Chapter28 69%) Π JakegaveTheaahelplesslook.Theyabsolutelydontwantherthere.Bringingheralongwilljustmakethemangry Madelynsmiledsoftlyandblinked,Itsokay.IlltrytospeakpositivelyaboutMissRowland.Evenifitdoesntchangetheirminds,atleasttheeffortwillshowthecompanythatshetried.Maybethatllhelpeasethingsabit. Jakenodded,turningtoTheawithanicytone.Madelynisgoingoutofherwayforyou,andyoucantevensaythankyou. WhyshouldI?Theacrossedherarms,hervoicecold.Youtwoaretoonoisy.Ifyouresogreat,goandgetthemtosignwithyou.Thenyoucancomebackandboastallyouwant,andIwontsayaword.Rightnow,youvegotnothingtoshowforit,sowhats theretobeproudof? JakesfacedarkenedashegrabbedMadelynshandandheadedupstairs.Itoldyou,withherattitude,whybother? Before leaving,MadelynturnedbacktoTheawithasmugsmile.Dontworry, MissRowland.Even ifyouendupleavingAvonVentures,Illwriteyou arecommendationletterto helpyoufindabetterjob. Intheprivateroom.Joycewasgrowing impatient.Shewasstunninglybeautifulbuthadastraightforwardanddecisivepersonality IfitwerentforherbrotherrepeatedlyremindingherthatNicolaswasinfluential,andevenifthedealfellthrough,theycouldntaffordtomake a scene,Joycewouldnthavetoleratedthisdinnermeeting. Shewasabouttomakeupanexcuse toleavewhenthedoorsuddenlyopened.Acoupleenteredthemanwasdecent-looking,andthewomanhadadelicateappearancewithwhatseemedlikeatimidpersonality. Forsomereason,Joycedidnttakealikingtothematfirstglance Madelynseyeslitup,andshequicklyextendedherhandinafawningmanner. YoumustbeMs.Maddox.ImMadelyn,theassistantfromAvonVentureswhosbeenincontactwithyou. Oh,itsyou,Joycesaid,suppressingherimpatienceandirritation, WhenMadelynfirstreachedouttoJoyce,shetearfullyexplainedthatshehadbeendatingherboyfriendforthreeyearswhenherfemalesuperiorswoopedinandnearlyruinedherlifeatthecompany. ShealsomentionedthatifthatfemalesuperiorsuccessfullyclosedadealwithJoycescompany,shewouldfaceevenmorebullyinginthefuture. Joyce wasntusuallyonetomeddleinothersaffairs.ButhearingMadelynsstory,shecouldnthelpbutthinkofhersoft- heartedmother. Backthen,hermotherhad almostbeendriventothebrinkbythemistressherfatherhadbroughthome.Joycedidntapproveofsuch behavior,sosheagreedtoMadelynsrequest,seeingitasa good deed. Joyceforcedapolitesmile.Nowthatyoursuperiorisntbotheringyouanymore,Laakeitthingsaregoingwellwithyourboyfriend,right? Areyoutwoplanningtogetmarried soon? Jakesbrowfurrowedinstantly,butMadelynflashedasweetsmileandlookedgratefullyatJoyce.Thankstoyourhelp,Ms.Maddox,everythingisgreatbetweenus. Joycenoddedhalfheartedly,alreadythinkingofleaving ButMadelynsteppedforwardandlinkedarmswithherasiftheywereoldfriends. Joyce,Iwasntsurewhatyoudliketocat,soIorderedeverythingonthemenu.Ihopetheressomethingtoyour taste. 69% Chapter28 Joycesexpressionshiftedslightlyshecouldntstandthis suddenfamiliarity.Thoughtemptedtopullherarmaway,shemanagedtokeephercomposure,buthertoneturnedcolder.Thatwontbenecessary.Ihavesomethingtoattendtoand needtoleavesoot Evenaftersuchaclearsignal ,Madelynstillclungon.Shelowerellhereyes,tearswellingup. Joyce,please.Ineedyourhelpjustoncemore.Mysuperiorstillwontletmego.Shesmakingmecomeheretoclosethisdeal ,andifIdont,shellfireme.Imreallyscared.Sheevenshudderedasshespoke. Joycefrowned.Isthatreallythecase? Madelyntooktheopportunitytoembellishthestory,recountingherencounterswithTheabothyesterdayandjustdownstairs.Naturally,shepaintedherselfasthehelplessvictim. Ijustdontknowwhattodo.JakeandItrulyloveeachother,butshekeepsmakingmylifemiserable.Isitjustbecausehelovesmeandnother?Madelynsaid,wipingawayfaketears. Joyceletoutacoldlaugh.AvonVentureshasquite areputationintheindustry.Keepinganemployeelikethatarounddoesntspeak wellfortheirculture. Despitehersympathy,Joycehad nointerestinpartneringwithAvonVentures.Madelynmightevokepity,butJoycecouldalreadytellhelackedthecompetenceto handlethisdeal DiscreetlymovingawayfromMadelynshold ,Joycestoodup.TllbringthisupwithNicolas.Ifhegetsridofthatemployee,wemightreconsiderworkingtogetherinthefuture. MadelynsfacestiffenedatJoycesrefusaltocommittoapartnership,butthementionoffiringTheaimmediatelybrightenedherupagain. Eagerly,shetookoutherphone.Joyce,thankyouforsupportingme.Sincewerefriendsnow,howaboutweexchange contactinfo?? Joyceforcedanotherstrainedsmile,herpatiencewaning.Herassistant rolledhereyes,silently questioninghowMadelyncouldbesooblivious ItwasclearJoycehadnointerestinfurtheringtheir relationship,butMadelyncontinuedplayingherinnocent,desperateact,makingithardforJoycetofindapolitewaytorefuse. WhenJoycedidntrespond,Madelynsfacefell,andshewhispered,asifonthevergeoftears,Joyce,doyoulookdownon measwell? Joycestemplethrobbedasherpatienceneareditsbreakingpoint. Thenacoldvoicecutthroughthetension,breakingtheawkwardsilence.Madelyn,youvereallymasteredtheartofplayingthevictimandguilttrippingpeople.Iveneverseenanyonesoshamelessthattheydforcesomeonetoexchange contactinformation. Madelynfroze,chokingonherwordswhenshesawTheaentertheroom.Instantly,sheretreatedbehindjoyce,lookingasthoughshewasscared. Ms.Rowland,Ididntcomehereonmyown.Mr.Hendrixbroughtmealong,shesaid.Herbehaviormadeitseemlike Theahadwrongedherin someterribleway. Joycefrownedslightly.So,youreThea ,right ? Theaconfidentlysteppedforward,extendingherhand .Yes,thatsme.Imthepersonwhosbeenincontactwithyouallalong,Ms.Maddox.Ivebeenhoping fora chance tospeakwithyouandclearupanymisunderstandings.Imanagedtoarrangethismeetingusingourbosssname? 273 SENDGIFT FII, DO25 Chapter28 + 1 ShethenbrieflyglancedatMadelynandcontinued,Ifyoupersonallydislikeme,thatsonething,andIcanrespectthat.Butifsomeonesbeenspreadingfalserumorsanddamagingourcompanysreputationinyoureyes,thatsa seriousissue.