Chapter 175
Chapter 175
Paul gave Serena a sharp look, a silent warning laced with disapproval. But she brushed it off without a care.
In fact, she turned to Audrey with a radiant, almost theatrical smile. “Ms. Henderson, here’s to a smooth collaboration.”
She was quietly pleased with herself. As long as she secured a place in the company’s leadership, she’d make sure Audrey wouldn’t get away with acting so untouchable again.
Paul might be indulgent, but she had no intention of playing nice.
Sensing the tension, Paul quickly offered Audrey a reassuring smile. “Even if Serena invests, she won’t be involved in management. That’s not changing
Audrey gave a faint, almost dismissive smile. “Well, then let me be the first to wish us a successful Series A.”
Serena was about to speak again, but before she could, Paul abruptly smacked the contract against her arm. “Office. Now!”
They walked in one after the other, and the door had barely clicked shut when Paul’s demeanor changed completely.
The casual charm vanished, replaced by cold, simmering anger.
“I told you! Stay out of her way. Was I not clear enough?”
He slammed the contract onto the desk, then lit a cigarette with an air of restrained fury.
Serena, stunned by the sudden turn, clutched her purse and said with thinly veiled frustration, veiled frustration, “You promised me. If Series A went through, you’d let me officially join the company.”
“I said you could join,” Paul replied, his voice flat. “I never said you could run it.”
He leaned in and blew a thick cloud of smoke toward her perfectly made–up face.
She instinctively flinched and took a step back.
He moved behind the desk with unhurried ease, dragged the chair out with one hand, and sat down, legs crossed, cigarette in hand, like he had all the time in the world and no intention of softening his stance.
“The partnership with Baldwin Biotechnology and the current negotiations are Audrey’s work. If our company secures this funding round, it’s because of her.
“Starting a fight with her means putting Stride Commerce’s future on the line,” he said, tapping the desk slowly with his cigarette hand, each tap colder than the last.
Serena bit her tongue and sat stiffly on the edge of the sofa.
Her face was dark, her eyes full of resentment.
As far as she was concerned, no matter how competent Audrey appeared, she was still just hired help.
Serena was convinced that she was the one who’d brought in the real investment, the one who’d pushed Stride Commerce toward its breakthrough.
If anyone deserved credit, it was her.
Paul continued smoking, not even glancing her way.
And Serena suddenly understood it wasn’t just business. His protectiveness toward Audrey ran deeper than that.
And it had grown in the years she’d been away.
1/3
Chapter 175
Now that she was back, she wouldn’t just win him over. She wanted the whole man, heart, position, loyalty, all of it.
“She gave Edana such a hard time,” Serena muttered, softening her tone with feigned remorse. “I was only trying to scare her, nothing more:
Paul flicked the ash off his cigarette, unaware of the brief, unmistakable glint of menace in her eyes.
“How’s Edana?” he asked.
Serena opened her mouth but hesitated.
After what Edana had suffered, drugged and violated by two men, she was shattered, body and soul.
But some truths were too brutal to speak aloud.
Because once Paul knew, knowing his temperament, he’d inevitably project it onto Audrey.
And once that happened, his heart would tilt even further toward that woman.
After a moment’s silence, Serena forced a calm reply. “We caught it early. She’s alright, really.”
Paul nodded, voice emotionless, not a trace of pity. If anything, a faint edge of unresolved anger lingered in his tone.
“Then stay with Edana more. Use the time to pull in some investors. If nothing urgent comes up, no need to show your face around the office.”
Serena dug her nails into her palm, fingertips blanching with pain. But she swallowed the fury and stood slowly.
Just as she turned to leave, she paused and looked back.
“Don’t forget your meeting with Ms. Jocelyn Clark tomorrow,” she said, calm but pointed. “Make sure nothing else gets in the way.”
Paul’s face tightened. Without looking at her, he gave a brief wave, impatient but enough to show he got the message.
Word was Jocelyn could bring in capital from Ashbourne, but he had no desire to get entangled with those people. If word reached his father, another lecture would be inevitable.
Still, this was a rare chance. He wanted the company to grow, to prove the old man wrong once and for all.
Serena stepped out of the office with an air of quiet triumph, as if the company already belonged to her. Anyone who crossed her would be out the door.
Tiffany leaned toward Audrey. “If she makes it into management, you know Edana will be back.”
Audrey smiled faintly. “If she makes it back, then I suppose she earned it.”
“Ms. Henderson, I need help with these terms,” a junior assistant approached, arms full of technical documents. Audrey gave Tiffany a reassuring look and turned to help.
Just before lunch, Paul called her into his office.
“If you ever hit a rough patch, the company’s here for you,” he said, pulling open a drawer and handing her a
She unfolded it, finding it was Kinsia House’s apartment.
With a smile, she returned it.
property deed.
“You’ve got it wrong. I’m not selling because I’m struggling. I just can’t stomach some people anymore.” She put deliberate weight on the word stomach.
Paul’s fingers curled into a fist on the desk, as if he’d just slapped himself. Shame and guilt washed over him.
Serena and Edana’s games had finally pushed Audrey too far. And now, she was making it clear he was part of the problem.
2/3
08.30 Mon, 9 Jun
Chapter 175
He
gave an
awkward cough. “That’s not what I meant…”
“Then I’ll be
going.” Without waiting
for
an
explanation,
and she turned
walked
out.
Paul watched
her
walk
away,
stubborn
as ever,
and
felt his
heart race.
