Whitney kept her silence, while Frank, in his usual carefree manner, didn’t give a second thought to Klein’s offer of a ride.
“Not bad. Ivan’s meeting with Calvin this afternoon. I think we’ve got it in the bag,” Frank said, a grin spreading across his face.
Valerie gasped, her excitement palpable as she nearly choked on her words. “Wait, are we really about to land the contract?”
Popping the champagne before the deal was finalized would be the worst thing they could do in this line of work.
Whitney shot Valerie a warning look, her brows knitting together slightly. “Valerie, keep it down,” she whispered urgently.
Valerie quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, but the thrill of the moment was evident in her sparkling eyes.
If Ivan could secure the Harris Group contract, their team would finally outshine Hector’s crew at the firm.
However, when Ivan returned that afternoon, his demeanor was far from cheerful.
As he passed Whitney’s desk, he lightly tapped it, his expression serious. “Come to my office.”
Whitney followed him into his office, closing the door behind her.
“What’s up, Boss? Did the meeting not go well this afternoon?” she inquired, sensing the tension in the air.
Ivan sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “As I was heading out, I caught sight of Hector just sitting in their lounge.”
Whitney’s heart sank. “No way. Is Mr. Fischer trying to steal the deal?”
Ivan raised an eyebrow, a scoff escaping his lips. “He wouldn’t have the guts.”
Just yesterday, Ivan had been confident that the contract was as good as theirs, but today, Calvin had been stalling, even claiming it wasn’t his decision to make.
“Anyone can have this contract, but not Hector,” Ivan stated, his voice low and unwavering.
The rivalry between Hector and Ivan was well-known at the firm, with both men constantly vying for clients, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
Whitney pressed her lips together, wanting to reassure him. “Boss, you’ve got seniority over him, and you have way more experience. If Harris Group goes with PrimeBridge, you’d be their top choice. Just don’t worry about it.”
She didn’t say this because she thought Klein would hand them the contract on a silver platter. She simply trusted Ivan to handle the situation.
“Alright, I’ll check things out at Harris Group in a few days and see where we stand. Now, get back to work,” Ivan instructed, a hint of determination returning to his voice.
The afternoon flew by, and as Whitney glanced at the clock, she realized she was already ten minutes late for her planned visit with Sabrina.
She had promised her friend she would come today, and there was no way she would bail on her.
As she walked, she contemplated using this opportunity to finally come clean to the older members of the Harris family about her decision to break off the engagement.
The wedding was fast approaching, and if she delayed any longer, she would have no way to justify her choice to the Harris family.
Meanwhile, Carter sat in the Harris Manor, his expression icy and stern as he glanced at the front door every few minutes, his impatience palpable.
“Sir, are you waiting for someone?” one of the maids asked, her curiosity piqued.
Carter simply shook his head, leaving the staff puzzled and whispering amongst themselves.
“If he’s not waiting for anyone, then why does he keep staring at the door like he’s expecting someone to show up?” they wondered, exchanging glances of confusion.
Little did they know that ever since Carter had realized his fiancée had blocked him the previous day, his mood had plummeted to an all-time low.
It wasn’t until Whitney’s red car finally pulled up to Harris Manor that Carter sprang to his feet, a flicker of hope igniting within him.
Yet, as soon as he stood, he recognized how obvious he was being. He turned away, attempting to appear nonchalant as he sauntered inside, trying to mask his eagerness.
Whitney stepped out of her car, her eyes catching sight of Carter’s figure ahead.
She really didn’t want to walk in with him, so she deliberately slowed her pace, maintaining a comfortable distance.
Carter continued walking, nearing the door, but when he noticed Whitney hadn’t caught up yet, he spun around, frustration bubbling over. “Where is she?” he shouted, his voice echoing in the quiet space.
A passing maid replied, “Sir, are you waiting for Ms. Moore? She just went back to her car to grab something.”
