Chapter 2

Joanna's POV

The next day, I started organizing everything related to my resignation.

Since I'd promised my family I'd get married, I decided to cut all ties and leave myself no way back.

The work I currently had wasn't that much. Five days would be enough to properly hand everything over. Whether HR agreed or not, I'd completely leave this place after five days.

I was about to write down Ethan's preferences to leave for whoever came after me.

Then he sent me a voice message asking.

"Joanna, where's the hangover remedy? Where did you put it?"

Instinctively, I stood up, wanting to go to the break room to make honey water.

For five years, whenever he had a hangover, I'd prepare a warm glass of honey water the next day, taking care of every detail, even though this wasn't part of my job description.

But this time, I stood halfway up and sat back down.

I didn't respond. I turned my phone face-down on the desk.

I typed the last line on my keyboard.

"When his stomach hurts, he can only drink warm water at exactly 45 degrees. One degree off and he'll throw the cup."

After typing that line, the shallow scar on the back of my hand seemed to throb with phantom pain.

That was from last year when the water was slightly too hot and I got cut by the glass he smashed.

At the time, he just glanced at it.

"Can't even get such a small thing right. Joanna, what can you actually do?"

Thinking about it now, I really couldn't do anything.

Except be pathetic.

I changed the file name of my resignation handover document to "CEO Office Work Guidelines."

Just endure five more days. After five days, everything will be over.

"Joanna, are you organizing materials for Mr. Sinclair again?"

A junior assistant peeked over, looking at me carefully before saying.

"Everyone's saying Mr. Sinclair really favors that intern."

"Oh?"

I laughed self-deprecatingly.

"That's her skill. I can't compare."

The assistant looked at me, unable to hide the indignation on her face.

"Mr. Sinclair is completely charmed by that intern, but he has no idea who's been taking care of him so well all these years!"

"His stomach problems-you went to doctors all over the city, begged for nutritional meal plans, and delivered them to him every single day without fail. He thinks they're restaurant meal subscriptions!"

"His severe insomnia-you sat by his bed every night, sometimes for half the night!"

"His suits-every single one is ironed and coordinated by your own hands. You even went to learn how to tie his ties properly!"

"Your life revolves entirely around him, but what about him? Some random intern dares to step all over you, and he doesn't even care about you!"

I froze.

So others had been watching all along.

Only he didn't know.

Or rather, he was used to it.

Used to everything he wanted appearing at hand the moment he reached for it.

I patted the assistant's hand, my tone calm.

"I was stupid before. It won't happen again."

"Joanna."

Footsteps sounded behind me, interrupting our conversation.

Ethan appeared, his expression cold.

Sienna followed behind him, her eyes red.

He threw a document on my desk-the same one I'd tossed in the trash last night.

"Letting personal emotions interfere with work and treating it like a game-is this your upbringing?"

Sienna spoke up pitifully.

"It's my fault. I'm clumsy and lost the contract, getting Joanna in trouble."

She tried to bow and apologize to me, but Ethan pulled her back and shielded her, looking at me even more coldly.

"What right does she have to receive your apology?"

"Joanna, Sienna made an honest mistake. What about you? You did it on purpose."

"I never thought you'd be so reckless just to get my attention."

The assistant tried to defend me.

"Mr. Sinclair... yesterday she..."

I held the assistant back and responded to him.

"Mr. Sinclair is right."

I didn't explain. I pushed the materials in front of me toward Sienna.

"Then from now on, let Miss Cunningham handle these tasks."