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.

down to me versus one of his 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

"Why are

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

it if the company faced losses. And a price

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

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

hours. It is on

wouldn't let Lina and the others take the

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

Spot

it was

act.

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

the head of

go through the company's internal investigation process and make it public to the board.

pale as a ghost.

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

"How much are they raising the

"Half a percent. It will likely

attention. He sat up, fixing

lie about work