Theaglancedatthemanwhohadspoken,surprised. Darwinintroducedhimandsaid,ThisisMarcusCompton,thechairmanofChilworthyEnterprise, Theabitherlip.Mr.Compton ,youremistaken .Iwasresponsiblefor managingthedata,butIdidntsellit.Theleakwasduetomypooroversight,notMr.Hendrixsfault. Nicolassexpressionsoftened.Helookedupatherandsaid ,Ibroughtyouheretotellyoutwothings.First,thedisciplinaryfileonyoufromheadquartersisconfidential.Asfortherumorsthateveryoneinthecompanyhasacopy,youshouldinvestigatethatyourself. Second,aftergivingitsomethought,Ivedecidedtosuspendyoutemporarily.Canyouacceptthat? Thea wastakenaback ,feelingalumpinherthroat.Itwasntbecauseshefeltwronged;itwasthatshehadntexpectedNicolastoremaincalmandnotmakethingsunbearableforheroutofanger. Thankyou,Mr.Hendrix,shesaidearnestly. NicolasthengesturedtowardMarcus.Thebuyersrighthere.Ifyouhave morequestions,youcanaskhimdirectly. Marcusseyeswidenedslightly.Whyaskme?Idontknowanything.Mypeoplehandledit.Ijustknowtheinformationwas soldtome,andwhywouldntItakeit? HeflashedamischievousgrinatNicolas.Itsraretoseeyoutakeahit .Icouldnt passupthechance. Regaininghercomposure,TheasatdownnexttoMarcusandgaveasmallsmile.Mr.Compton,maybeyoudontknowthedetails,butyoumustknowwhichofyourpeoplecontactedthepersonpretendingtobeme. Marcusraisedan eyebrow,hiseyesglintingwithamusement. ImnofoolWhyshouldItellyouanythingwhentheresno benefitforme? Theassmilefaded,andshesaidcalmlybutfirmly,Idontcare.Worstcase,Igotojail.Butbeforethat,IllmakesuretotellthemediathatyouhookedupwithmetogetsecretsfromAvonVentures.Aftergettingwhatyouwanted,you disappeared. Asfaraseveryoneelseisconcerned,Imalreadytheonewholeakedthedata.IfIsayyouwerethebuyer,whodoyouthinktheyllbelieve?Helpingmeclearmynamehelpsyouaswell.Exposingtherealculpritwouldproveyouwerentinvolved. Marcusstoodabruptly,laughinginfrustration.HepointedatNicolas.Ireallythoughtyouinvitedmeoutforadrink.Turnsoutyouand yoursubordinateweresettingmeup. Nicolasremainedcalm ,hislipscurlingintoaslightsmile.Shejustsavedyoufrommorerisk,didntshe? Marcusangrilythrewdownhisbusinesscardandstormedout,stillmutteringcursesunderhisbreath. Theawasinhighspirits,evenwavingMarcusoffwitha slygrin, Watchingher,Nicolascouldnthelpbutbeamused.YouprovokedMarcusinmyname.DoyouthinkIwontbeupset?heasked,raisinganeyebrow HoldingMarcussbusiness cardlikeaprizedpossession,Theashookherheadseriously.FromthemomentIwalkedinandsawthelookinyoureyes,Iknewyoubelievedme.Imnotsurewhymaybebecause youvaluemywork.ButIwontletyou down. Nicolassexpressionsoftened,andhesaidwithahalfsmile,Ifthatidiot Jakehadreallymarriedyou,Imighthaveactuallythoughtbetterofhim.Withthat,hegot upandleft. 1/8 Chapter14 EventhoughTheawassuspendedtemporarily,shereturnedtothecompanyoncetocollectherthingsfromtheoffice. Butwhenshearrived,shewasshockedtofindherbelongingsscatteredoutside,herformerofficecompletelychanged.Theoncesimpleandprofessionaldesignhadbeenreplacedwithagaudylookfancybutcheapineverycorner.ThenameplateonthedesknowreadMadelynTerell,DeputyManager. 