Carter’s expression soured, as if he had just bitten into a sour lemon. “Who said I was waiting for her?” he snapped, irritation evident in his tone.
He stomped into the foyer, clearly annoyed, leaving the maid to sigh inwardly and shake her head as she walked away.
Whitney took her time getting out of the car, and as she had anticipated, by the time she approached the entrance, Carter was nowhere to be seen. A smirk crept onto her face.
Out of nowhere, a voice broke through her thoughts, “Whitney, were you waiting for me to get in together?”
Whitney groaned internally, thinking, *If I’d known, I would’ve just gone in first!*
Honestly, the person she was most anxious about running into at that moment wasn’t Carter; it was Klein.
She managed a weak smile, attempting to keep her composure. “Uncle Klein, you’re really humorous,” she said, her voice wavering slightly.
Klein merely smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Come on, let’s head in together. They’re probably getting impatient.”
The moment Whitney stepped through the door, Sabrina’s face lit up with a radiant smile that seemed to brighten the entire room. “Oh, you made it, Whit!” she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
Without hesitation, Sabrina enveloped Whitney in a warm embrace and guided her to a seat right beside her. Despite the gesture, Whitney couldn’t shake the sense of unease that settled over her like a thick fog.
Sabrina had always been kind, but today, her attentiveness felt almost overwhelming, as if she were trying to compensate for something.
From the upper floor, James caught the sound of Whitney’s voice drifting up from the living room and decided to investigate. He emerged from his study, his expression transforming into a welcoming grin.
“Whit, just wrapped up work, huh? You seem busy lately. You look slimmer,” he remarked, his smile genuine and warm, as though he had just seen an old friend.
Whitney shifted in her seat, feeling the weight of their concern pressing down on her. “Grandpa, work’s been a bit hectic, but I’m managing just fine,” she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
“That’s good to hear. You’re always so capable. By the way, how’s that burn on your neck? Has it healed up?” James inquired, his tone shifting to one of genuine concern.
Whitney was momentarily taken aback, her mind racing. *How did they know about the burn?* She instinctively touched her neck, brushing her fingers over the tender skin, and forced a smile. “It’s fine now. No pain at all,” she reassured him, hoping to deflect the conversation.
James’s gaze shifted sharply to Carter, who stood awkwardly to the side, a look of irritation etched across his face. “Carter, come over here. You need to apologize to Whitney,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Whitney arched an eyebrow, watching as Carter approached with a reluctant gait. She smiled gently, “It’s really not necessary. He wasn’t the one who hurt me.”
In truth, she didn’t crave an apology; it felt hollow, like a formality that no one truly meant.
“No, he should apologize. Carter can be careless sometimes, always lost in his work. It’s not that he doesn’t care about you, Whitney, so don’t hold it against him,” Sabrina interjected, her voice soothing yet firm, trying to ease the tension.
Carter sighed deeply, his head hanging low, eyes glued to the floor. “Sorry,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Say it louder,” James barked, his annoyance bubbling to the surface.
Carter mustered more volume, “Sorry, I really didn’t know you got burned.”
Whitney couldn’t help but smirk to herself, *As if it would make a difference if he did know. Would he ever prioritize me over his precious sister?*
Klein lounged back in his chair, legs crossed, casting a long, scrutinizing look at Carter. “Now it’s Emily’s turn,” he declared, a hint of mischief in his voice.
Carter frowned, a flicker of protectiveness crossing his features. “Uncle Klein, this really has nothing to do with Emily. She’s innocent. She didn’t know Tina would blow up like that out of nowhere.”
Klein narrowed his eyes, a predatory glint appearing. “Oh? Then why don’t you enlighten us, Emily? What were you looking for when you went after Whitney?”
Emily bit her lip, her complexion paling as if the very question had drained the color from her face. “Uncle Klein, I…”
“Enough of this. Carter, keep quiet,” James snapped, wielding his cane like a weapon, his patience wearing thin.
His piercing gaze then shifted to Emily. “Emily, apologize.”
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.