How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Sylvie stepped out of Jarrod's office, and the other assistants from the secretary's team hurried over, one respectfully taking her bag. "Ms. Fielding, Mr. Silverstein is waiting for you in the dining room for lunch. He asked us to bring you over as soon as you're rested."

"This is the coffee Mr. Silverstein prepared for you, so you can enjoy it on the way."

Sylvie's gentle face wore only the faintest smile as she accepted the attention with practiced grace. She radiated calm confidence-a woman who belonged exactly where she stood, with everyone around her treating her as the boss's future wife.

Elodie couldn't help but be surprised. Jarrod's office was a fortress of confidential documents, strictly off-limits to almost everyone. Yet for Sylvie, it had become a private lounge, every detail arranged for her comfort. Elodie thought of how, in three years of living together, she'd never even been allowed into his study at home.

Love or indifference-was there ever really any need to keep questioning it?

"Ms. Thorne, could you please step aside?" Keith, Jarrod's assistant, sounded annoyed as he pointed out Elodie was blocking Sylvie's way.

Elodie pressed her lips together. Even though she'd long stopped caring, this blatant double standard still stung-a reminder of how invisible she'd been, how much she'd given for nothing.

She lowered her head and stepped away, turning to Keith. "If Jarrod has a free moment, could you remind him to approve my res-"

"Jarrod?"

notice Elodie for the first time

was cool, thoughtful. "Is she an

knew who she was, but maybe not that she worked for

she's Ms.

away, her tone flat. "That explains

didn't want to handle her reputation crisis. It

almost dismissive smile, Sylvie added, "Seems like The Silverstein Group is pretty relaxed-employees call the boss by his

even really

was already in the elevator, not giving the matter

proper office conduct? This isn't some mom-and-pop shop-stop using Mr. Silverstein's first name. Are you trying to give other staff the wrong idea

him as Mr. Silverstein. Unless you're actually trying to

She'd spent years being endlessly accommodating to Jarrod, so much so

all think she was just

anything between them. Why should she? That was the confidence of someone who was loved. Even if Elodie