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.

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

took the paperwork, frowning. "Why are there

with the format and the font... We had to keep revising. And after all that, she said

it if the company faced losses. And a price hike

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

made the payment and now the supplier is talking about raising their prices. Let's figure out

"It's after hours. Can't Mr. Patterson have a break? Does he

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

me, but I wouldn't let Lina and the others take the

cold look, then glanced over the documents, his brow furrowing. He didn't become

Spot

and it was up

act.

had overestimated him. With a sneer, he pushed the documents back

the head of

communications with Ms. Osborne are all recorded. Maybe we should go through the company's

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

with them due to a sudden shortage. They had given us a bargain, and Patterson

reviewed the documents again. "How

answered without hesitation. "Half a percent. It will likely increase our construction costs by about one

Clyde's attention. He sat up, fixing

about work