Chapter 182
Chapter 182
Serena’s face, already blondless, timed stark white.
Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak, but no words came.
She had no way to deny it, no excuse to justify herself. All she could do was look to Paul, silently pleading, hoping he might show mercy for the sake of their history.
But Paul didn’t even glance at her. He kept eating, calin and indifferent, and gave Audrey subtle but unmistakable gesture of praise, a thumbs–up
Audrey spoke without pause. “MaterConstruct’s product wasn’t
un’t the issue. The problem was the pricing. You promised them future projects in exchange for culling corners and then took a generous kickback to make it worth their while
“That’s not true! It’s not like that!” Serena’s voice trembled, her eyes brimming with tears. She reached out, grabbing Paul’s shoulder. “I had my reasons Ican explain!”
Paulshited slightly, brushing off her touch without a word.
He looked at Audrey. “Go eat, it’s bad for the stomach if you wait too long.”
She nodded and turned to leave.
Just as the door closed behind her, sh
caught the strained, pleading tone of Serena’s voice. “You’re really going to cut me off like this?”
Audrey thought, They should’ve considered the consequences when they plotted against me. This is only the beginning”
Outside, the two interns had finished eating and found quiet corners for a nap. Tiffany took their lunch and joined Audrey on the bench in the corridor.
“Do you think I’m meddling too much?” Audrey asked casually as she unwrapped her meal.
Most people, when faced with tension at work, would’ve walked away.
But Audrey, despite being targeted by Edana and used by Paul, hadn’t quit. She had stayed and started clearing the rot,
Tiffany sipped her coffee, smiling.
“When we were students, our parents told us good schools offer better resources. When we started working, they said a good company expands your
perspective.”
She paused, glancing out the window at the skyline, steel and glass, rising into the clouds.
“Anyway, it’s about finding the right platform. Standing on the shoulders of giants to build your own future. If that’s what you’re doing, then no. You’re
not wro
Audrey smiled, quiet and thoughtful.
Tiffany looked like she had more to say, but the sound of a door opening cut her off.
Serena walked out quickly, wiping away
herstops rushed and unsteady,
Whatever Tiffany had been about to say, she held it back. She hadn’t known Audrey long, but there was a quiet admiration in her eyes and a natural
trust
With the company’s Series Around in full swing, every department was moving at full throttle, risk evaluations, investor talks, and accounting reviews.
Audrey didn’t finish her work until after eight
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apter 182
That’s it for today. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
At her word, the interns stood up, stretching with groans. “My hack is killing me
“Mine too. My neck’s stiff”
On her way home, Audrey’s phone rang It was Baldwin. “Ms. Henderson, that herbal packet you gave me worked great, but the effect don’t last longis there a more permanent fix?”
She changed lanes, glanced at the traffic, and then answered, “As long as you’re committed to long term cooperation, we’ll make it permanent
Baldwin immediately caught her meaning
He had met Jocelyn recently. She claimed she was planning to invest in Stride Commerce. If she helped secure the Series A, she expected a stake in management and wanted to take over future deals with Baldwin Biotechnology
He had asked without thinking, “What about Ms. Henderson?”
“Shel
has better offers,” Jocelyn had said.
Now, this call was clearly his way
way of fer
feeling things out. And Audrey’s reply told him everything. She had no plans to change course.
“Ms. Henderson, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”
“Glad to have your support.”
“Always”
The call ended. Audrey was certain now that Jocelyn was planning a move to force her out.
But just as certain, there had never b
been a grudge between them.
Just as Audrey pulled into Royal House, she spotted the porch light glowing from afar.
Without even bother straightening the car, she leapt out and ran straight to the door.
As expected, a pair of men’s leather shoes sat neatly by the entryway.
She kicked off her heels, half–dragging on her slippers, and rushed inside.
The house was quiet and empty.
She climbed the stairs quickly and checked the study, but still nothing.
A brief flash of confusion crossed her face. Then she turned and pushed open Yann’s bedroom door.
It was dark. Only a faint streetlamp’s glow spilled in through the gap in the curtains.
She wondered, ‘Where is he? Don’t tell me he’s in my room.
arms reached out from the darkness, one around her waist, the other across her shoulder, pulling
She was just about to leave when, without warning, arms
her into a firm, inescapable hold.
“Ah!” She cried out.
Her body reacted faster than her mind. She bent forward, grabbed at the wrist of her shoulder, and aimed for an over–the–shoulder throw
She’d been working out with Yann lately. Her strength had improved, and more importantly, she’d learned how to use it smartly.
Chapter 182
He was tall and built, maybe too heavy to throw deanly, but
Unfortunately, she’d overestimated bei
The difference in stirngth was too much
en a gomi thake woolil make a point,
derestimated bin
Audrey grabbed his suits and tried to throw him forward with all her might.
“Haak!” she shouted, trying to psych herself up
But nothing moved.
“Ah!” She tried again, harder this time.
He still didn’t budge.
His arm coiled tighter around her waist like a vise. Then, in one sudden motion, he hoisted her up and flipped her around in t
She landed face–to–chest against him, skin damp and cool.
He’d just showered. A towel slung low around his hips was all he had on. The sharp, clean scent of his body wash hit her instantly
Her first instinct was to bite him. But a better idea popped into her mind.
She pushed off the doorframe with one foot, swung herself upward, locked her arms around his neck, trying to hook him into a chokehold
His skin was slippery, water still clinging to him. She couldn’t get a solid grip anywhere but his neck,
It worked. Yann staggered backward, caught off guard.
