Chapter 25
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Early the next morning, Audrey got a call from Stride Commerce. They
wanted her to come in for an interview.
She changed into something decent and took a cab over. The HR rep asked a few basic questions, and when they heard she could start anytime, they told her to show up for work the next day.
She walked out feeling like a bird set free–light and full of hope.
As she passed the reception lounge, a familiar voice caught her ear.
A man’s voice rang out. “You hurt your hand. Let me carry your briefcase.”
A woman replied, “No worries, just two fingers. You got a scaphoid fracture. The doctor said no lifting.”
The voices came from Clayton and Valerie. They were like two birds nursing broken wings together. Valerie had Clayton’s briefcase in hand and glanced toward the office area. Then she spotted Audrey.
She turned back to whisper something to Clayton, who then looked up in Audrey’s direction.
Audrey looked away and walked toward the elevator.
“Hey, Audrey.” Valerie caught up with Audrey, trying to explain, “I’m working at Clay’s law firm now. I just came with him to meet a client. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
Audrey gave a cold snort. “Right. An art major working at a law firm. Are you trying to say it has nothing to do with Clayton?”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” Valerie’s eyes turned red as she waved her hand nervously.
Audrey’s eyes dropped to her wrist. That braided chain bracelet she once gave Clayton was now on Valerie’s wrist. It looked a bit loose and swung
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around as she moved.
Valerie put on a smug smile as she feigned confusion. “What’s wrong with the bracelet? I think it looks cool. I just casually mentioned it in front of Clayton, and he just gave it to me. If you like it, I can ask him to get you
one too.”
“No, thanks.” Audrey turned to the elevator, her eyes fixed on the floor numbers. “Since you like garbage, you can keep it.”
Valerie lived in the apartment complex right across from Hightower Homes. On her first day at the law firm, she planned to ride with Clayton. She wanted their colleagues to see that they came together, and it would convince others that she was important to him.
However, Clayton’s wrist was swollen. They went to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a scaphoid fracture.
While he was getting checked out, he took off the bracelet. Valerie slipped it on without a word, Back at the office, Jade told her the bracelet’s history.
Clayton had worn it every single day for a year, and he never took it off.
Valerie just tried to provoke Audrey, hoping for a flash of anger, jealousy, or maybe even heartbreak on her face. However, all she got was cold indifference.
‘She really doesn’t care about the bracelet or Clayton anymore?‘ thought Valerie.
The elevator dinged at that time, and Audrey stepped in.
Valerie rushed forward and grabbed Audrey’s backpack. “Say whatever you want to me, but don’t think the worst of Clayton, okay?”
Her voice was loud now. A few employees near the elevator started looking
over.
Valerie was half in the elevator and half out. Seeing no one else was
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around, she leaned in closer and gave a twisted smile. “It doesn’t matter what happens, Audrey. Clayton’s always gonna take my side.”
Then she let out a little cry and fell backward, like someone had shoved
her.
Valerie was in heels, so the stumble looked real enough. Clayton rushed forward and caught her just in time.
“Don’t be mad at Audrey. It’s my fault. I lost my balance,” Valerie said with trembling lips. She covered her bandaged hand like it’d just been hurt again. She didn’t say it outright, but everything pointed to the same lie: Audrey had snapped her injured fingers.
Audrey didn’t bother responding. She just reached out and hit the close button.
The elevator doors were almost shut when someone jammed them open again.
Clayton yanked Audrey out and ordered, “Apologize to Vally. I saw it with my own eyes. Don’t even try to deny it.”
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“Clay, don’t yell at Audrey,” Valerie murmured, leaning into his chest with a pitiful look. “It’s fine. I’m not living on painting anymore. It doesn’t matter how well my fingers heal.
“Maybe Audrey came to Stride Commerce to talk to you about something serious. You should talk with her. I’ll wait for Mr. Gibson here.”
Clayton thought back to getting turned down by the business partner yesterday, Seeing Audrey here now, he couldn’t help but suspect if Audrey planned to sabotage his deal with Stride too.
Clayton said, his voice hard, “Audrey, whatever’s between us, we’ll talk about it in private. Now, you must apologize to Vally.”
“What if I don’t?” Audrey stared at him, her gaze defiant.
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“You’ve hurt her more than once. I’ll file charges for assault as her lawyer,”
he shot back without missing a beat.
Audrey nodded. “Go ahead and sue me.”
She turned to leave, and once again, Clayton grabbed her. ” I SAID APOLOGIZE. I’m giving you a way out. Don’t be stupid.”
“Forget it, Clayton,” Valerie said gently, just loud enough for the crowd to hear. “This is humiliating for Audrey. She won’t like it if you embarrass her in front of so many people.”
The more forgiving Valerie acted, the angrier Clayton felt. He thought to himself, ‘She’s hurt Vally over and over. She needs to be put in her place, and that starts with a public apology. If I let her go, she’ll just become more arrogant.‘
‘Audrey always acts like she moved on, like her life is so much better without me, huh? Fine. Let’s see how far she gets in Ironhaven without my protection.‘
Clayton repeated, “I won’t ask again. Apologize to Vally.”
By now, people started to gather to watch the drama. Not just from this floor, even those coming from the restrooms or break area stopped to watch.
Someone recognized Clayton and leaned in to whisper to Audrey, “He’s a top lawyer in Ironhaven. You hurt his girlfriend. If an apology can fix this, just say sorry. Otherwise, he could really get you locked up.”
Another man suggested, “Hey, new grad, huh? The first rule of the working world is learning to bend when you need to. Of all people to piss off, don’t pick a lawyer.”
Audrey touched her earlobe casually and let out a sudden laugh. “Well then, Mr. Patel. Since you’re claiming I injured your girlfriend, show me the proof. What exactly did I do? How did I hurt her?”
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Valerie darted a glance at Clayton. She was clear that she staged the whole fall herself. As long as Clayton hadn’t been near the elevator, he wouldn’t have seen what really happened.
But she didn’t know if there were cameras or something reflective in the lobby that might’ve caught the truth.
She was betting everything on Clayton’s guilt that he’d feel bad enough for her to cover for her, no matter what.
But she wasn’t sure if he still had doubts about divorcing Audrey, would he really stay on her side? Valerie’s heart was racing when she thought of that.
Clayton narrowed his eyes, his voice firm. “You hurt Vally’s hand. I saw it with my eyes.”
‘He didn’t deny I’m his girlfriend,‘ thought Valerie. She fought to keep from smiling. ‘As long as Audrey stays quiet, everyone at Stride Commerce would assume Clayton and I are a couple. From there, becoming Mrs. Patel is only a matter of time.
Clayton kept his gaze locked on Audrey. From what he’d seen lately, he believed that Audrey could’ve done it just to scare Vally. He thought if he didn’t give her a lesson, someone else would.
However, he didn’t see guilt or anger in Audrey’s eyes. All he saw was sarcasm and cold contempt.
Audrey said with a sneer, “So the great lawyer Mr. Patel believes whatever his girlfriend says. I wonder if the companies that pay you as a legal advisor have to tiptoe around her too inct in case they get stabbed in the
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