Chapter 46 46 Chapter 46 Desperate Plea Morris's POV The walls of my office felt like they were closing in on me. Every fiber of my being screamed to chase after Monica, to drop to my knees and beg for her forgiveness. But I couldn't simply storm into her new workplace-that would only make things worse. She worked for Louis now, and barging in there would be disrespectful and unprofessional. Still, the thought of waiting until evening was unbearable. I made my decision quickly. Grabbing my jacket, I informed Irina I wouldn't return today. The urge to confront that snake was overwhelming-I wanted to drag her out by her hair and throw her from the building-but that would have to wait. Right now, Monica was all that mattered. The drive to Louis's company was a blur. My plan was simple: ask Grady for help in arranging a private conversation with Monica, something that wouldn't embarrass her or disrupt her workday. My heart pounded as I approached the front desk "Good afternoon, Mr. Lorenzo," Louis's secretary greeted me with professional courtesy, though I caught the flicker of surprise in her eyes at my unannounced appearance. "How may I help you today?* Before she could finish, a familiar voice cut through the air. "I'll handle this, Athena. I'll take care of Mr. Lorenzo." Natalie's tone could have frozen hellfire. I turned to face Monica's best friend, whose eyes. narrowed with undisguised contempt. "Good afternoon, Miss Natalie, I said, forcing myself to remain composed despite the hostility radiating from her. "Follow me to my office," she replied coldly. "I'll see if Mr. Louis can meet with you. The moment we were out of the secretary's earshot, Natalie rounded on me, jabbing her finger. inches from my face. "Listen carefully, Morris," she hissed. "Don't you dare try to hurt my friend attempt to block Monica from working in this industry, my father's lawyer-the best in the country, as you know-will destroy you in court. again. My boss won't fire her no matter what you say, and if you dare try to hurti I inhaled deeply, trying to maintain my patience. "Natalie, hurting Monica is the last thing I want. I'm here to talk to her, but I thought it appropriate to speak with Grady first." Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Stay away from Monica. You've already crushed her. What more could you possibly want? I won't let you hurt her again." "I was an idiot," I admitted, the words painful but necessary. "We've discovered what actually happened. I was completely unfair to Monica, and I need her to forgive me and come back" C 46 Chapter 46 - Desperate Plea "Well, I'd love to hear what nonsense you did to Monica, Morris." I turned to find Grady standing behind me, his expression severe. Perfect timing. "I barely know Monica," he continued, "but her references are impeccable. I assume your conducted the same background checks when you hired her, so I'm struggling to understand what happened." He gestured toward his office. "Let's talk privately. Natalie, you too." In Grady's office, I felt like a defendant facing a hostile jury. Natalie glared at me with pure hatred, while Grady-my friend since childhood-regarded me with unmistakable disappointment. "Morris, I've known you forever," Grady began, leaning back in his chair. "You've never been. unfair to anyone. What happened?" "You don't know?" I asked, glancing at Natalic. Grady shook his head. "Monica is remarkably discreet. She only mentioned you accused her of leaking information, which she denies-and I believe her. As for Natalie," he added with a wry smile, "she's only told me you're a jerk, an idiot, and a fool. Which I also believe." I rubbed my face, gathering my thoughts before explaining everything-the mysterious. information leaks, the incriminating messages found on Monica's computer, and today's discovery that Irina had orchestrated the entire thing. "The plan was meticulously executed, I concluded. "It wasn't until today that I confirmed Monica's innocence." Natalie's bitter laugh cut through the room. "Oh, how gracious of you! The spoiled brat needed. proof of her innocence rather than trusting the woman he claimed to care about. You have no idea how deeply you wounded her, Morris. Stay away from her. "Easy, Natalie," Grady interjected. "Men are idiots sometimes. He turned to me, his expression hardening. "But she's right. You behaved abominably. Monica arrived here completely shattered, Morris. The light I saw in her eyes when we first met has vanished. She's devastated." "It's worse than you think, Natalie added venomously. "He threatened her career, told her she'd only find work in the gutter, that he'd ensure she never worked in this city again. He humiliated her. Grady stared at me, visibly shocked. "Morris, our friendship is the only reason I'm not punching you right now. What you did was inexcusably cruel. Honestly, I doubt she'll ever forgive you. "I have to try, Grady," I pleaded, not bothering to hide my desperation. "Please help me. I can't lose her, Something in my expression must have reached him. He sighed heavily, glancing at Natalle before addressing her. "You care about Monica, and so do I. But Morris is also my friend, and I believe he's sincere." He paused. "I think we should let them talk here. If he behaves poorly, I'll 30-21 46 Chapter 46 - Desperate Plea handle him personally, and you can comfort Monica. But let her decide if she wants to speak with him. Natalie exhaled sharply. "Fine. Better here than at home near Austin. She fixed me with a murderous stare. "But if you hurt her again, I swear I'll rip your balls off with my bare hands" "I'll ask Monica to come up, Grady said, unable to completely suppress his amusement at Natalie's threat. My heart raced as I prepared to face the woman I'd wronged so terribly. Comment" Leave the first comment for this In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. 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