For eight years, I poured my soul into this prestigious firm, fueled by a secret, burning love for my boss, David Chen.
I pushed my own artistic dreams aside, endured endless hours, and navigated the cutthroat corporate world, all for a crumb of his attention, a fleeting nod of approval.
Then came Emily, the charming new junior architect who effortlessly captured the warmth and affection David had always withheld from me. In a brutal office confrontation, he publicly dismissed me, then I later discovered the devastating truth: a calendar notification on his phone, "Dinner with Emily's parents. Discuss ring."