Chapter29 WhenMadelynheardTheamentionthatshehadorganizedthedinnerusingNicolassname,abriefflickerofpanieflashedacrossher eyesbeforeshequicklymaskedit. TurningtoJake,whowasvisiblyupset,sheforcedabittersmileastearswelledupinhereyes. NowIsee.Ms.Rowlandsetituponpurpose.Jake ,Imnotfeelingwell.Canwegohome?shesaid,hervoicetrembling. Jake,hisfacehardwithanger,glaredatTheaJustbecauseyoulostoutonMs.MaddoxsdealdoesntgiveyoutherighttotakeitoutonMadelyn.Whathas she everdonetoyou? Madelynshookherheadastearsstreameddownhercheeks,lookinghelplessandpitiful. Growingtiredoftheescalatingdrama,Joycefrowned.Idont wanttogetcaughtupinyourcompanysinternalissues.1haveotherthingstohandle.Iftheresmoretodiscuss,wecanreschedule.Sheturnedtoleavewithherassistant Beforeshecouldgo,TheagentlygrabbedJoyceswrist.Ms.Maddox,Isincerelyapologizefortheinconvenience. Then,sheshiftedherfocustoJakeandMadelynwithasharp,challenginggaze.DoyouknowwhyIinvitedyoubothhere.whenIcouldhavejustmetMs.Maddoxonmyown? Furious,Jakesnapped,Obviously,youwantedtohumiliateus. Isthatwhatyouthink?Thearaisedaneyebrowandsmirked,hereyeslockingontoMadelyn,whowasturningpale.Andyou,MissTerell?Caretoguess?Theremightbeconsequencesifyougetitwrong. I…I…Madelynstammered,visiblyshaken,sweatformingonherforeheadasshestruggledtomeetTheasgaze. Noticingtheshiftintheatmosphere,Joycefrowned,sensingsomething wasamiss. TheassmirkvanishedasshestaredintentlyatMadelyn.ItsbecauseshespreadliestoMs.Maddox.ShetoldMs.MaddoxthatIwasinterferinginyourrelationshipandbullyingheratworkandruinedthisdeal Jakesshockquicklygavewaytodisbelief.Whatareyoutalkingabout?Madelynwouldneversaysomethinglikethat ! Ignoringhisoutburst,TheasteppedclosertoMarielyn. IdatedJakeforsevenyears.Youweretheonewhocamebetweenus.HegaveyouthepromotionsandbonusesIworkedhardfor,allto keepyouhappy,and Iputupwithit. Butnow,youvecrossedtheline.Whydidyouhavetogoandspreadmorelies?Didyouevenhesitatewhenyoumadeup thosestories? Madelyn,whohadinitiallybeenstunned,quicklyadoptedawoundedexpression.Ms.Rowland,Jakeand Idoloveeachother,Iknowyoureangrythathechoseme,butyoucantjusttrytoruinmeoutofjealousy,andIneversaidyouinterferedorbulliedme. Joycesfacedarkened.SherealizedthatwhileMadelynmightnothaveexplicitlysaidthosethings,shehadcertainlyimpliedthemandmanipulatedheremotionsto TheaasthevillainJoycenowunderstood shehadbeenplayed. Madelynsfaceturnedashen,andshelooked asthoughshemightfaintatanymoment. Madelyn!Jakecried ,rushingtohersideandgatheringherintohis arms. HeshotTheaalookofdisgust .Whathasshedonetodeserveasfromyou?Imbeyonddisappointedinyou. Withthat ,hehurriedpastthen,carryingMadelyninhis arms. Theawatchedthemgo, herexpressionindifferent. 1/3 69% 11:38Fri,Oct259. Chapter29 Afterherangersubsideel,Joyce feltawkward.Youreallydatedthatguyforsevenyears,huh? Theaadmittedfrankly,Yes,Iwasblindbackthen.ButnowIseeeverything ShethensmiledatJoyce.Ms.Maddox,nowthateverythingsin theopen,mayIhaveanotheropportunitytoproperlypresentourminingproject? Joycewasmomentarilytaken abackbyhersmileand paused.Shehadseenplentyofbeautifulwomeninherfield,butTheascharmwasdifferentsubtleyetcaptivating Noneedforthat.Illsign,Joycereplied,her tonedecisive. Afterdinner,JoyceinsistedonsendingTheback.Astheywaitedfortheircars,Joycebrokethesilencewithcuriosity.Yourexboyfriendandthathomewreckertreatedyoulikethat,andyoujusttookitwithoutpushingback,huh? Theasmirkedmischievously,hereyesgleamingwithaslyconfidence.WhosaidIdidntfightback?IalreadyreportedtoheadquartersabouthowMadelynalmostjeopardizedthiscrucialprojectbecauseofpersonalgrudges.ThereportwassentbeforeIevencamehere Joyceseyeslitupwithapproval.ShegrabbedTheashand.Keepmeupdatedonhowthatunfolds!Letse xchangecontact info.Ilikeyourstyle,andconsidermeafriendfromnowon. Bytheway,sinceitsstillearly,how aboutItakeyousomewherefun?Iknowaplacewithsomeseriouslyhotguyswhoknowexactlyhowtosweettalk.Theyarewaybetterthan thatidiotexofyours. JustasJoycefinishedhersentence,aloudcarhornblared,interruptingtheirmoment. Irritated.Joycelookedaround.Whichidiotishonkinglikethat? Theawithdrewherhandwithanawkwardsmile.Sorry,butmaybenexttime .Myride share driveristhere. Joyceshotheracuriouslook.YouexpectmetobelieveyourridesharedriverdrivesaMaybach,huh? Just then,thecarwindowrolleddown,revealingastrikinglyhandsomemanwithanaloofexpressioninthedriversseat . Theas heartskippedabeat-shehadntexpectedNicolastopick herup. Getin.Nicolassaidinhis usualcool,controlledtone. Inthebackseat,Theafidgetednervously.Unabletobearthesilenceanylonger, shefinallymusteredupthecouragetoask,Mr.Hendrix, maybeIshoulddriveinstead? Nicolasglanced atherintherearviewmirrorandchangedthesubject.Iheardyouusedmynametoarrangethe meetingwithMs.Maddox.WhydidntIhearaboutthisbeforehand? Hisvoicewas calm,butitstillmadeTheasheartrace.Sheloweredhergaze,tryingtoavoidhiseyes.Itallhappenedquickly.IfoundoutMs. Maddoxwasflyingouttomorrow, and couldntreachyouin time . Thiswasthetaskyou assignedme,andIdidntwanttoletyoudown.IknowIactedrashly .IfyouthinkIdeservetobepunished,Iunderstand. Therewas a touchofdejectioninhervoice.Amusedandexasperatedat thesametime,Nicolasshookhishead.Youdoneedtobepunished.You weretoorash. Shegotluckythistime,butifheropponentshadnt beenascluelessasJakeandMadelyn,thingscouldhavegonesouthquickly.Shecouldveruinedthedealandfacedseriousconsequences, ButNicolaskepthisdeeperconcerns tohimselfandsimplymadeaturn ,guidingthecarinadifferentdirection.