“Got it.”Â
“This is your first major project on my team. I’m not totally atÂ
ease, so I’ll work overtime with you.”Â
“Okay… what?!” Adelaide squeaked.Â
Reginald chuckled, “I’ll come to your place, or you can come toÂ
Rosecliff Manor. Your pick.”Â
Adelaide was sure he was doing this on purpose. Late at night,Â
just the two of them? That didn’t sound appropriate at all. SheÂ
gritted her teeth. “Is there a third option?”Â
“There is. We work overtime together at the office.”Â
Adelaide had never felt so powerless in a conversation. HisÂ
focus wasn’t on the project or the overtime. He just wanted toÂ
stay with her.Â
“Ms. Pierce, shall I now explain the additional terms in yourÂ
agreement?”Â
Now that Reginald had brought up the agreement again,Â
Adelaide realized she didn’t really have a choice. The office wasÂ
out of the question. Her apartment? Even less so. RosecliffÂ
Manor was the least bad option. At least Draven and theÂ
housekeepers were there. It wouldn’t be just the two of them.Â
After a moment’s hesitation, Adelaide budged, “I’ll go toÂ
Rosecliff Manor”Â
Soon, they arrived at the Orvenix Group.Â
Adelaide parked the car, and Reginald got out. She noticed the lighter he had left in the side compartment of the door.Â
She grabbed it and quickly caught up. “Mr. Thorton, you left your lighter in my car.”Â
Reginald was already standing by the elevator. He turned his head slightly and took the lighter from her with a meaningful look. “Ms. Pierce, you’ve got sharp eyes.””Â
Adelaide kept a straight face. “Yes, I’ve always had 20/20Â
vision.”Â
“Oh? Then keep it that way,” he said flatly as he stepped into theÂ
elevator. Adelaide silently followed him in.Â
Nathan announced Reginald’s decision to the team thatÂ
Adelaide would be taking over the project. There were noÂ
jealous glares, only genuine congratulations.Â
Chapter 15Â
The rest of the afternoon, Adelaide focused entirely onÂ
researching the culture of Eldoria and the Noventra Group, asÂ
well as the core themes for the landmark building design.Â
However, her phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.Â
She had blocked both Garrett and Spencer’s calls, but theÂ
WhatsApp messages just kept coming. She’d been ignoringÂ
them until some new messages from Garrett made her eyelidÂ
twitch.Â
“I’ve made things clear with Amanda. I won’t get involved withÂ
her again. I just want to be with you.”Â
“Honey, whether you believe me or not, please give me a chanceÂ
to make things right. We’ve known each other for 22 years,Â
after all.”Â
“Don’t worry, honey. I’ll take care of everything.”Â
“Take care his ass,” Adelaide cursed secretly.Â
Annoyed, Adelaide was about to toss her phone aside when aÂ
call from an unknown number came in.Â
She frowned and stepped into the break room to take it.Â
“ADELAIDE!”Â
Amanda yelled over the phone, her voice filled with hatred.Â
Chapter 25Â
That was fast.Â
Adelaide remained calm. “What do you want?”Â
Her indifferent tone instantly triggered Amanda, who shouted,Â
“I want to see you! Right now!”Â
“No time.” Adelaide moved to hang up, but Amanda startedÂ
shrieking.Â
“Fine! Then you better hide forever. But your bestie’s flowerÂ
shop won’t be able to hide!”Â
Using Teresa to threaten her had crossed a line, and Adelaide’sÂ
anger flared. “Don’t you dare!”Â
“Oh, why wouldn’t I? I’ve already bought three barrels ofÂ
gasoline. If you don’t show up, I’ll take them straight to yourÂ
bestie’s flower shop. I’m a mental patient. The Pierce family hasÂ
money, and my parents can protect me. Even if I burn that shop to the ground, I won’t get locked up. We will only need to payÂ
damages.”Â