His name was Daniel Brooks.
He was my executive driver, although his official title was director of executive operations. He had worked with me for almost two years and knew better than to make a scene in public.
His eyes scanned the room.
Then he saw me.
"Mr. Reed.""
Tiana turned.
Daniel approached.
"I'm sorry I'm late, sir. The board meeting ran longer than expected.""
"No problem, Daniel.""
He handed me the leather folder.
"The directors have approved the final terms. We just need your signature before the announcement goes out.""
I nodded.
"Thank you.""
Tiana stared at him.
Then at me.
"Wait. You know him?""
Daniel looked at her.
"Of course.""
"Why did you call him Mr. Reed?""
Daniel seemed confused by the question.
"Because he's Mr. Marcus Reed.""
Tiana gave a nervous laugh.
"That's not what I meant.""
I opened the folder.
At the top of the first page was the name of my company.
*REED GLOBAL HOLDINGS.*
Below it were the details of a multibillion-dollar acquisition.
Tiana leaned forward.
Her eyes moved across the document.
Then stopped at the signature block.
*Marcus A. Reed — Founder and Chief Executive Officer.*
Her lips parted.
"You founded Reed Global?""
I closed the folder.
"Three years ago, you said my business would fail.""
She shook her head.
"But Devon...""
I waited.
"Devon told me he worked there.""
"He does.""
Her face changed.
"No. He told me he had access to company documents. He said he was involved in the executive decisions.""
I looked at Daniel.
His expression had become unusually serious.
"What documents?"" I asked.
Tiana swallowed.
"He said he had copies of your original investor files. He said there were financial records proving you had—"
She stopped.
Daniel slowly closed the café door behind him.
"Mr. Reed," he said quietly, "we need to discuss something.""
I looked at him.
"What is it?""
He glanced at Tiana before lowering his voice.
"Security found evidence that someone has been attempting to access your private acquisition files using an employee credential.""
My stomach tightened.
"Whose credential?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he gave me a name.
"Devon Hayes.""
Tiana's coffee cup slipped from her fingers.
It hit the table, spilling across her cream dress.
She barely noticed.
May you like
Because the man she had chosen over me had apparently been stealing from the company I owned.
And judging by her expression, she knew exactly why.
