Chapter 70
Jared’s simile appeared without warning. Just as he’d thought, Yone was returning today.
She took the money and answered with a laugh, “Give me an hour Tell Ms. Ember to walt.”
In the next hour, Pond Corporation’s secretarial department was tied with a tension they had never felt before. When the time came, Jared couldn’t help but Hager near the elevators.
Then, the doors opened, and Frederick stepped out, clutching a cardboard box.
“Where’s Yvy? Did she come?”
“Ms. Jamison never showed up. She sent this same–day delivery courier and said it was for Ms. Ember
Under the bewildered states of everyone i
e nearby, Frederick pulled out over a dozer thick books.
Titles like “The Secretary’s Handbook“, “100 Things Every Secretary Should Know“, and “How to Go Above and Beyond at Work “stood out. Among them were a few graphic novels, all featuring secretarles and their superiors.
Jared and the others stood in stunned silence. They all knew he’d pad a million dollars to bring Yvonne back. Yet instead of her. they’d gotten nothing but these outrageously overpriced books.
The longer Shirley thought about it, the more her jealousy simmered. If only that fortune had gone to her instead!
“Mr. Ford-
Jared cut her off “Finish reading the books.” Without another word, he turned and strode back to his office.
“Frederick, call Yvvy again
But Frederick delivered an unwelcome update–Yvonne was no longer taking their calls.
When Selena arrived at Ford Corporation, she immediately sensed that something was off. Shirley was sitting in the open, flipping through a graphic novel in the middle of the workday.
Selena pushed the door open and spotted Jared with his eyes shut, as if asleep. “You never take naps at work, Jared. What’s going on today?”
Jared didn’t respond. The office felt strangely still, almost hollow, Selena’s frown deepened as she glanced around.
“There used to be so many lovely plants around, and everything was always spotless. Why is it such a mess now? jared, didn’t you ask the secretary to clean up?”
Jared opened his eyes slowly. On his desk sat the potted plant he’d taken from the projects department. It had once been lush and thriving, but ever since he’d brought it to his office, it had begun to wither.
“Jared, you know the Fords never miss the Charity Cultural Festival, right? Any chance you could take me this year? I was going to ask Luther, but he said he already has a plus–one.”
Selena wanted to know who’d replaced her.
And then, all at once, Jared understood. He’d spent the whole day wondering why Yvonne hadn’t come back. Now he had his answer. The problem was Lather.
During their argument about the blind date, he’d criticized her poor judgment for picking Harold. She must have realized Harold wasn’t enough to get a rise out of him.
Now, fully aware of Luther’s improper intentions toward her, she was deliberately using him to needle Jared, playing hard to get.
Jared narrowed his eyes, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk Let me ask you something, Selena. If it were a man you
Chapter 70
loved, what could he do that would make you lose control?”
+25 BONUS
“Seeing him with someone else, obviously. Nothing’s more dangerous than a jealous woman,” she answered from a women’s perspective.
Jealousy? Was that it?
Jared’s eyes narrowed slightly. This was a tactic he hadn’t tried with Yvonne yet. After all, why should she be the only one playing games and using Lather to provoke him?
“Jared, should I come with you?” Selena asked.
“No, you’re not the right choice. I’ll take Shirley instead.”
A quiet sense of satisfaction came over Jared. His persistent denials about any involvement with Shirley had only fed Yvonne’s jealousy, making her expect him to grovel.
Now, he’d use Shirley to get under Yvonne’s skin. She wouldn’t be able to take it. Before long, she’d be desperate to crawl back to him!
Chapter 71
