White ceramic. Diamond markers. A tiny silver crescent above the six.
Only ten existed worldwide.
A month earlier, I had asked Shiaoza to buy that exact limited-edition watch for his mother’s birthday. I had been stuck in Boston closing a deal, and he promised to handle it.
Now it circled Jang Chin Tong’s wrist.
The elevator suddenly seemed irrelevant.
She caught me looking and raised her hand.
“You like it?”
“Where did you get it?”
Her smile softened almost affectionately.
“President Shiao gave it to me.”
Ten years of marriage shifted inside my head.
Late dinners. Weekend conferences. Urgent balcony calls. His phone always face down. His constant reassurance: “Don’t overthink it.”
Jang misunderstood my silence.
“Oh. I understand. You’re after him.”
I stared at her.
“You call him by his name. You ignore rules. You act special. You think you can seduce President Shiao?”
Someone laughed quietly.
Jang raised her chin.
“I’ve been with President Shiao for a long time.”
Before I could respond, the conference-room doors opened.
Shiaoza emerged.
He was still handsome in the way that had once made everything else disappear—dark suit, silver tie, controlled expression.
Then he saw Jang.
His face softened.
“Tong Tong,” he said warmly. “What’s wrong? Who would dare mess with you?”
She pointed at me.
“Just a newbie. An intern.”
He followed her finger.
And froze.
For three long seconds, my husband said nothing.
Jang mistook his silence for anger.
“She ignored company rules, insulted me, and forced her way into the executive elevator. You should fire her immediately.”
I looked at Shiaoza.
Then at the watch.
“Go ahead,” I said quietly. “Tell everyone who I am.”
His face drained of color.
Finally, he forced out the words.
“She’s my wife.”
The hallway went silent.
Jang lowered her hand.
Someone whispered, “Oh my God.”
I should have felt triumphant.
Instead, I felt hollow, because Shiaoza’s first instinct was not to come to me.
He placed a hand on Jang’s shoulder.
“This is a misunderstanding.”
“Which part?” I asked.
“Not here.”
“Why not? She insulted employees here. She threatened people here. She told everyone you would destroy my career here.”
Jang whispered, “I didn’t know who she was.”
“That is exactly the problem.”
Then I pointed toward her wrist.
“And why is she wearing your mother’s birthday present?”
Jang looked at him.
He looked at the watch.
Fear crossed his face.
“It’s complicated.”
“No. It’s a watch.”
“He gave it to me,” Jang said.
Shiaoza closed his eyes for half a second.
That tiny reaction hurt more than any confession.
At ten o’clock, the board announcement was released.
