My Fiancé’s Childhood Sweetheart Cropped Me Out,So I Took Back Her Apartment

I went to my fiance's class reunion and took a big group photo with all of them.

Then his childhood sweetheart posted it online, and cropped me right out of the left edge of the shot.

My fiance even liked the post.

I didn't say a word. I just went into the office the next day and struck her name off the list for the company's subsidized housing.

The day after that, he came storming into the office to have it out with me.

He even threw down an ultimatum. "If you don't give Yannie the benefits she's entitled to, I'll buy her the place myself!"

I told him I didn't care.

"Suit yourself."

Once a man loses the plot, there's no reason to keep him around.

He's only a marriage partner. This one won't behave, so I'll swap him out for another.

The day after Vincent Henson and I got engaged, he said he wanted me to meet his friends.

I'm an introvert by nature. Crowds aren't my thing.

But I didn't want to spoil his mood, so I went.

I didn't really know any of them, so after a few polite lines I settled into a corner and played on my phone.

As the reunion was breaking up, Vincent's little childhood sweetheart, Yannie Ford, suggested everyone take a big group photo.

I'd been standing next to Vincent, but somehow I got nudged all the way to the far edge.

When the photo came out, Vincent and Yannie were pressed together, right in the center.

It was just a photo. I let it go.

Until I saw the post Yannie put up on her feed, our group shot from that day.

Sitting on the far left, I'd been cropped clean out of it.

What made me angry wasn't being cropped out. It was that Vincent had liked the post underneath.

I called him right away.

"That post Yannie just put up. You liked it."

"Yeah, so?"

"You didn't notice she cut me out of the group photo?"

"Did she? I honestly didn't catch that."

He gave a light laugh, and left it at that.

"What are you saying, that you think what she did was perfectly normal?"

"No, Yannie probably just did it by accident when she was editing the photo. It's one picture. Don't be so petty."

"Fair enough."

I hung up on him.

The next morning at the office, I turned to my assistant beside me.

"Bring me the list for the company's subsidized housing."

The assistant handed it over, and there was Yannie Ford's name, sitting right at the top.

"This Yannie Ford hasn't even been with the company a year, and her position doesn't qualify her. Why is she being allocated a hundred-and-thirty-square-meter unit?"

"That list was signed off personally by Mr. Henson."

I took out my pen and struck through Yannie's entire line.

"Vincent is only my fiance. My father promised him the general manager position after we're married, but we haven't registered the marriage yet."

"From now on, he is not permitted to involve himself in any Group affairs."

"Understood."

The truth was, I'd seen this list a while ago. I knew Yannie had gone through the back door, riding her connection to Vincent to land on it.

Senior people using their positions to squeeze out a few perks for their relatives, that's nothing new.

As long as it didn't go too far, I'd turn a blind eye.

What Vincent had done here went too far.

But given how close we were, I pretended not to see it.

Only now do I realize some people really will take a kindness and spit on it.

The company housing list went up, and within minutes Vincent was calling.

"You canceled Yannie's apartment? Just because she accidentally cropped you out when she was editing a photo?"

"I don't want to pull strings for her. Is that a problem?"

"Ramona, don't you think you're being petty? Over one little thing, you take away Yannie's apartment."

"Yannie's really hurt. She's been crying nonstop."

"So she's upset she didn't get a free ride off the company? If she's got time to cry, she'd be better off asking herself whether she qualifies in the first place. She shouldn't be eyeing something that isn't hers."

I hung up, done wasting my time on him.

A moment later my assistant knocked and came in.

"Ms. Sanchez, Yannie Ford from Admin wants to see you."

"Send her in."

Her eyes were red and swollen. "Ms. Sanchez, I'm sorry. I didn't know one photo would make you this angry."

"But work is work and personal life is personal. Bringing your feelings from your personal life into work, isn't that unfair to me?"

"You've got the nerve to talk about fair? Then let me ask you. What qualifies you for a company apartment?"

"Under company policy, you need five years with the company and a director-level position or higher to qualify."

"And the location and size are decided by how much an employee has contributed over their years here. What have you contributed? On what grounds do you get a thirteen-hundred-square-foot riverfront place downtown?"

Yannie had nothing to say. Then she suddenly burst into tears.

"If you want to cry, cry outside. I'm busy."

The office door was shoved open, and Vincent barged in.

"Yannie, are you okay?"

