Her strict obedience was all Cornell demanded from her in exchange for treating her well.
In the elevator.
Audrey held her breath just to hold back her tears. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
She had thought two years would be enough for Cornell to realize how much she loved him and reciprocate her love.
Now, it turned out that was just a pipe dream.
She realized she would always play second fiddle to Cecilia, Cornell’s true love.
Reagan wiped her tears when the elevator halted. Save for her pale face, she looked normal when the doors opened.
She dragged herself to the break room, intending to make herself a cup of tea.
Several employees were chatting inside.
“Guys, have you heard? Cecilia Murray is back.”
“And who is that?”
“Oh, my! You don’t know her? Cecilia is the heiress of the Murray Group as well as a world-class designer. Most importantly, she’s the only girlfriend Mr. Clement has ever shown off in public. She’s his first love!”
“Why is her return such a big deal? Isn’t it rumored that there is something between Mr. Clement and Audrey?”
“”Audrey? She’s probably one of his many sex toys. Mr. Clement never admitted that he was dating her. And that is no surprise to me.
After all, look at her. She’s not even that beautiful. Yet, she behaves as if she’s already Mrs. Clement. What a fool!”
Standing at the door, Audrey smiled with self-mockery as she Listened to them. It turned out everyone else saw the truth except her.
The love was one-sided.
“Ha-ha, has Mrs. Clement finally woken up from her wild dream?”
A voice of mockery suddenly came from behind. Audrey turned around to see Tessa Lloyd, Cornell’s cousin, who had always despised her.
Tessa must have also heard the employees gossiping.
The last thing Audrey wanted to do now was argue with Tessa in the company. She turned to leave, but Tessa blocked her way.
With a cup of coffee in her hand, Tessa uttered sarcastically, “Cecilia is back now. Do you think Cornell will still give you any attention?”
Audrey said nothing to that.
Seconds later, Tessa continued the ridicule.
“I heard you are quite good in bed. How about I introduce you to a couple of men? They could really use your service.”
Audrey clenched her fists and said coldly, “Ms. Lloyd, we are in the company, not a brothel. If you are interested in that kind of business, you know where to go.”
“You…”
Audrey had just insinuated that she was a pimp. This made Tessa’s face change.
The next second, Tessa raised her hand and emptied the cup of hot coffee on Audrey.
Audrey didn’t think for a second that Tessa would do something so crazy. She held up her arms just to block the hot liquid from her face. In no time, the coffee burned her arm and her skin turned red.
“Ouch!” Audrey frowned in pain.
“What did you do that for? Are you out of your mind?”
It was lunch break and many employees were free to watch the drama.
Tessa was even more complacent when she saw growing onlookers.
She put on a mean-girl look as she said, “What makes you so smug every day, huh? Do you seriously think that others don’t know you are just a bastard without parents? The nerve of…”
A crisp sound was heard all of a sudden.
Tessa was silenced by a hot slap to her face.
Her jaw dropped to the floor. She had never expected that Audrey, who was so quiet and timid, would slap her.
Tessa held her cheek and stared blankly for a while. Then, she stuttered, “You… You hit me? How dare you!”
Audrey eyed her and replied, “Yes, I did! It seems you need to be taught simple politeness.”
Indeed, Audrey lost her parents when she was a child. But that didn’t mean she would allow someone to walk over her for it.
Wrinkles appeared on Tessa’s face as she frowned in anger. As Cornell’s cousin, she was used to being fawned over and respected.
This was the first time she had been treated like this.
“You bitch!”
Tessa charged at Audrey Like a raging bull, raising her hand up high to return the slap.
This time, Audrey was fully prepared for what was coming. She grabbed Tessa’s wrist so tightly that the latter couldn’t move another inch.
Tessa was shorter than Audrey. As a result, Tessa struggled like an octopus that had one of its tentacles stuck in a fishing trap.
Tessa cursed angrily, “How dare you put your filthy hands on me? Who the hell do you think you are? You are nothing but Cornell’s toy.
You are worse than a prostitute who fucks many men!”
These harsh words attracted more people to the break room.
“That’s enough!”
Out of the blue, a baritone came from behind. Cornell had left his office and ran into this hullabaloo.
The entire room fell silent.
“Cornell?” Tessa’s blood ran cold at the sight of Cornell. She had always been scared of him. Her mother also warned her against provoking him.
But when she remembered that Audrey slapped her, she put on a pitiful expression and sobbed.
“Cornell, look at my face. She slapped me.”
The sunlight from outside fell on Cornell’s handsome face.
Audrey felt so grieved all of a sudden, and lowered her head to Look at the back of her arm which was scalded by the coffee.
Their gaze met in the air. With a deep frown, Cornell looked at Audrey and said, “Audrey, have you forgotten the rules of the company?”
His ruthlessness made Audrey’s breathing cease. She couldn’t believe her ears.
No one dared to make a sound at this moment.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.