Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 69

Clara didn't break her stride as she headed straight home. Naomi watched her go with a smug grin, convinced Clara would eventually find her way back to the Bradford family. It was just a question of how long she could keep up the pretense this time around.

The next morning, Clara was back at the Ferguson Corporation, reporting for duty. After a week on a business trip, she'd shed a few pounds. As she stepped out of the elevator, she crossed paths with Simon.

Simon gave her a look of disdain, pretended she wasn't there, and sped up his pace, thinking it might rattle her. But Clara didn't bat an eyelid, diving straight into a conversation with a colleague about the success of her latest assignment. An email had already confirmed her raise.

Jade couldn't help but roll her eyes upon hearing that Clara had secured a raise just for completing a community project. During the lunchtime meeting, she took a shot at Clara. "I hope everyone here knows they need to work harder. Unlike some folks with connections, we work ourselves to the bone and never see a raise."

Clara, seated at her desk, listened in. She threw a glance at Simon, who was at the table's head. Simon was the department head, while Jade was just a manager.

Clara smirked, her tone light. "Mr. Simon, sounds like Jade's talking about you. Is it really true our team works overtime without seeing a raise? If so, you're not doing a great job as director. I thought the company was fair about overtime pay. Or is someone pocketing the extras?"

jab at Clara, but Clara flipped it back towards Simon. Truth be told, Simon was the

ashen. "Mr. Simon, that's not

left him with little choice but to respond. Staying quiet would

carelessly." Jade's face fell further, and she shot

seeing her as someone who had used connections to get ahead. This

just as Clara was about to leave work, she got word of a compulsory department dinner. She wasn't keen but saw the mandatory notice in the group chat. In order

was already settled. Jade, true to form, couldn't resist a dig. "Some people think they're more

make her leave after a short while. She felt no need to fit in. Her paycheck was on point, and that was all she

with soundproof private rooms and even a karaoke setup. Simon was there too, a rare