Chapter 199
Paulieaned against the doorframe, his usual swagger tempereil by An uncharacteristic hesitance. One knee slightly bent, he flashed a gin that didn’t quite mach his eyes, “Anything not up to standard? Just say the word, and I’ll have it fired.”
Audrey tucked her phone away, letting him in. “It will do for now. I won’t be holed up here anyway!
Paul stepped inside as if crossing a threshold of no return, a self deprecating laugh escaping him. Turns out I was blind. So, who’s the big shot behind
Audrey’s hands clasped behind her back, fingertips brushing the ring on her fourth finger. She smiled brightly, “My husband.”
Paul’s eyes bulged. He masked his shock with a strained chuckle. “The guy who answered your phone that time?”
Audrey nodded.
“Maybe someday–Paul started just as Paige and Dorothy staggered in with a sofa, its back slamming against the doorframe
Paul jumped up to help, heaving it into place. “Where should we put it?” he asked, looking at Audrey
Audrey Scanned the room. “There.” The spot by the sliding door to the walkway was perfect for sunlit lounging.
With the office nearly set, Audrey turned to staffing. She wanted Tiffany, but splitting both rookies from Paul was unfair. She followed the original mentorship group setup. Paige would follow Audrey to the new office, while Tiffany would stay with Paul and mentor Dorothy.
“Once Dorothy is up to speed, I want Tiffany back, Audrey added
Paul wasn’t deadweight. His connections and projects had built Stride Commerce. With clear ownership, operations hummed along uninterrupted.
“Well…” He rubbed his nose, suddenly boyish “Audrey, now that you’re the majority shareholder… Maybe we should celebrate?”
“Sure.” Audrey reclined in her chair. “Name the place. My treat”
After work, the secretarial team headed out for a seafood feast. As they stepped out of the elevator, Paige quickly positioned herself beside Audrey.
Audrey glanced up and spotted Serena loitering near Paul’s car.
Paul’s expression darkened. “Why are you here?”
“Paul, I’ve put in years for you. I even connected you with Jocelyn! You can’t just dump me now.” Serena’s venomous glare shifted to Audrey.
Paul unlocked his car, motioning for Tiffany and Dorothy to get in, but they instinctively shielded Audrey instead.
Serena watched as they gathered around Audrey like a shield, keeping her at a distance as if she were something dirty. Her chest tightened. Edana got ousted without a single ally, yet Audrey had them rallying around her like bodyguards.
“Don’t get cocky, Audrey,” Serena spat. “You’re just a puppet propped up by your sugar daddy. Someone like you could never run Stride Commerce. A nobody from the sticks, thinking she had made it? Keep dreaming.”
Audrey nudged Paige and Dorothy aside, snorting, “Oh, the Ironhaven elite is lecturing me? Tell me, Serena, did that fancy hometown of yours fund your
Trust fund?
Serena’s face turned pale with anger. “At least I’m not some provincial gold–digger!”
“Then why are you here scraping for crumbs?” Audrey feigned realization. “Wait, you couldn’t cut it in Ashbourne, huh? So you came running to slum it in Ironhaven?
18
Chapter 199
Pathetic You can’t even outmiahouver a small town girl. Maybe quit while you’re young and find a rich fool to marry, Ti
forever, and you’ll be left with nothing!
Serena’s face turned livid. She thought, before today, Audrey at least pretended to respect me. How that she’s a shareholder, she has complete r dropped the act. What a hypocrite, cheap bitchl
“Pauli” Serena shrieked. “You’re just letting her humiliate me?”
He twirled his keys, smirking. “Sorry. Audrey signs my checks now.”
Serena choked on an, doubling over in a coughing lit that bordered on retching.
Audrey clicked her key fob. Tiffany and Iwo secretaries got into her car without a backward glance.
Tiffany rolled down the window and called out to Paul, “Mr. Gibson, we’re heading out first. Meet us at The Grand Table after you deal with her.”
The white Range Rover roared past, so close it nearly clipped Serena. She yelped, stumbling toward Paul, who hurriedly sidestepped, sending her crashing into the open car door instead.
“Paul! You’re doing this to me?” Serena clutched her painful arm, tears streaming.
“You picked the fight. Get in or call a cab, Paul said flatly before sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the engine.
One second of hesitation, and he would have left her. Serena scrambled into the passenger seat. “Paul, Audrey’s not some innocent girl. She’s probably got a harem of sugar daddies. Don’t fall for her act.”
Paul cranked the stereo to deafening levels and drummed the steering wheel. Not a word of her rant got through.
Serena lunged for the volume knob, but a single icy glare from Paul froze her mid–reach, She slumped back, seething.
Paul dumped her at her hotel without a word. The second her feet hit the ground, his tires screeched into the night
Watching his taillights vanish, Serena took out her phone. “Flora, give me Clayton’s number.”
These past few days had been the worst of Clayton’s life.
After selling the Starise House at a loss, neither his mother nor his older brother would answer
ar his calls anymore.
At the hospital to finalize his discharge, Clayton had been informed that someone would pick him up on the weekend to donate bone marrow at a hospital in Ashbourne.
He nearly lost his mind. After some digging, he found out Valerie had arranged everything. She had tricked him into signing the donation form by telling him it was just a Homeowners Association election form.
Clayton questioned Valerie, but she shrugged. “They’re offering 700 thousand dollars as a thank you fee. Back out now, and you penalty”
d you have to
to cover the
Something in Clayton snapped. He kicked open the master bedroom door.
Startled, Valerie shot up from the bed. “Are you insane? You’re broke, remember? We can’t afford to fix thatt
