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 said Mr. Patterson was too busy to see me, and these documents

frowning. "Why are

explained, "Ms. Osborne kept finding issues with the format and the font... We had to keep revising.

frustration. Someone would have to answer for it if the

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

signed off yet, finance hasn't made the payment and now

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

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

Lina and the others take

then glanced over the documents, his brow furrowing. He didn't become the heir to the

Spot

was up

act.

sneer, he pushed the documents back to me. "This is your department's problem. You

but I'm the

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

as a ghost. She probably only

They had given us a bargain, and

reviewed the documents again. "How much are

a percent. It will likely increase

got Clyde's attention. He sat up, fixing his

about work matters,