42% O Justasshewastakingitallin,someonebumpedinto hershoulderhard.Youvegotsomenerveshowinguphere,thepersonspat,rollingtheireyes.Doyourealizeweveallbeenstuckworkingovertimebecauseofyou?Idontknowhowyocanbesothickskinned you BeforeTheacouldrespond,Madelynssoftvoicecamefrombehind.Dontbesoharshonher,she said,makingherwaythrough thecrowdlikeacelebrity. Theaisprobablyfeelingawfulrightnow.Imsuresheregretseverything.Letsnotmakeitharderforher,sheadded.Peopleimmediatelychimedin,tellingMadelynshewastookind. Feigningconsideration,Madelynadded,Tmthedeputymanagernow,and Imwillingtogiveyouachance,Thea.Youcanstayonasmyassistant.Iwontholdagrudge. Thealetoutacoldlaughasshebentdowntopickup herthings.Dontcelebratetoosoon,Madelyn.Justbecauseyouclawedyourwayintothispositionwithdirtytricksdoesntmeanitsyourstokeep. Markmywordswithinamonth,youllbeoutofthisoffice.MaybeIwontbedeputymanager,butitdefinitelywontyou. be Shepaused,hervoicecalmbutsharp.Oh,anditseemsyoudontknowyet,butheadquartersissuedanewruleyesterday.Therellbeperformanceevaluationseverytwoweeks,andthetopthreewillcompeteforthedeputymanagerposition. TheahadlearnedthisfromDarwinthedaybefore.Shedidntknowwhytherules hadchanged,butthelookofdiscomfortonMadelynsface madeTheafeelmuchbetter. ThecrowdthathadbeensuckinguptoMadelynnoweyedherwithanew,morecalculatinggaze.Madelynnarrowedhereyes,andtearsbegantowellupas ifshehadjustenduredsometerribleinjustice. Hearingthecommotion,Jakerushedoverandsubtlypositionedhimself infrontofMadelyn,shieldingher. Thatsenough,Thea ,hesaid , soundingexhaustedand defeatedTknowyoureupset,butdonttakeitoutonher.Weneedtotalkproperly. Theaignoredhimandturnedtoleave. Jakequicklysteppedinfrontofher,hisvoice risingwithfrustration DoyourealizehowmuchIvebeenrunningaroundtryingtocleanupyourmess?Ifyoukeepthisup,dontthinkIwontactuallysueyou TheasensedhowrecklessJakemightbecomeinhiscurrentstate,andwithaglanceatherwatch,shesaid ,Fine.Youvegot fiveminutes. Inthemeetingroom ,assoonasthedoorclosed,Jakewastednotime.Itriedtokeepeverythingunderwraps,foundout.ShewasreadytogototheRowlandfamilyandcancelthewedding.Ihadtotalk herdown. butmymom Andatthecompany,most peoplearepushingtoreportyoutothepolice .Ivebeenworkingovertimetryingtocalmthemdown.Afterallthat,thefirstthingyoudowhenyoucome backstirupmoretrouble,huh? Thealetoutacoldchuckle.Dontmake itsoundlikeyouvegoneoutofyourwayforme,Jake 2/3 20:15Thu,Oct24G. Chapter14 Helookedgenuinelysurprised.IsntthatexactlywhatIvebeendoing? Π canted Thenretorted,Ifyoureallywantedtohelpme,youdstartbyinvestigatingwhatactuallyhappened.ItoldyouIdidntdothis.Didyouevenbelieveme? Jakesexpressionshifted,disappointmentcloudinghiseyes. Buthedidntrespondwithanger.Instead ,hesatacrossfromThea,hisvoiceloweringashesaidwithaserioustone,Thea,Illprotectyou.IpromiseIlltakecareofthis.Iknowyoumadeamistake ,butsinceIvechosen you asmyfuturewife,Illtakeresponsibility Hepausedbeforecontinuing.Resigningisinyourbestinterest,IvealreadyspokentoUncleNicolas.AslongasyouresignandletMadelyntakethedeputymanagerrole.Iwontpresscharges.Thisway,youcanfocusonbecomingMrs.Hendrix.