Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack shook his head quickly and stepped aside. \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Hartwell, Mr. Whitfield\u2019s in a meeting. Why don\u2019t you wait in his office? I\u2019ll make you\u00a0<\/p>\n
some tea.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he spoke, he tried to guide Vivian toward Logan\u2019s office and reached for the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian pulled her gaze back and headed for her own office instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I\u2019ll wait in my office.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her office was right next to Logan\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane had been coming and going with Logan these past few days. Vivian didn\u2019t want to imagine what they had been doing in his office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was filthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack stood off to the side, sweat beading at his hairline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian didn\u2019t look at him. She wrapped her fingers around her office door handle and pressed her thumb to unlock it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the lock rejected her fingerprint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She tried again, but it still wouldn\u2019t unlock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack kept his head down, barely daring to breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only then did Vivian realize what had happened. Someone had changed the access and removed her fingerprint entirely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The admin for that lock was Logan. No one could make that change without his approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s eyes turned cold. \u201cCall Logan over.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack hesitated. \u201cMs. Mercer is in the meeting with Mr. Whitfield. Ms. Hartwell, why don\u2019t you wait in Mr. Whitfield\u2019s office first?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, after Halcyon Group fired Sloane, Logan had immediately hired her at Whitfield Group and even gave her Vivian\u2019s vice president\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian let out a soft, mocking laugh and looked at Jack with open contempt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou covered for Logan so well, and this is the respect and treatment you got? He replaced you\u00a0<\/p>\n
BC.GAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
with a rookie fresh out of university?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
214\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack froze, then dropped his gaze, humiliation written all over his face. He should\u2019ve known Vivian couldn\u2019t possibly be unaware of everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Ms. Hartwell,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian didn\u2019t respond. She turned and walked straight toward the conference room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, Sloane had taken Jack\u2019s seat. She sat to Logan\u2019s right, taking notes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wore a fitted black suit. The skirt had been altered to be shorter than standard, paired with black stockings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan listened to the department heads\u2018 report, his expression cool and serious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sloane turned playful. Under the table, she deliberately brushed the tip of her shoe against Logan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s brow tightened. He shot her a warning glance, but there was indulgence in his eyes as\u00a0<\/p>\n
well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Vivian pushed the door open, Sloane jerked her foot back in a panic and slammed it into the table leg.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The conference table shifted slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone in the conference room knew exactly what kind of \u201caccident\u201d it was. They saw Sloane\u2019s flustered face and the sudden movement, and they understood right away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They waited for Vivian to explode.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, Vivian just smiled, flicked a glance at Sloane, and asked lightly, \u201cMs. Mercer, is your foot okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane\u2019s face turned bright red. She couldn\u2019t meet Vivian\u2019s eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026 I\u2019m fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian lifted a brow and said, calm as ever, \u201cI thought maybe you were in pain. I figured that\u2019s why you had it on Mr. Whitfield, hoping he\u2019d rub it for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane dropped her head, shame and humiliation washing over her features.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan frowned and spoke in a low voice, \u201cVivian-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian turned to him and cut him off with a cold laugh. \u201cWhat, you want to rub her foot?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s expression hardened. \u201cStop it. We\u2019re in a meeting. Go wait in the office.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
BC.GAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian looked away and walked toward an empty seat across from him, unhurried and composed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an original shareholder and the company\u2019s vice president, what meeting am I not allowed to attend? Or do you think that once we\u2019re married, Whitfield Group becomes yours alone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Everyone lowered their heads and flipped through papers as if their lives depended on it. No one dared look at either of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan sat rigidly, staring her down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian simply smiled back, unbothered, and continued in an even tone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here about the Halcyon Group issue. The project is already halfway through. Pulling investment now will hurt Halcyon Group and Whitfield Group alike. I don\u2019t want anyone letting personal feelings override the bigger picture and costing the company tens of millions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her gaze swept across the department heads. \u201cWe\u2019re all supposed to be working for the company\u2019s interests.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
No one said a word. Heads stayed down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan rolled his wedding band between his fingers and said flatly, \u201cMeeting adjourned.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment the words left his mouth, everyone stood and filed out like they were escaping a\u00a0<\/p>\n
fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In seconds, only Vivian, Logan, and Sloane remained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane rose quickly, all obedient sweetness. \u201cI\u2019ll go make Vivian some coffee.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian didn\u2019t look at her. Her eyes stayed sharp on Logan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d only been away for six months, and now, everyone in Whitfield Group seemed to take orders from Logan alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They probably thought that no matter how capable she was, she would still end up listening to Logan. That she would become like every other wealthy wife, orbiting her husband and calling it a life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan saw the displeasure on Vivian\u2019s face and stood. He walked over, braced one hand on the conference table in front of her, and loomed close enough to block out the light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVivian, pulling out of Halcyon Group was a management decision. You haven\u2019t been in the office for a while, so you don\u2019t understand the current market. No one\u2019s acting on personal\u00a0<\/p>\n
BC.GAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
View\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
emotions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
il 4\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian looked up at him, her eyes glacial. \u201cMr. Whitfield, Halcyon Group hasn\u2019t failed this partnership in any way. We both know why you\u2019re insisting on withdrawing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s gaze darkened. \u201cSo, you admit you\u2019ve been in contact with Stella all along. You targeted Sloane on purpose and got her fired.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vivian let out a cold, scornful laugh. \u201cYou\u2019re the one who keeps insisting you have nothing to do with her. If that\u2019s true, why would I go out of my way to get her fired? Or are you saying there\u2019s actually something between the two of you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Given Vivian\u2019s status, plenty of people would trip over themselves to curry favor with her. She didn\u2019t have to lift a finger. There would always be someone willing to make Sloane\u2019s life difficult.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan frowned, something unreadable passing through his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a few seconds, he spoke slowly. \u201cWhat could there be between us? I felt sorry for her. She walked into the workplace and got bullied right away. It reminded me of you back then. That\u2019s why I brought her into the company. If you\u2019re not happy she\u2019s here, I can have her leave anytime.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the doorway came the sharp crack of a cup shattering.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sloane had dropped it. Hot coffee splashed across her hand, and the skin flushed red instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she searched Logan\u2019s face pleadingly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Logan\u2019s gaze snapped to her immediately. Even his body angled toward the door as if he was about to go to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took one step, then forced himself to stop. The hesitation in his eyes betrayed what he was holding back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A man who\u2019d changed didn\u2019t need a confession. The proof was in the smallest reflexes. How confident did Logan have to be to think Vivian would believe any of his clumsy lies?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0 Jack shook his head quickly and stepped aside. \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cMs. Hartwell, Mr. Whitfield\u2019s in a meeting. Why don\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-i-cancel-the-engagement-and-level-way-up"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}