“Enough of this nonsense! That’s enough. I don’t want to hear another word. Go on, I have another client arriving shortly,” Townsend said, dismissing Ivan with a weary wave of his hand.
As Whitney entered the office, she caught sight of Ivan emerging from Townsend’s office, his expression grave.
Ivan noticed her and beckoned, “Come to my office.”
Whitney immediately sensed the urgency in his tone and followed him, her heart pounding.
Frank and Valerie exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion.
For a fleeting moment, it felt as if the very air had been drained from the room.
“Boss,” Whitney spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. One glance at Ivan’s face told her that there was no way to salvage this situation.
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If I had just kept you out of this from the beginning, none of this would have happened. That bastard Hector stirred up all this trouble,” Ivan admitted, his voice tinged with fury.
Whitney chuckled softly, “I know, Boss. I was the one who insisted on getting involved, so this isn’t on you.”
“You really can be quite stubborn, can’t you? Is it truly worth jeopardizing your career for a cheating loser?” Ivan sighed, his tone a mix of exasperation and concern. “Does that really sit right with you?”
Ivan had done his research. Emily was on the verge of marrying Carter Harris, who just happened to be Whitney’s ex.
Love triangles rarely ended well. Someone always got hurt, and this time, it was Whitney.
Whitney chose not to correct him. She understood that her boss was misinterpreting the situation.
“I’m okay. So, what did Mr. Barton say? Am I going to be suspended for long?” Whitney inquired, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.
Ivan sighed deeply, “At least until the merger is finalized. Klein Harris hasn’t uttered a word. Why is George Harris creating such a fuss?”
“And Carter Harris couldn’t even face the situation himself. He had his father do the complaining. I mean, can you believe that?” Ivan grumbled, his frustration palpable.
Whitney froze, realization dawning on her. “So you’re telling me that George Harris from Harris Group is behind my suspension?”
“Yeah,” Ivan replied, frustration evident in his voice. “His assistant went directly to Hector. That bastard has always had his sights on us, just waiting for a chance to catch us off guard.”
“Just go home for now. Treat it as a vacation. I’ll take care of the rest,” Ivan instructed, his tone softening.
Whitney felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. “Thanks, Boss. I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess.”
“It’s fine. We all do foolish things when we’re young. Next time you’re searching for a boyfriend, keep your eyes wide open, alright? Oh, and my cousin just returned from abroad. Want me to introduce you?” Ivan teased, attempting to lighten the mood.
At the mention of being set up, Whitney hurriedly declined. “No thanks, Boss. That’s really not on my mind right now.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Just go travel, unwind a bit. Think of it as a break. At most, you’ll be out for a month. Once the merger’s wrapped up, I’ll find a way to get you back in,” Ivan reassured her, his tone encouraging.
Whitney smiled softly, feeling a flicker of hope. “Alright.”
Her gaze sharpened with determination. ‘I won’t even need a month. I’ll be back sooner than they expect,’ she resolved internally.
“Mr. Harris, I just received word from Hector over at PrimeBridge Law Firm. He mentioned that Ms. Moore has been suspended,” the assistant conveyed, her tone a mixture of formality and concern.
George’s pen stilled mid-signature, a frown forming as he processed the news. “Alright,” he replied, his voice steady yet devoid of any emotional inflection.
It wasn’t that he harbored any ill will towards a junior associate; it was simply a practical decision. With Whitney’s suspension, he hoped she would cease her frequent appearances around his son. The less she was around, the better.
With her absence from the office, the chances of an unexpected encounter with Carter would diminish significantly. He had no desire to see Whitney again, at least not until after Carter’s wedding.
Whitney, now without any pressing cases except for the merger deal with Harris Group, wrapped up her tasks. After transferring her files to Frank, she made her way home, her mind swirling with thoughts of what lay ahead.
Klein was away on a business trip, and she knew he wouldn’t return for another week. Familiar with the villa’s access code, she reached out to the butler, Martin, and headed over to the property.
As she entered, she was struck by how cold and impersonal the place felt. With a few soft furnishings and personal touches, she set about transforming the atmosphere.