With the space that gave her, she shifted, climbed over his shoulder, and tightened her hold, forcing him back hard enough that he landed on the carpet
with a thud.
But even as he hit the floor, he rolled without pause, kicked off the ground, and flipped them both straight onto the bed, her still tangled with him.
She landed on top of him again, chest pressed to chest.
He caught her wrists, easily locking them in one hand. “Not bad, You’re getting good.”
“That’s because you’re teaching me well.” She grinned, then dipped down and bit him.
Yann hissed, sharp breath drawn in between his teeth. He caught the back of her neck with one hand and lifted her up. “That’s not part of the curriculum.
He flipped them again, this time pinning her underneath him, and kissed her before she could get another word in.
Somewhere in the process, his towel had gone missing
His body pressed against hers, skin to skin, leaving no distance between them.
Audrey
“‘s no
not daring to move. The kiss dragged on, long and unhurried, When it finally broke, she was breathless, pushing gently at his chest.
y froze, not
not our scheduled night…”
In the dark, she could hear his breathing, heavy and ragged.
ayed still for a moment before speaking, voice low and hoarse, “Can we make an exception tonight?”
Yann stayed
Chapter 182
“That’s it for today. We’ll continue
At her word, the interns stood up, stretching with groans. “My hack is killing now.
“Mine too. My neck’s stiff”
On her way home, Adiey’s phone rang. It was Baldwin. “Ms. Henderson, that herbal packet you gave me worked great, but the effect doesn’t last long h there a more permanent fix?”
She changed lanes, glanced at the traffic, and then answered, “As long as you’re committed to long term cooperation, we’ll make it permanent.”
Baldwin immediately caught her meaning
He had met Jocelyn recently. She claimed she was planning to invest in Stride Commerce. If she helped secure the Series A, she expected a stake in management and wanted to take over future deals with Balchin Biotechnology
He had asked without thinking, “What about Ms. Henderson?”
“She has better offers,” Jocelyn had said.
Now, this call was clearly his way of feeling things out. And Audrey’s reply told him everything. She had no plans to change course
“Ms. Henderson, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you
“Glad to have your support.
“Always”
The call ended. Audrey was certain now that Jocelyn was planning a move to force her out.
But just as certain, there had never been a p
a grudge between them.
Just as Audrey pulled into Royal House, she spotted the porch light glowing from afar,
Without even bother straightening the car, she leapt out and ran straight to the door,
As expected, a pair of men’s leather shoes sat neatly by the entryway.
She kicked off her heels, half dragging on her slippers, and rushed inside.
The house was quiet and empty
She climbed the stairs quickly and checked the study, but still nothing.
A brief flash of confusion crossed her face. Then she turned and pushed open Yann’s bedroom door
It was dark. Only a faint streetlamp’s glow spilled in through the gap in the curtains
She wondered, “Where is he? Don’t tell me he’s in my room!
She was just about to leave when, without warning, arms reached out from the darkness, one around her waist, the other across her shoulder, pulling her into a firm, inescapable hold
“Ah!” She cried out
Her body reacted faster than her mind. She bent forward, grabbed at the wrist on her shoulder, and aimed for an over–the–shoulder throw.
She’d been working out with Yann lately. Her strength had improved, and more importantly, she’d learned how to use it smartly
maybe too heavy to throw cleanly, but even a good shake would make a point.
Unfortunately, she’d overestimated herself and underestimated him,
The difference in strength was too n
Audrey grabbed his volits and tried to throw him forward with all her might.
“Haah!” she shouted, trying to psych herself up.
But nothing moved.
“Ah!” She tried again, harder this ti
He still didn’t budge.
His arm coiled tighter around her waist like a vise. Then, in one sudden mation, he hoisted her up and flipped her around in the air.
She landed face–to–chest against him, skin damp and cool.
He’d just showered. A towel slung low around his hips was all he had on. The sharp, clean scent of his body wash hit her instantly
Her first instinct was to bite him. But a better idea popped into her mind,
She pushed off the doorframe with one foot, swung herself upward, locked her arms around his neck, trying to hook him into a chokehold
clinging to him. She couldn’t get a solid grip anywhere but his neck.
His skin was slippery, water still cli
It worked. Yann staggered backward, caught off guard.
With the space that gave her, she shifted, climbed over his shoulder, and tightened her hold, forcing him back hard enough that he landed on the carpet with a thud.
But even as he hit the floor, he rolled without pause, kicked off the ground, and flipped them both straight onto the bed, her still tangled with him.
“АН”
She landed on top of him again, chest pressed to chest.
He caught her wrists, easily locking them in one hand. “Not bad. You’re getting good.”
“That’s because you’re teaching me well” She grinned, then dipped down and bit him
Yann hissed, sharp breath drawn in between his teeth. He caught the back of her neck with one hand and led her up. “That’s not part of the curriculum.
He flipped them again, this time pinning her underneath him, and kissed her before she could get another word in.
Somewhere in the process, his towel had gone missing.
body pressed against hers, skin to skin, leaving no distance between them.
Audrey froze, not daring to move. The kiss dragged on, long and unhurried. When it finally broke, she was breathless, pushing gently at his chest.
“It’s not our scheduled night….
In the dark, she could hear his breathing, heavy and ragged.
Yann stayed still for a moment before speaking, voice low and hoarse, “Can we make an exception tonight?”
Chapter 183
Chapter 183
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
