Theasmiledfaintlyandreplied,Mr.Hendrix,whatareyoutalkingabout?WhatdoyoumeanbyImhappy?Imjustdoingmy job. Shemade amistakethatdelayedmypartnership,and Imexpectedtojustswallowthat?Whatkindofreasoningisthat?Besides,theorderwithMs.Maddoxisalongtermdeal.Youcantpossiblybeunawareofhowmuchprofitthatbrings. Thefactthat Madelynruineditallforherselfishreasonsis atrihIvealreadyacknowledged.Honestly,Ivegivenherenoughleewaybynotdemandingcompensationfromheroralertingtheindustryaboutthissituation. Jakefumbledforwords,unable toretort.Hisirritationwasmounting,andhefinallyburstout,Whyshedidthatisyourfault!Youvebeenpushinghertoohard. Justlookathowyouvetargetedherallthistime.Canyouhonestlysayyoureblameless inthis? Theafeltasurgeofanger,hersmileturningicy.Ofcourse,Imatfault.MymistakewasallowinghertojoinAvonVentures.inthefirstplace.Ishouldhavefilteredheroutduringtheinterview, YourJakeexclaimed,clenchinghisfists.Suddenly,heseemedtohave anepiphany,andthelookinhiseyesshiftedtosomethingmoresinister. ThenJakesaidcoldly.Youvegot abadrelationshipwithyourfimily.Theymusthavewaystothreatenyou Soletmebeclear:ifyoudontgotoheadquartersandgetMadelynreinstated,IlltellmydadtocutoffallcooperationwiththeRowlandfamily. Youreforcingmeintothis. Theasgazeturneddangerous.Shesuddenlyrealizedhownaiveshehadbeeninthepast,howshehadblindlytrustedthisman,exposinghervulnerabilities. Grindingherteeth,Theawasntreadytogivein.Jake,doyouevenknowwhatyouresaying?Yourethreateningmeusingmyweaknessestoforce meintoafightwithyou? Jakespupilsflickeredslightly, and hisexpressionchangedabit.Buthestillinsisted,Itsjustaconcession,notlikeImaskingyoutogiveeverythingup.Thea,dontbesoselfish. Theaavertedhergaze,determinednottolookathimagain.Igetit.Withthat,sheturned and walkedaway. Jakefeltaninexplicablesenseofpanic.Hisphonevibrated,anditwasacallfromMadelyn. Allhiscomplicatedemotionsclearedawayinaninstant.WhenJakelookedupagain,hesawthatTheahadalready gottenintoacarandleft.Was itjusthis imagination,ordidthat carlookalotlikeNicolas? ButJakedismissedthatthoughtquicklyandfelthisangerflareupagain.AlimitededitionMaybach,andnotmanypeoplecouldaffordacarlikethat.Itwasclearlyamanscar. TheRowlandfamilydidnthaveagood relationshipwithThea Jakeclenchedhisfists,feelingabitguiltyaboutheroverthepastfewdays. JakethoughthedtrytoeaseMadelynsemotionsand thenmake amendswithThea,maybewooherabit.Butnowitseemedhe hadbeentoopresumptuous. ItturnedoutTheahadalreadybeeninvolvedwith anotherman.Nowondershehadbeensodistantwithhimlately.AflashofbitternesscrossedJakeseyes. 1/3 68% Jake glaredinthedirectionTheahadleft.HecoulddowithoutThea,butshehadnorighttobeinvolvedwithothermen.Ontheotherhand,Theastareiloutthewindow,lostinthought,herfurrowedbrowsfullofworry. Nicolascaughtaglimpseofherexpressionandpursedhislipsintoastraightline,ahintofdispleasurecrossinghishandsomeface.DidyouhaveaconflictwithJake? Thearepliedinstinctively.Itwasabitunpleasant,butjustaminorissueShedidntnoticethecoldnessaroundNicolasintensifying. Nicolasloweredhisgaze,concealingthechillinhiseyesashetwistedtheringonhisfingerabsentmindedly,histoneturningcold.Isitabout Madelyn? Theawasslightlysurprisedandglancedathim.Hestrulyomnipotent,andnothingescapeshiseyes,shethought.Seizingtheopportunity,Theaspokeupdirectly.Mr.Hendrix,canIwithdrawthecomplaintandgetMadelynreinstated?Darwin,whowasdrivinginfront,couldnthelpbutgaspatherwords, Nicolassmiledslightly,buthissmiledidntreachhiseyes.Hisdeep,calmgazeseemedtoradiatecoldness.Youreaskingforafavorfor Madelyn? Yeah.Theakeptherheaddown ,feelingnervousunderhisgaze. Theawasfuriouswithherself.Nicolasprobablythinks Imsuperweak.ButtheresnoneedtooffendtheRowlandfamilysinceIhaventyetfullyestablishedmyownstanding,shethought. Moreover,TheawassureJakehadmoresay intheRowlandfamilythanshedid. Infact,TheahadthoughtaboutaskingNicolasfor help.Butonsecondthought,thismarriagehadalreadybenefitedher.Andshehadgainedplentyofresourcesjustbybeingwithhim. Itseemedselfishtobotherhimwiththesesmall matters. Evenwithherheaddown,TheacouldfeelNicolasgazelingeringonherasifhewasntreallyangry. Butforsomereason ,Theafeltimmensepressure,likeaheavystonewassittingon herchest,makingithardforherto breathe. Grittingherteeth,Theacontinued,Iknowthisrequestisabitunreasonable,andacomplaintcantjustbewithdrawn like thaL Ifthereareanypenalties,justimposethem.Justdontletmegetfired.Icanacceptanything. Nicolaschuckledsoftly,butthecoldnessinthecarthickened.Justthen,thecarcameto astop.Hesaidcoldly,Getout Thealookedupin shock.Nicolashandsomefeatureswerestillasindifferentanddignifiedasever Nicolasusuallykepthisemotionshidden,butTheasensedhewasgenuinelyangry,Andthesharpnessinhiseyeshad intensified. Theafeltapangofanxietyandwantedtoexplainherselfinstinctively.Butatthatmoment,Darwinhadalreadyopenedthe door forher,gesturingforhertostepout. Ms.Rowland,Mr.HendrixJusafewmeetingsleft.Iftheresanything,pleasewaituntilhesdone,Darwinsaid. Theafelthelpless,butshewasstillveryirritated.Shedidntwanthim tobeangry.Thatwasthefirstthoughtthatpoppedintohermind. Sat,Oct26 Chapter45 Aftergettingoutofthecar,TheawatchedNicolas vehicle disappearintothedistancegraduallywhileshestoodthere,kicking at thestonesontheground. Theadecidedtowaituntilhecamebackandfindachancetoapologizeproperly.Thatrequesthad indeedbeenabit excessive. 68% Nicolasseemedtobelookingoutthewindowcasually,buthisgazelingeredontherearviewmirror.HecouldseethatThealookedsomewhatdowncast Nicolashesitated,hislipsmovingslightly,butintheend ,hechosetosaynothing, Darwincouldnthelpbutask,Mr.Hendrix,werentyousupposedtohavedinnerwithMs.Rowlandtonight? Nicolassmiledcoldlyandsaid,Rightnow,sheprobablyisntinthemoodtohavedinnerwithme.AndhermindisallonJake