After a couple of hours of tidying up, the villa began to take on a warmer, more inviting essence-one that felt like a home rather than just a house.
Martin, the ever-observant butler, watched her with a knowing smile. He had seen the way Klein looked at her, and he couldn’t help but think that one day, she would indeed be Mrs. Harris.
She was the first woman Klein had ever brought home, and Martin had often wondered if his employer would ever find companionship. If Mrs. Harris were still alive, she would have surely felt a deep sense of relief witnessing this blossoming relationship.
Once Whitney departed, Martin snapped a photo of the newly adorned villa and sent it to Klein.
“Mr. Harris, Ms. Moore just stopped by and added a few things to the villa,” he texted, feeling a mix of duty and hope.
Klein, miles away in another time zone, didn’t see the message until three hours later. He had just woken up, preparing for his next flight, and was surprised to see the notification.
“Did she come by during the day?” Klein inquired, his brow furrowing.
‘How could she be available during the day? It’s not even the weekend,’ he mused to himself, a flicker of curiosity igniting within him.
“Yes, Ms. Moore visited earlier. She mentioned she would come by whenever she had the chance these days,” Martin replied, his tone respectful yet casual.
Klein responded with a calm demeanor, “Please inform me the next time she visits.”
As he hung up, a wave of longing washed over him. The distance felt heavier than usual, and he found himself missing her presence.
Calvin, his assistant, was taken aback when Klein called him late at night, the hour unusual for a business-related conversation.
“Mr. Harris, good evening,” Calvin greeted, trying to mask his surprise.
“Calvin, how is the merger deal progressing?” Klein asked, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of urgency.
“It’s going smoothly,” Calvin replied, initially puzzled. Yet, he quickly grasped what Klein was really asking.
“No need for concern, Mr. Harris. PrimeBridge Law Firm is on top of everything, and the collaboration has been seamless. Ms. Moore has been particularly wonderful to work with,” he added, eager to reassure his boss.
Klein rolled his eyes, feeling a mix of annoyance and relief. “That’s not exactly what I was inquiring about,” he said, his tone light but pointed.
“Oh, I apologize, Mr. Harris! I tend to ramble sometimes. I just wanted to keep you fully informed about the project. Next time, I’ll stick to the highlights,” Calvin said, slightly flustered.
“It’s perfectly fine. No need to change your style. Feel free to be as chatty as you wish,” Klein replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Calvin, well aware of Klein’s emotions, chose to remain silent. He could read his boss like an open book and understood the underlying feelings that were at play.
‘Look at Mr. Harris, acting all curious and cheerful,’ Calvin thought, chuckling to himself.
Unbeknownst to Calvin, a missed message had just allowed a perfect opportunity for him to claim credit to slip right through his fingers.
Meanwhile, the copyright infringement case between Jay and Starwave Entertainment was already filed, simply awaiting its turn in court.
Emily’s album, however, was floundering, and she found herself inundated with negative comments online. The thought of opening her comments section filled her with dread.
In her mind, she attributed all of her misfortunes to Whitney’s presence in her life.
Yet, the news of Whitney’s suspension from her law firm brought Emily a small sense of relief, a fleeting moment of satisfaction.
Her father’s assistant, Nolan Lewis, quietly informed her of the development.
“Thank you, Nolan,” Emily replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Listening to her soft tone, Nolan felt a pang of sympathy for her. “Don’t worry, Miss Emily. Mr. Harris has always been on your side. He truly cares about you,” he reassured her, trying to lift her spirits.
Emily offered a bitter smile, well aware of the complexities of their relationship. If he truly cared, he wouldn’t have advised her to distance herself from the entertainment industry.
She had strong feelings for Carter, but she didn’t want to be confined to the shadows. She yearned for recognition, for love from a broader audience.
But a single careless remark from her adoptive father was enough to quash all her dreams.
Sabrina, noticing Emily’s despondence, chimed in, “Emily, put that phone down. Let’s go try on some wedding dresses instead.”
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.