Chapter 77
Chapter 77
“This gown’s too high–end. I shouldn’t be wearing it,” Audrey said with forced composure.
Her movements, stiff and awkward, only gave away her nervousness.
Yann glanced toward the mirror behind her. There was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
Audrey instinctively shifted her position, trying to step out of the mirror’s range, and even looked back to check.
“Stride Commerce is still a newcomer in the field, and I’m just a new hire. It wouldn’t look good to draw attention. Besides, the company won’t reimburse this,” she said.
“I’ll cover whatever the company doesn’t,” Yann replied, his gaze moving from the mirror to her reflection and then settling directly on her.
He nodded approvingly. “These rhinestones look flashy, but they’re not worth much,” he said as he loosened the top button of his collar. “Paul’s looking to build connections. With your skills, you could help open the right doors.”
‘The back on this thing is way too low, though.‘ Audrey still wanted to turn him down, but the gown fit perfectly, and it was stunning. She couldn’t help but ask, “So your schedule changed? You’re not going to the gala tomorrow?”
If he wouldn’t be there, she figured she could just cover the tattoo with foundation. No big deal.
Yann didn’t answer directly. “We’ll see. Now go change and come eat.”
He left the room and shut the door behind him.
Audrey stayed in front of the mirror a little longer, then carefully took the gown off, and changed back into her loungewear.
At dinner, Yann was on the phone with Amelia again. “Yanny, I’m still uneasy,” Amelia said. “When it comes to your future with him, I want to meet him
face–to–face.”
Audrey paused mid–bite. ‘Future? Him? Yann is being spoken for? Right, he’s thirty, successful, and clearly the type people expect to settle down.‘
Yann met her eyes briefly and then said into the phone, “I’ve got it under control.”
“I know you say you don’t want kids,” Amelia continued, “but even then, things need to be made official. I read a book yesterday that says people in arrangements like yours should get regular checkups. I need to know about his health.”
“Mom,” Yann said flatly.
“Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Just send me his health report soon.”
He ended the call and turned toward Audrey, clearly intending to explain, but her phone rang.
“I’ll do the dishes,” she said, getting up to take the call.
It was Miguel.
Baldwin had discovered who’d tampered with the/shipment records, a trusted staffer named Derek Sloan. He’d sent in falsified reports, planning to substitute half the shipment with counterfeit supplements to make a profit.
“I’m honestly impressed. How did you catch it from just a few rows of data?”
“It wasn’t the data,” Audrey replied. “It was how they were calculated.”
She briefly explained her run–in with Mia on her first day at work.
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“There’s something else i wanted to ask,” he added.
“Go ahead.
“Ivan wants to live on campus once school starts. I figured I’d ask how you feel about it.”
Audrey hesitated. “Net a lot of middle schoolers board, right?”
“True, but some do. Brooke would still be involved, but things are tense between them.”
wan’s willing to take responsibility for his studies, I think it’s fine.”
“He said you’d back him. Alright then, I’ll talk to the school and get it sorted.”
After the call ended, Audrey headed to the kitchen to do the dishes, but the place was already spotless.
She noticed the light spilling out from Yann’s office. He’d left the door slightly ajar. Not wanting to interrupt, she quietly made her way upstairs.
“Edana, how much can I expense for the gala outfit?” she asked the next day while delivering a file.
“Gown plus makeup and hair? Fifteen hundred, max. Just bring me the receipt and I’ll get it processed.”
“Got it.” Audrey nodded.
Back at her desk, she was just settling in when Tiffany Kerr strolled past, knocking on her desk with her knuckles and giving her a pointed look.
Audrey followed her to the hallway.
“Ms. Dobbin asked me to pass along a message,” Tiffany said curtly. “She wants you to meet her in the parking lot. I’ve said what I had to say. Go or don’t.” Then she turned and walked off.
“Well that came with extra attitude.‘ Tiffany had always been cold, but ever since she got back from her time off, her hostility had grown more obvious.
“Hey,” Audrey called.
Tiffany paused, surprised.
But she quickly seemed to remember who she was talking to, and without a word, kept walking.
Audrey didn’t bother repeating herself. She certainly wasn’t heading to the parking lot.
She returned to her desk and resumed her work.
When Tiffany came by with another file and saw Audrey still there, her brows drew together in a faint frown.
Half an hour passed, and then an hour. Audrey/hadn’t budged. Tiffany couldn’t sit still.
Eventually, she marched over. “Why didn’t you go to the parking lot?”
Audrey didn’t even look up. Her fingers flew across the keyboard. “Didn’t you say I could go or not go? I chose not to.”
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who had been waiting in the parking fit for over an hour, slammed her hand against the steering wise in rage
That little xestart really thinks she’s got leverage now? She’s lucky I even asked nicely!
She stepped out, stammed the door behind her, and stormed into the building.
Dobbin the receptionist greeted with a smile. “Are you here to see someone? Do you have an appointment?”
Gibson said I could come back any time,” Mia snapped.
That was true Paul had said that
The receptionist couldn’t stop her. She watched as Mia strode through the lobby and then quickly dialed Edana. Edana was already waiting at the
secretary swing
“Ms. Dobbin,” she said politely, escorting Mia toward the manager’s office.
As Mia passed Audrey, she let out a loud, deliberate huff through her nose.
Audrey heard it, and then another one, just a few feet away, from Tiffany.
“Tiffany Audrey said calmly, “have I done something to offend you?”
Tiffany stood, her smile full of mockery. “What could you possibly have done? You’re Audrey, the one who parachuted straight into this department. I’m just trying not to get in your way”
She grabbed her mug and walked off to the break room.
Audrey stared after her, thinking, ‘We haven’t even interacted that much. No arguments, no competition. We don’t even handle the same assignments.”
There was only one moment she could think of that might explain this sudden hostility–the day she joined.
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