Finding Forever After The Set Up

At Sylvia Shaw's birthday party, I lost the game.

Her executive assistant, Julian Graves, grinned as he announced the punishment:

Find some girl for a one-day fling. You must kiss her.

The room erupted in laughter.

I ignored them, my eyes fixed on Sylvia.

She took a casual sip of her wine.

You lost fair and square, Chase. Don't tell me you're backing out?

I smiled.

"Fine."

"But one day doesn't feel like enough."

"If we're doing this, let's make it a lifetime."

Right there in front of everyone, I pulled out my phone and posted on Instagram:

"Seeking a young girl for a serious fling. Aiming for forever. Urgent."

Attached was a picture of my Porsche key.

The laughter in the private room died instantly.

Sylvia's fingers tightened around her wine glass, knuckles white.

"Chase, what the hell are you doing?"

Julian immediately put on a fake smile, stepping forward to smooth things over.

"Hey, it's just a game! A joke! Lighten up, everyone's here to have fun."

As he spoke, his eyes flickered almost imperceptibly towards Sylvia.

A low buzz of hushed whispers started.

"Chase is being such a sore loser..."

"Totally. He's obviously jealous, putting on a show for Sylvia."

"What a petty man. Doesn't he see how inappropriate this is?"

"Probably Sylvia's been spending so much time with Julian lately..."

"Making a fool of himself. Sylvia hates it when people mix personal and public."

A cold laugh echoed inside me.

They had no idea. Today wasn't just Sylvia's birthday.

It was the five-year anniversary of the day we met. And next month, the first, was our wedding date.

Julian and Sylvia were high school classmates.

He'd returned from abroad three months ago. Sylvia, citing "the company needs fresh blood," had personally hired him as her EA.

Since he became her assistant, the feeling between Sylvia and me had soured.

Julian was smooth. On his first day, he brought coffee for the whole office, greeting everyone warmly.

He always appeared "just in time" when Sylvia needed something C handing her the exact file she was looking for, voicing the opinion she wanted to hear.

He was charming, knew how to flatter, and had effortlessly won over Sylvia's colleagues and close friends.

By contrast, I, Sylvia's boyfriend C reserved, not naturally sociable C seemed increasingly out of place.

Julian always called me "Chase", outwardly respectful and humble, but with coldness deep in his eyes.

He'd casually drop anecdotes about his and Sylvia's school days.

When Sylvia was swamped with work, he'd distract her with nostalgic stories, offering temporary relief.

Then he'd shoot me a look that pretended to be apologetic but was pure challenge.

Sylvia's attitude shifted too.

She started comparing me with Julian.

She'd laugh at Julian's throwaway jokes but brush off my carefully planned dinner reservations.

She'd happily listen to Julian's flattery, yet cut me off with "work's exhausting" when I tried to talk about our future.

Like now, Sylvia just stared at me coldly.

The love that once filled her eyes was replaced by impatience, even disgust.

"Chase." She finally spoke. "Delete that post. Stop embarrassing yourself."

Julian immediately chimed in, "Yeah, Chase, delete it. It's Sylvia's birthday. Don't ruin the mood."

He reached out as if to pat my shoulder. I sidestepped him.

I stared at Sylvia.

"I'm embarrassing myself?"

"Weren't you the one who said, 'you lost fair and square'?"

Julian's smile faltered. "Chase, man, Sylvia was just kidding! Why take it so seriously..."

"Kidding?" I cut him off. "Some jokes start as jokes and end up being real."

"Just like some people have pretended for so long. Now they believe they're the real deal."

The implication was clear.

Julian's smile froze, a flicker of malice in his eyes.

The whispers grew louder, tinged with excitement.

"Ooh, gloves are off..."

"Chase woke up on the wrong side today?"

"Must have been bottling it up. But causing a scene like this? He's pushing Sylvia away..."

Sylvia took a deep breath, visibly struggling to control her anger.

"Chase, I'm telling you for the last time. Delete. The. Post."

"And apologize to Julian."

I gave a cold laugh. Under everyone's gaze, I added another line to the post:

"P.S. Not a joke. Dead serious. Looking for forever."

Then, I showed them the screen.

Sylvia's pupils contract sharply. Her face turned ashen.

"I lost the game. I accept the punishment. What's wrong with that?"

"As for apologizing..."

My gaze swept over the diamond engagement ring on Sylvia's finger C the one I'd saved a year's salary for.

The one she'd worn with such happiness when I slipped it on.

"I refuse." My voice was cold.

Sensing the tension, others hurriedly tried to mediate it.

Sylvia's chest rose and fell.

Her eyes flashed daggers at me before she visibly swallowed her rage, dropping the demand to delete the post or apologize to Julian.

The cake-cutting moment was painfully awkward.

Sylvia picked up the cake knife and scanned the crowd, deliberately skipping over me standing right in front.

"Julian, give me a hand?"

Julian stepped up instantly. "My pleasure, Sylvia."

He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her. They gripped the knife together.

How intimate. Their faces almost touched.

Applause and cheers rose around them.

I stood where I was, watching coldly like an outsider.

After Sylvia blew out the candles, Julian pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.

