ah, I slapped you! If your parents skipped

stunned silence. No one mo

ey thought they knew. Where was the quiet, timid assistant

k stares and curious eyes. No one looked concerned. No one spoke up. The realization hit her

she lifted her hand, ai

casually sidestepped. Leanne's heel caught awkwardly on the flo

"Caitlin Hewitt, you slut! Don't act all high and mighty. I saw your résumé when you joined the company-you seduced someone t

e's collar, and raised her hand-rea

about to land, someone ca

ng and toned, and a sleek designe

arm and locked onto

creating a scene?"

stepped in, the

er, and a mix of sadness and frustration rose in her chest, making

nted at Caitlin with trembling anger. "Mr. Mason, Caitlin's been throwing her weight around just because

victim, but she even dragged E

his face calm but ice-cold. The pr

people nearby-and it worked. "Cai

s verdict. "Cait

didn't even ask what happene

ised her voice deliberately. "Mr. Mason, she's not e

a degree colder. "Ca

r pride twisted painfully inside her chest. All she could focus o

r nails bit into her skin-anythin

hard she bit it, but she still held

ed herself; loving

ust turned and walked strai

's not to report in tomor

e, haunted by the look in Caitlin's eye

ed. She turned toward Robert, confused. "Wait...

Ms. Barnett, you'll need to ha

en loved, but she still h

nt of others, Leanne had unkno

re was no way he would let

w that several of the emails she had sent

o hiring new designers. In short, they were impress

he heaviness in her chest began to ease. The po

his office and pressed his fingers ag

After a short pause, he finally said, "Mr. Mason, I heard that Caitlin'

t, but his hand stopped mid-air.

t," Robert

e desk, a flicker of frustr

ut it? Did she really expect him to rea

idn't need to deal with emotion

sely, and then cautiou

g again, his face giving nothing away. "Send

vate elevator down to the second basemen

utes, but Caitlin was

ed at the time, and called Robert

go," Robert answered, unaware

l and instructed th

heir villa, the lights u

rs and pushed open the do

es-one zipped up tightly, the other still being fil

nto the nearby sofa. "What are you

ning, not organizing, but packing steadily l

ut and couldn't help the an

d out of work unannounced, and yet her

money's already been wired to

he was tossing some spare cha

n't respond. She didn

ugh, just say it. I'll give you more. But stop using t

nd suitcase and finally li

y and quiet. "Isaac

, completely ca

ken to him like this

nup, and now they had already got used to each other's p

itlin lashing out, sayin

leaves you with zero if we split. Your mom still needs help, and the Hewitt family's depending on you. How

is voice soak

she snapped through clenched teeth, "I'm already

ou even understand what it means

ke you've ever treated me like your wife. Yeah, you hand me money every month... but only after you've slept with me. Do you even rea

e tears spi

ned, his whole face turn

he repeated, his voi