Chapter 109
Wallis grumbled, “We’re not like Director Irwin, who’s got a bigwig like Mr. Zade to back up. So, I might have to burst your bubble.”
Cecilia looked down, murmuring softly, “I didn’t mean anything by it, President Lott.”
Wallis cracked a small smile but kept mum.
But in the next breath, Cecilia said, “You’re right though, President Lott. For the sake of the project, maybe I should hit up Hogan and see if there’s a chance to meet FreeMan himself.”
I was taken aback and didn’t chime in.
Wallis‘ lips were curled into a smile, “Cool, I’ll thank Director Irwin in advance then.”
Cecilia’s dimpled smile was sweet, “It’s nothing, President Lott.”
Her smile was sugary, but it had a hint of showing off. Wallis caught that too and after Cecilia had left, she huffed, “She’s the one who made this mess; now she’s playing the good Samaritan while we’re tied up in knots. If she actually pulls off getting FreeMan here, where does that make us?”
“Didn’t you say, ‘What’s face worth compared to cold hard cash‘?”
Wallis rolled her eyes at me, “She’s trying to show off to me? She’s still wet behind the ears.”
Soon enough, I saw her picking up her phone and putting on a voice, fishing for info on FreeMan.
Why lose sleep over pride when there was no bread to eat? I thought it over and decided to call Morgan to meet one more time. But he turned me down, citing a packed schedule.
I mulled it over all night and then, uninvited, showed up at Morgan’s art studio with a gift in tow. The secretary ushered me into the waiting room, where I sat from 10:30 am until noon, and then she politely told me, “Sorry, Ms. March, Mr. Paisley’s still tied up. Maybe you should head back.”
When the message was that clear, I gotta take the hint. But the gift had to be given.
“Ms. March, you really should take this back.” The secretary said snootily, “Mr. Paisley’s got no shortage of these trinkets.”
She pushed it carelessly, misjudging her strength, causing the gift box to slip from my hands and crash down on my foot with a loud clang.
I had chosen a heritage craftsman–made artifact, which was quite heavy, and the sudden impact was no joke.
The secretary glanced at me awkwardly and said, “I told you, we’re not accepting it. Take it with you.”
1/2
13:33
Chapter 109
She sounded like she was shooing away a beggar. In an instant, the frustration I’d kept bottled up surged, and as I crouched to pick it up, Cecilia’s familiar voice of surprise rang out, “Xaviera, what are you doing here?”
I looked up, puzzled, and saw Cecilia standing in front of Morgan’s office, along with Hogan.
I hadn’t gone to the office this morning, so bumping into Cecilia here was quite the surprise. But what blew my mind was seeing Hogan there too.
Their agenda was obvious.
And Morgan, who had been so distant to me earlier, was now all smiles, cozying up to the two, his face full of flattery for those higher up the ladder.
I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with Cecilia the night before we left work. In just one night, the usually fair and stern Hogan was already leading her to Morgan, protecting her to the fullest.
Unlike me, now being kicked out of the studio, looking all sorts of awkward.