Inside was a platinum bracelet studded with pav diamonds.

"Happy birthday, Sylvie."

He murmured, but loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

"I had this bracelet custom-made in France last month. Hope you like it."

Sylvia's face lit up instantly.

"Julian! You're too thoughtful!"

"Anything from you, I'd love it!"

She slid off the jade bracelet she was wearing and casually placed it on the nearby table.

Like discarding an unwanted trinket.

That bracelet was a heirloom for the Reynolds daughter-in-law.

My mother had given it to Sylvia with her own hands before she passed away.

"Here, help me put it on?" Sylvia extended her wrist towards Julian, her voice carrying a hint of a coquettish tone.

Julian carefully took out the sparkling bracelet, clasping it gently around Sylvia's slender wrist.

His fingertips brushed her skin almost imperceptibly. They shared a smile.

"Wow! Gorgeous!"

"That bracelet is stunning! Such a unique design!"

"Totally! Way better than that old-fashioned bracelet!"

"Now this suits Sylvia's style and elegance!"

"Julian has such great taste! So thoughtful!"

The compliments came thick and fast from others, each one like an invisible slap across my face.

I walked over expressionlessly.

While everyone was still admiring the new bracelet, I reached out and picked up the jade bracelet.

The chatter died down a little. Curious eyes turned towards me.

Sylvia noticed my movement, her brow furrowing slightly.

I held the jade bracelet firmly in my palm and met Sylvia's gaze calmly.

My voice cut clearly through the remaining noise.

"Since this 'old-fashioned' bracelet doesn't suit the CEO, I'll return it to my mother, its rightful owner."

The room fell utterly silent.

Sylvia opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

She probably hadn't expected me to invoke my mother.

Julian's eyes flashed with malice again before he smiled.

"Chase, is that really necessary?"

"Sylvie was just trying on the new bracelet. Why get hung up on the old one?"

"It's her birthday. Can't we just enjoy ourselves?"

"Not hung up," my tone remained flat. "Since she doesn't want it, I'm taking it back."

"Wouldn't want to disrespect my mother's intentions."

With that, I carefully placed the jade bracelet into the inner pocket of my jacket and turned to leave.

Sylvia's sharp, cold laugh followed me.

"Take it back then! Like I care about that ugly thing?"

"Old and tacky! I wouldn't take it if you paid me!"

Julian hurried after me, grabbing my arm.

"Chase, don't be rash! Sylvia didn't mean it!"

"Your leaving now blows this whole thing up..."

I wrenched my arm free.

Julian stumbled back half a step, his mask of fake concern almost cracking.

" Save it, Julian." I shot him a cold glance. "The act is wearing thin."

Sylvia's voice was shrill, "Julian! Let him go! He should just get out!"

I walked out of that suffocating room without looking back.

Outside the hotel, the night air was cool.

I leaned against my car and lit a cigarette. The nicotine hit my lungs, relieving the anger slightly.

Just then, I got a reply on Instagram.

I didn't even glance at the photo sent to me. I just shared my location.

"Come now. I'm waiting."

Less than twenty minutes later, a girl pulled up on a shared e-scooter.

She jogged over, hesitantly asking,

"Hey, is that you?"

"I'm Chloe."

I looked her over.

Short skirt, tight top, brightly colored hair, heavy eye makeup.

But unexpectedly, her eyes held a hint of shyness, and her voice was soft.

"Yeah." I stubbed out the cigarette. "Come on. Taking you somewhere."

Chloe followed quietly.

She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, careful not to touch anything.

I drove to a bar nearby. Not top-tier luxury, but decent atmosphere.

I ordered her a beer and got myself a Coke.

Chloe sipped her drink quietly, not saying much, occasionally sneaking glances at me.

"Hey, you..." she started to say.

But a wave of familiar noise from the entrance cut her off.

Sylvia and Julian, along with the whole crowd from the party, streamed in.

Julian was bent close to Sylvia's ear, saying something that finally coaxed a small smile onto her face.

They spotted me almost immediately. And Chloe beside me.

Sylvia stopped dead. Her smile froze, then dissolved into a deep frown.

Her eyes, like ice-cold daggers, raked over me, then settled on Chloe.

A flash of something like triumph lit Julian's eyes before he replaced it with perfect surprise and concern.

"Well, look who it is? Chase?"

"Got yourself a pick-me girl already?"

His gaze swept over Chloe like she was merchandise, a sneer curling his lip.

"Seriously, Chase? Even if you're mad at Sylvia, no need to... degrade yourself like this?"

"This... specimen... compared to Sylvia? Night and day."

He shook his head, feigning disappointment.

"Have your fun, but don't get attached. Wouldn't want you catching something nasty. Ruin your life."

Beside me, Chloe stiffened, her head dropping lower.

Her knuckles whitened around her glass.

"Julian's right," a woman who always fawned over Sylvia chimed in, eyeing Chloe with disdain.

"That look, that vibe... screams 'not respectable'."

"Chase, when did your taste get so... questionable?"

Another man snorted, "Yeah, she's not fit to lick Sylvia's boots."

"Chase, are you trying to embarrass Sylvia on purpose?"

"How pathetic..."