When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 21

Chapter 21



Kayla stormed out, tears streaming down her face, leaving everyone in the office shocked and staring at me.

I grinned at the onlookers. "Looks like you're all just slackers without your big-shot backers, huh?"

I could tell they were astonished that I, the usual pushover, had finally stood my ground. I didn't mean to make things tough for Kayla, though.

I would've been happy to live and let live if she hadn't messed with me. However, she had other ideas.

When I returned to the Design Department, I could feel the shift in how people looked at me. For a big company, they sure had a knack for gossip. When checking my messages, I saw a flurry of chatter about the incident.

[Has Melanie been possessed or something? She's been looking skinny lately. I hope she's okay."

[Maybe she's just had enough? Who could put up with being cheated on for three years without snapping?]

[Kayla ran crying to Mr. Patterson's office. I bet $100 Melanie will get an earful!]

[I'll put down $20 that Melanie gets off scot-free.]

Everyone was betting, but most people figured Clyde would back his girl and go against me. It seemed their opinion of him was unanimous. Over the years, he'd seemed to have my back.

stick? Yet, I didn't get the anticipated dressing down. Things seemed oddly calm. Until, close to quitting time, Lina approached me in tears and with a stack of paperwork. "Melanie, the secretary said Mr. Patterson was too busy to see me, and these documents still haven't been signed. The supplier called, saying they haven't received payment and they'll

frowning. "Why are there so

kept finding issues with the format and the font... We had to keep revising. And after all that,

completely understood her frustration. Someone would have to answer for it if the company faced losses. And a price hike from the supplier,

office. Kayla was there, nibbling on

off yet, finance hasn't made the payment and now the supplier is talking about raising their prices. Let's figure out who's going to take the heat when the blame game

"It's after hours. Can't Mr. Patterson

you want. Lina has been trying to get this sorted for hours. It is on you." I said my piece and

of me, but I wouldn't let Lina and the others take the fall. That was a responsibility

He didn't become the heir to the Patterson family

Spot

it was up

act.

he pushed the documents back to me. "This is

but I'm the head of

all recorded. Maybe we should go through the company's internal investigation process and make it public to the board. How about

gave him a wide, cheerful smile, then glanced at Kayla, who turned pale as a ghost. She probably only wanted to make my life difficult,

wasn't our regular go-to. We only partnered with them due to a sudden shortage. They had given us a

documents again. "How much

percent. It will likely increase

sat up, fixing his gaze

about work matters,