Divorce Time

Chapter 54

“How about this coffee?” asked Coy.

Thorne glanced at the coffee cup on his desk with disdain. “Take it away and get me a glass of tap water, will you?”

Coy nodded. “Sure thing.”

At noon, Stewart went out for a business lunch, leaving Charlene to dine alone in the company cafeteria.

Though polite, her colleagues kept their distance. It didn’t seem to bother Charlene much.

After lunch, she plunged back into her work. As the clock ticked past five, she approached Patton, her project manager. “I think I’ve pretty much nailed it. Do you want to take a look?”

“What?” Patton was initially confused, but as he perused the documents Charlene handed over, his confusion turned into utter disbelief. “You… you’ve finished everything?”

It was a workload that Raleigh, the previous team leader, had scheduled over a fortnight to finish. And Charlene had deciphered and finished it all in less than a day?

“Yep,” Charlene confirmed.

Patton was speechless, especially when he realized Charlene had done an exceptional job and that her work also provided him with fresh perspectives he hadn’t considered for his tasks.

The news spread. Soon, other colleagues crowded around, equally stunned by Charlene’s feat.

his shock, Patton eyed Charlene incredulously. “Are you for real just

a moment, then replied, “I didn’t go after

undergraduate outperform a team of seasoned

asked, “Why didn’t you go for your master’s? Financial issues at

the case. With her skills, she shouldn’t have to

it’s just some personal reasons.” She smiled and added, “Maybe

few more work–related queries for her colleagues, Charlene

“Making a mark on

“Dinner on me?”

raised an eyebrow. “What else did you think I was waiting

left the office together.

to enter a restaurant, a kid darted past, causing Charlene to stumble back and almost fall, if not for Stewart’s quick reflexes, catching

releasing a sigh of relief and about to say thanks, Charlene spotted Thorne and Moran in the distance. They

too.

in his tracks. Moran raised

and gently pushed Stewart away. Unaware of Thorne and Moran,

shook her head. “No,

Let’s go then.”