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.

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

the paperwork, frowning. "Why are there so many

We had to keep revising. And after all that, she said it couldn't be signed.

verge of tears, and I completely understood her frustration. Someone would have to answer for it if the

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

signed off yet, finance hasn't made the payment and now the supplier is talking about raising their prices. Let's figure out

up, visibly shaken. "It's after hours. Can't Mr. Patterson have a break? Does

been trying to get this sorted for hours. It is on you." I said my piece and wasn't interested in watching

Lina and the

didn't become

Spot

issue, and it was up to

act.

sneer, he pushed the documents back to me.

but I'm the head of

Maybe we should go through the company's internal investigation process and make

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

to a sudden shortage. They had given us

documents again. "How much are they raising

percent. It will likely increase our construction costs

attention. He sat

lie about work