He pulled her in against him. "Ramona, you're bullying Yannie again!"

I actually laughed.

"Vince, you do remember who your fiance is, right?"

He soothed her gently. "Don't cry. Go on out first. I'll talk to Ramona. I promise you'll be happy with how this ends."

Once Yannie was gone, Vincent's tone softened a great deal.

"Ramona, stop throwing your rich-girl tantrum. Work isn't easy for Yannie. And that apartment's a company perk for employees anyway. What difference does it make who gets it?"

"She doesn't qualify."

His face turned impatient at once. "Whether she qualifies is one word from you and it's done!"

"Yannie's my childhood friend. She's like a little sister to me. I'm just getting a few benefits for my own sister. Don't be so stingy."

"Your sister, or your sweetheart?"

"Ramona, that's a nasty thing to say! If there were really something between me and Yannie, do you think it'd ever be your turn?"

"What Yannie did was wrong, I'll apologize to you on her behalf. Tonight I'll have her treat you to dinner. I'll bring all my friends, we'll take the photo again, and we'll put you in the middle!"

I looked at him coldly.

"Are you finished? If you're finished, get out. Stop holding up my work."

"Ramona, there's just no getting through to you, is there!"

"If you won't give Yannie the perk she's owed, then I'll buy her an apartment myself!"

I let out a soft laugh. "Suit yourself."

Vincent snorted and slammed the door on his way out.

Once things were quiet, I went back to work.

When I finished, I glanced at my phone. Yannie had posted to her feed again.

The picture was a property deed.

The caption read: "Paid in full for a fifteen-hundred-square-foot riverfront flat. Thank you, Vince, for the gift! No matter when, we'll always be the most important person to each other."

I called the head of Admin at once. "Did Yannie ask you for time off this afternoon?"

"No, she didn't."

"Left her post and skipped half a day of work. Tell her not to bother coming in tomorrow."

To keep Vincent from storming into the office tomorrow, I just called him.

"I fired Yannie. Don't bother coming to find me, I'm heading out."

I hung up and went to have dinner with a girlfriend.

When I got home that evening, Vincent and his parents were sitting in my living room.

The moment Mrs. Henson saw me, she rushed over, all warmth.

"Oh, there's my daughter-in-law. You're finally home."

"Mrs. Henson, Vincent and I aren't even close to settled. I really can't answer to daughter-in-law."

Her smile froze, and she immediately turned and shot Vincent a look.

Only then did Vincent get up, unhurried, and walk toward me.

"Ramona, you fired Yannie and I didn't say a word about it. So why did you block my number?"

"My mom called and you wouldn't pick up either. What's with the spoiled-princess act?"

"I'm the company's general manager. I fired an employee for skipping work. What standing do you have to lecture me?"

"I blocked you because you don't act the least bit like anyone's fianc. You spent over ten million on a house for Yannie. What exactly did that make me, Ramona Sanchez?"

"I think I need to reconsider our relationship."

My parents' faces darkened the moment they heard it.

"Kevin, look at the fine work your son's done!"

Kevin Henson shot Vincent a glare.

"The truth is, we were the ones who wanted to give Yannie that house. Years ago her father took a knife for me. I owe him a life."

"It's just one house. Call it repaying his family for saving my life."

I sat down beside my parents. "You're very generous, Kevin. But from what I hear, all of Henson's capital is tied up. Buying that house probably cleaned out everything you had."

Kevin looked embarrassed and shot Vincent another glare.

"Once this debt is settled, my family won't owe her anything anymore."

"Vince, from now on you keep your distance from Yannie. I won't have you upsetting Ramona."

"Ramona, your uncle Kevin has booked a private room at the Grand Regency for tomorrow. Let's all have a meal together as one family, and let it stand as Vince formally making his apology to you."

"Brad Sanchez, Moira Sanchez, you simply must do us the honor!"

My father was not pleased. "My family isn't short of a meal."

"When I get back today I'll draw up an agreement. Once Ramona marries in, I'll transfer thirty percent of Henson's shares to her."

"Brad, that shows some sincerity now, doesn't it?"

"Henson is barely staying afloat. Those shares of yours are no different from scrap paper."

"Brad, wasn't it agreed that once the children marry, Sanchez Group would enter a long-term strategic partnership with Henson? By then Henson's market value would triple at the very least."

