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Triston halted and glanced down at the ring in surprise.
“What’s that?” he asked casually.
She looked at him, a bit sheepish, then answered, “It came for Mr. Kingsley. He asked me to throw it out.”
Triston raised an eyebrow, his expression matching her shock.
“Give it to me,” he said, holding out his hand. He took the box, looking it over and finding Dante, and Anya’s name engraved on the ring.
“Jennifer,” he said quietly, “keep this ring somewhere safe if you don’t want to get fired.”
She nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. “I was thinking the same thing. This looks pretty expensive.”
“It is.” Triston gave a slow nod, the dark circles under his eyes revealing the sleepless night he’d had. He shook his head, muttering under his breath as he glanced at Jennifer.
“This is exactly why secretaries shouldn’t date their boss,” he grumbled. “One mistake, and you’re out the door just like that. Never date your boss, alright?”
“Yes.” Jennifer nodded very seriously.
Inside the office, Dante was anything but calm.
He had told Jennifer to throw the ring away. He’d convinced himself he didn’t care anymore. But the moment he realized what he had said—his chest tightened. His jaw clenched.
In a blink, he pushed away from his desk, chair scraping sharply against the floor. He stormed out of the room.
That’s when he spotted Triston and Jennifer, standing just a few feet from his door.
He walked up to them immediately.
“Where’s the ring?” Dante demanded, walking straight up to them, eyes fixed on Jennifer. “Did you throw it away already?”
She stiffened, clutching her hands nervously. “Didn’t get the chance yet, sir.”
“Give it back.” His palm opened in front of her immediately.
Jennifer quickly placed the small velvet box in his hand.
The second his fingers closed around it, something in his eyes shifted—like the storm inside him had paused, if only for a breath.
Dante turned sharply and strode back into his office, slamming the door behind him.
Once the door shut behind him, Jennifer turned to Triston, her brows furrowed.
Jennifer turned to Triston with wide eyes. “Mr. Turner… are you saying that girl from that day—Anya, his previous secretary—she’s…”
Triston gave a sly shrug with a knowing smirk.
Jennifer frowned, lowering her voice. “Mr. Kingsley looked so... shaken just now. Do you think he’s still in love with her?”
Triston let out a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “Dante’s never been in love before Anya. Hell, he’s never even liked any other girl.” He snorted, shaking his head. “No wonderhe’s losing his damn mind. The poor guy doesn’t know how to handle his jealousy.”
***
Back in his office, Dante stared at the ring box in his hand.
He flipped it open slowly, the diamond glinting under the light. His thumb brushed the edge of it slowly
‘I don’t have any relationship with him. He’s just a friend.’