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.

flings, guess who got the short end of the 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

"Why are there so many

keep revising. And after all that, she

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

documents and stormed into Clyde's office. Kayla was there, nibbling on a

his desk. "Since you haven't signed off yet, finance hasn't made the

Mr. Patterson have a

It is on you." I said my piece and wasn't interested in watching

this mess started because of me, but I wouldn't let Lina and the others take the

the documents, his brow furrowing. He didn't become the heir to the Patterson family by being a fool. I

Spot

it was up

act.

documents back to me. "This is your department's

I'm the

Maybe we should go through the company's internal investigation

gave him a wide, cheerful smile, then glanced at Kayla, who turned pale as a ghost. She probably

to a sudden shortage. They had given us a bargain, and Patterson Group's failure to pay on time

again. "How much

percent. It will likely increase

got Clyde's attention. He sat

lie about