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.

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 payment and they'll

frowning. "Why are

explained, "Ms. Osborne kept finding issues with the format and the font... We had to keep revising. And after all that, she said it couldn't be signed. What do we do

and I completely understood her frustration. Someone would have to answer for it if the company faced losses.

was there, nibbling on a cupcake and

the documents?" I slid the paperwork across his desk. "Since you haven't signed off yet, finance hasn't made the payment and now the supplier is

after hours. Can't Mr. Patterson have a break? Does he always have to be

Lina has been trying to get this sorted for hours. It is

and the others take the fall. That was a responsibility

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

Spot

issue, and it was up to

act.

pushed the documents back to me. "This is

but I'm the

And everything's documented. Lina's communications with Ms. Osborne are all recorded. Maybe we should go through the company's internal investigation process and make

glanced at Kayla, who turned pale as a ghost. She probably only wanted to make my life

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

"How much are they raising

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

He sat up,

wouldn't lie about work