Chapter 118
After finishing her meal, Emily felt thirsty. She searched the lounge and office for water but couldn’t find any, so she headed to the break room to grab a bottle of mineral water.
On her way back after taking a couple of sips, she overheard a conversation. Someone was gossiping about her and Jack. Judging by the voice, it sounded like the secretary who had been with Jack the previous evening.
“Don’t be fooled into thinking that the woman the CEO’s been bringing around is some saint. Last night at the dinner, she and Mr. Griffin were all over each other. She’s practically cheating on the CEO behind his back,” the secretary, Tina York said with a snide tone.
“Seriously? With someone like Mr. Griffin? Isn’t the CEO way more attractive?” another voice replied.
Tina continued with dramatic flair, “What’s so strange about that? I mean” Her sentence cut off abruptly as she turned a corner and nearly ran into Emily, who was walking out of the break room.
Caught red–handed gossiping in public, Tina froze in embarrassment.
Emily’s face was icy as she glared at Tina. She hadn’t made a scene last night, preferring to stay invisible, but today Tina had already started spreading lies and twisting the truth.
Her voice cold and sharp, Emily said, “Miss York, it was you who I saw sneaking around in the hallway with Mr. Griffin last night. Now you’re trying to smear my name?”
Tina’s face turned beet red. “Don’t make things up! Everyone knows you’re just the CEO’s mistress. Flirting with Mr. Griffin–it’s exactly the kind of thing you’d do!”
Emily’s anger flared. “The restaurant has surveillance cameras. Should I ask them for the footage and send it to you? Actually, forget that–maybe I should just post it online for everyone to see.”
“You-!” Tina stammered, her face pale with panic.
“And by the way,” Emily added with disdain, “Mr. Griffin is short, fat, and greasy. Just looking at him disgusts me. I don’t know how you managed to kiss him last night.‘
The surrounding colleagues exchanged uneasy glances. While they didn’t know much about Emily, they were well aware that Tina had a boyfriend. Her behavior wasn’t looking good.
Emily shot Tina one last cold look and walked past her, leaving the break room.
As she stepped out, she came face–to–face with Justin, who stood tall and aloof. It was impossible to tell if he had overheard the conversation or not.
Justin had returned from his meeting to find Emily missing from his office and had come looking for her.
“Mr. Yates…” the others greeted him nervously.
In the CEO’s office, Justin pulled Emily to stand directly in front of him.
“So, you left the dinner early last night because of this?” Justin asked.
His brows furrowed, his voice carrying a trace of restrained anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Emily met his gaze directly. “What’s the point of telling you? It’s not like you’d protect me or take my side.”
“Do you really not trust me at all?”
Chapter 118
+25 BONUS
Emily’s stare didn’t waver. “Have you forgotten what you told me? That I’m just a plaything, something you can throw away as long as you pay for it. How am I supposed to trust you?”
For the first time, Justin felt a sharp pang in his chest. The words he had spoken to her in his study that night echoed like a gunshot, piercing him anew.
The impact reverberated through his chest, leaving him momentarily breathless.
That day, in front of Emily, Justin instructed Sam to fire Tina. The official reason: spreading false rumors within the company. A company–wide email was sent out as notice.
Despite this, Emily felt no gratitude. Perhaps it was her hardened heart, or maybe it was the accumulation of wounds she had suffered over time.
Later, she heard rumors that Tina’s boyfriend had found out about her and Jack. Furious, he broke up with her.
Jack himself had gone to Justin, pleading on Tina’s behalf, but Justin dismissed him with a warning and a few sharp words.
Emily knew none of this. She was in the lounge unpacking her lunchbox when Justin walked in.
Before she could react, Justin had his way with her again. Unable to resist, she endured it, feeling like she had been trampled on.
Afterward, in the bathroom, Emily meticulously scrubbed herself clean before leaving the
company.
