Chapter 13 Jakelosthiscoolcompletelybytheend.Hekeptthrowingaccusationsat Thea,blamingherforbeingtoodifficultbecauseofherpastexperiences.Heactedasifeverythingwasherfault,asifpaintinghimselfasthevictimwouldclearhisconscience. Theastaredathim,hereyeswide ,feelinglikehehadjusttornopenanoldwound. Withoutthinking,sheslappedhimhard .Hereyesfilledwithtearsnotfrompainbutdeepdisappointment.Iveneverhated youasmuchasIdorightnow.Youveturnedourentiresevenyearsintoajoke. Shehadconfidedherdarkestsecrets,tohim,hernightmaresandvulnerabilities,andnowhewasweaponizingthemagainsther AsJakestoodthere,stunned ,Theaturnedandwalkedaway ,her lieartpounding.Shecomposedherselfquicklybeforesteppingbackintotheprivateroom,butshe couldfeelthetensionintheair. Everyonewas lookingatherwithstrange,judgmentalexpressions.Whatsgoingon?Didsomethinghappen?sheasked, confused. Onepersonsneered.Lookwhostryingtoactallhighandmightyasthenewdeputymanager.Youcalledusheretoshowoffand nowitsallcomecrashingdown. Isntthisthekindofthingpeoplegotojailfor?Man,Ineverthoughtsheddosomethinglikethis,anotherpersonsaid. Talkaboutloveturningintohate.Wereallscrewedbecauseofher,addedanotherone. Justthen,Madelynapproached,lookingconcernedasshegrabbedTheashand .MissRowland,maybeyoushouldconsiderturningyourselfin.Dontworry.Wellsupportyou.Illeventellthepoliceitwasntintentional Theajerkedherhandaway.Whatare youeventalkingabout?Letgo. Shehadntusedmuchforce,butMadelynletoutayelpandfelltothegrounddramatically,her eyesbrimmingwithfake tears. Inaninstant.Jakebargedintotheroom,pushingTheaasideasherushedtohelpMadelynup. Then heturnedonThea,hisvoicefullofrage.Youleakedcompanysecrets,causingtensofmillionsofdollarsinlosses.Thecompanyisalreadyinvestigating,andyouretheprimesuspect .Yourethe onewhomessedup .WhyareyoutakingitoutonMadelyn? Stillsniffling.Madelynwipedhertearsandsaidsoftly,Itsfine.AslongasMissRowlandcalmsdown,everythingwillbeokay. TheaignoredMadelynsridiculousact.Sheopenedthegroupchatfilesonherphone,herheartsinkingasshereadthetext Madelynwasnt lying.Therehadbeenaseriousdataleak,andTheawastheprimesuspect.Theleakedinformationhadcomefromhercomputer. Foramoment,Theafeltdizzy,tryingtomakesenseofit all.Howcouldthishavehappened?Itdidntaddup,shewondered. Shewantedtoprotest,todeclareherinnocence,butthewords wouldntcome.She glancedaroundtheroom,seeingonlyangryanddisgustedfacesstaringbackather.Herfacepaled. TurningtoJake,sheaskedquietly,AfteralltheyearsIvespentworking at thiscompany,doyoureallythinkIddosomethinglikethis? Jakeseyesflickeredwithhesitation forabriefmoment,butthegazehardened 1/3 20:15Thu,Oct24 Chapter13 Thea,doyouevenknowwhat theyaresaying?hesneered.Youdidnt takemoney;youmadeadeal.Theyagreedto dropoutoftheNorthworenInnovation Park bid,andguesswhoendedupwinningit?Yourfamilyscompany. SomethingclickedinTheasmind,and suddenly,everythingstartedto makesense. Jakesangerintensified.Youpissedmeoff,thenpanicked whenyourealizedyoudloseyoursafetynetandaffectyour business.Youleakedthosefilesjusttogetback atme.Itrustedyouwithourcorefilesforyears,andthisishowyourepayme. Holdingbackhertears.Theastoodthere,herfingersdiggingintoherpalmstostayfocused.Sheletoutabitterlaugh.Jake,dontforgetthatMadelynalsohadaccesstothosefiles. StandingbehindJake.Madelynbrieflyavertedhereyesbeforeresumingherteary,innocentact. Panicking,JakerushedtocomfortMadelyn,swearingheneverdoubtedher. ThenheturnedbacktoThea,hisexpressionfilled withdisgust.Evennow,youretryingtodragothersdownwithyou .Ididntwanttopresscharges,butitsclear youneedtospendsometimeinacelltounderstandwhatyouvedone.Hepulledouthisphone tocallthepolice. Theajustwatched,herheartaching.EvenknowingthatJakenolongerlovedher,sheneverthoughthewouldbetrayhersoeasilyaftereverythingtheydbeenthroughnotjustasloversbutalsoasbusinesspartners.Hislack oftrustwhenitmatteredmostwasdevastating HoldonJustthen,avoicecamefrombehindthem.Darwinenteredtheroomwith afewsecurityguardsandstoppedJakefrommakingthecall. Mr.NicolasHendrixisawareofwhatshappeningtodayandunderstandstheseriousnessofthesituation,Darwinsaidinameasuredtone.However,creatingapublicscandalwontbenefitanyone.Corporate willdecidewhetherornotthepoliceneedtobeinvolved. Clearlyfrustrated,Jakesnapped,Theaworksunderme.Ifshesmessedup,itsmydecisiontoturnherin.Does UncleNicolasreallyneedtogetinvolvedinthis? Darwingaveasmall,sharpsmile,hisvoicecasualbutcutting.DoyoubelieveyouhavetheauthoritytomakedecisionsonbehalfofMr.NicolasHendrix? Jakesfaceflushedwithangerand embarrassment.Reluctantly,heloweredhisphone , TurningtowardThea,whostood frozeninshock,Darwinextendedhishand.MissRowland,Mr.NicolasHendrixwouldliketospeakwithyou . Thea noddedandfollowedDarwinoutoftheroom. Behindher,theothersdidnteventrytohidetheirsatisfaction. Shesfinished.IdratherfacejailthanNicolass wrath,someonemuttered. Shesgonna wishsheweredead,anotheradded. IfIwereher,IdhaveletJakecallthecops.Theyrestillacouplearentthey?Jakeisjustmadrightnow.Shesnotthinkingclearly,awomansaid. Theaslipstrembledslightly.Shewasscared,butshedidntglancebackatJakeevenonce . NomatterwhatNicolasdidtoher,shedrather faceitheadon thaneverbegJakeforhelpagain . ||| 3/3 Chapter13 Inthedimlylit,privatebarroom,Nicolassatexpressionless.Hishandsomefacewasunreadableashecasuallyrolledasetof Î dicebetweenhisfingers,stoppingonlywhenhesawTheaenter Seatednexttohimwasa mansingingalongtothebackgroundmusic.Hisfacewasstrikinglyperfect,hisfeaturessharp,andhis eyes captivating. Theasnerveswereonedge,butshetriedtokeephercomposure.Mr.Hendrix,Ihadnothingtodowiththedataleak.Illdowhateverittakestoprovemyinnocence. ThemanbesideNicolaslaughed,hisvoicedrippingwithamusement.Noway,Nicolas.Yougotplayedbyawoman,huh?Youshouldknowhowvaluabletheinformationshe soldmewas!