"With Henson shares in hand, Ramona can't lose. It's a win for both of us!"

Only then did my parents' faces soften considerably.

The next day, my parents and I arrived at the Grand Regency.

The Hensons were already there, but there was no sign of Vincent.

My mother asked, "Where's Vince?"

Mrs. Henson said with a chuckle, "We left in such a rush today that he forgot the gift for you. He went back to get it."

"Let's not wait on him. Sit, sit."

I had just pulled out my chair when Vincent came back.

Yannie was trailing behind him.

When they saw Yannie walk in, everyone froze.

"Yannie happened to be nearby, so I brought her along for a casual bite."

There'd been an empty seat left between me and Mrs. Henson, saved for Vincent.

Instead, Vincent pulled that chair out and told Yannie, "Sit."

Yannie didn't stand on ceremony. She sat right down.

"Mom, shift over one seat."

Mrs. Henson looked mortified. She moved over two seats and waved me toward her.

"Come, Ramona, sit by me."

That way Vincent would be right between me and Yannie.

I didn't move.

My mother's face was cold. "Mrs. Henson, this is supposed to be our own family dinner. Why has Vince brought an outsider along? If we'd known she was coming, we wouldn't have bothered."

"Vince, maybe I shouldn't have come. I should go."

Yannie had barely lifted herself off the seat when Vincent pressed her back down.

"It's just a meal. No need to make such a fuss."

"Ramona, Yannie only came to eat. She's not getting in anyone's way. Surely you're not so small-minded you can't handle even that?"

My father was so angry he turned to leave, but I caught his arm.

"Dad, we're already here. We might as well eat."

He drew a deep breath and nodded.

My parents had meant to sit together, but seeing Yannie planted there, they moved to the other side.

I followed and took the seat beside my mother.

Across that huge table, we sat facing them.

Two clearly separate families.

Kevin prompted Vincent, "Hurry up and give your future in-laws the gift you prepared."

Vincent blinked. "I forgot all about it when I went to pick up Yannie."

"How can you be so scatterbrained!"

"Mr. Sanchez, I'm so sorry. We'll make it up double next time."

My parents' faces darkened even further.

I smiled. "Kevin, Mrs. Henson, since Vincent's brought someone along to crash the meal, you won't mind if I invite someone too, will you?"

Kevin said at once, "Not at all. Go ahead, call your friend over!"

He and Mrs. Henson both quietly relaxed, as if my inviting a friend put us back on even ground.

I called Dominic Gilbert.

"I'm having dinner at the Grand Regency. Can you come now?"

"Sure."

I hung up.

"My friend will be here soon."

The waiters had already started bringing out the food, and by the time Dominic arrived, the last dishes had just been set down.

The moment he walked in and saw the setup, he looked briefly thrown, and then the glance he gave me carried something deliberate.

I slipped my arm through Dominic's. "Everyone, let me introduce you. This is my good friend, Dominic."

Vincent shot to his feet. "Isn't he the one who used to be after you!"

"That's right."

"And you invited him to our family dinner!"

"You invited Yannie, didn't you?"

"That's completely different. Yannie and I grew up together!"

"So? Dominic and I were in the same class in preschool. Count it up and we've known each other longer than the two of you."

I pulled out the chair beside me. "Sit, Dominic."

Mrs. Henson tugged at Vincent.

"If he's Ramona's friend, then he's our friend too. The food's all out, so everyone, let's dig in."

Vincent kept his head down, busy piling food into Yannie's bowl. Her bowl was already heaped into a little mountain.

Mrs. Henson reminded him, "Serve some to Ramona too."

"No need, Mrs. Henson. She's sitting so far away, his arm won't reach that far."

"Besides, someone's already looking after me."

I glanced at Dominic beside me. He'd already peeled a shrimp and set it in my bowl.

Kevin stood and raised his glass. "Mr. Sanchez, a toast to you."

My father lifted a hand. "No rush."

"Beyond dinner, I came today hoping to settle an important agreement."

He took a document out of the briefcase he'd brought.

"This is the strategic partnership agreement I drew up between our two companies. I'd like to place it into my future son-in-law's hands myself."

At that, Vincent's eyes lit up in an instant.

He hurriedly wiped his hands clean of shrimp.

Then he stood with great ceremony, leaning forward and reaching out to take it.

My father rose too, holding the agreement in his hand.

And handed it to someone else.