Chapter 9 Wounded Pride
Both Madeleine and Vincent were stupefied, and they couldn’t help but shudder at the same time.
Madeleine widened her eyes in shock, her body totally stiff.
It was her first kiss!
Vincent’s lips were slightly cool, like refreshing mint candy.
However, instead of becoming clear–headed, she felt dizzier as if she were lacking oxygen.
Vincent’s body tensed, too.
It was also his first kiss.
He, a neat freak for years, had always been repulsed by getting anywhere near women. But now, he didn’t feel sick at all.
Madeleine was indeed shrewd!
”
As a gust of cold wind brushed against Madeleine’s face through the slightly open window, she snapped out of it and stood up, panicking.
She turned red as a beetroot.
!
“Mr. Romero, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
Vincent’s expression turned indifferent and icy again as if nothing had happened. “This is one of your pregnancy symptoms, too?”
“No… I stepped on the spilled coffee and lost my balance.”
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Chapter 9 Wounded Pride
She kept waving her hand and shaking her head, feeling utterly embarrassed. How she wished she could vanish into thin air right now.
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Vincent stood up slowly and suddenly confined her between him and the
bookshelf.
“Stop with the cheap tricks. I’ll never be interested in trashy women like you.”
His harsh words, combined with his gaze tinged with mockery, contempt, and disgust, deeply hurt Madeleine’s pride.
She straightened her back slightly, trying to cling to the last shred of her dignity.
“Mr. Romero, I’ve always been the pragmatic type. I don’t do dreaming. All I want is to work diligently. You’re the chosen one, whereas I’m merely a tool. I know my place and will never get any ideas about you.”
She sounded humble, but her tone was dripping with faint provocation.
Vincent keenly sensed it, and he glanced at her face sharply.
He easily saw through her.
None of her tricks would ever work.
He sat back on his chair, no longer sparing her a glance, his expression icy.
Seeing this, she walked out sensibly.
The smile on her face went rigid now that her pride had taken a hit.
She thought, “He’s so cruel. I really should step away from him as far as possible.”
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Chapter 9 Wounded Pride
***
11
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The HR Department reassessed the performance reviews, and Madeleine was promoted to an official designer of Marvel Jewelry.
Meanwhile, Kristin was demoted from director to manager.
The atmosphere in the Design Department inevitably became weird.
Madeleine could tell Kristin was secretly giving her a hard time.
Maybe Kristin was still holding a grudge over the performance review.
She didn’t mind because the new director would soon take office. All she needed to do was avoid making any mistakes.
On payday, the first thought that came into her mind was to pay Vincent back.
Jefferson was no longer in the ICU.
Besides, thanks to her promotion, her salary could now cover his medical
expenses.
She decided to pay Vincent 800 dollars back first.
Coming out of the elevator, she was about to step into the CEO’s Office when her mother called.
“Leine, I talked to Jeff’s doctor today. He said Jeff has developed drug resistance, and the meds he’s been taking no longer can help with his illness. His condition might get worse at any time. The doctor
recommended a kind of imported drug, which works well, but it’s also very expensive–it’s 16,000 dollars per packet. Transfer me the money so that Jeff can give it a go.”
Chapter 9 Wounded Pride
Madeleine’s heart sank.
16,000 dollars was simply impossible.
She didn’t have any savings at all–she sent most of her salary to her mother for Jefferson’s treatment and only kept enough for basic living expenses. How was she supposed to get 16,000 dollars?
Unless…
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She lowered her head, bit her lip, and turned away from the CEO’s Office.
Vincent was in the office.
He had just finished a transnational meeting.
Kolton texted him on WhatsApp, “Mr. Romero, Ms. Faulkner has just withdrawn 16,000 dollars from the card.”
Vincent sneered mockingly.
He didn’t give a damn whether Madeleine was a gold digger or not, as long as she knew her place and avoided delusions.
***
After getting off work, Madeleine went back to the apartment and joined Jaylene for grocery shopping.
They bumped into an “acquaintance” after picking some apples.
Madilyn recognized Jaylene at once because Jaylene had been working for the Romero family for years.
“Jaylene? What are you doing here with Madeleine? Did Vincent ask you to look after her?”
