Chapter 6

Andrea immediately jumped in, clearly eager to stir things up.

"Quinton, it's obvious that Lisa just doesn't want to go to Northreach. That's why she's picking fights. If that's the problem, then I'll go instead. Please stop fighting."

Quinton's expression darkened even further. He pulled Andrea close and started toward the door, his eyes locked on me.

"Lisa, if you keep going after Andrea, then I'll buy her a luxury condo over there and move with her myself. I'll personally take care of her."

Despite his words, his hand stayed on the doorknob.

He was waiting.

Waiting for me to panic, to get jealous like I used to, to stop him, cry, apologize, and give in to whatever unreasonable demand he threw at me.

I walked over. He clearly thought I was about to beg him to stay. The tension between his brows finally eased.

Instead, I reached past him, pulled the door fully open, and gestured calmly.

"Go right ahead."

The moment the words left my mouth, Quinton's grip on Andrea tightened. She let out a small gasp of pain.

He shot me a vicious look.

"Fine," he muttered, and he stormed out.

As soon as the door closed, my phone buzzed.

My resignation had been approved.

This time, Quinton seemed to have really lost his temper.

The next day, I arrived early at the café where I was meeting Scott to talk about investing in Quinton's rival company.

I was scanning the menu when someone tapped twice on the window beside me.

I looked up and froze.

It was Quinton and Andrea.

A second later, they walked in together.

Quinton wore an openly smug expression.

"Lisa, are you following me now?" he scoffed. "Come on, where did you hear I'd be meeting clients around here today?"

Andrea was dressed to the nines with heavy makeup, looking like someone who had just come into money overnight.

"Quinton opened a 40-thousand-dollar bottle of wine for me last night," she said sweetly. "I heard he never took you to places this fancy. I hope you're not upset."

After I worked myself into a stomach ulcer from nonstop business dinners, he really had stopped taking me out like that.

I only frowned and checked my watch. "Pure coincidence. I'm here for a meeting. Please don't bother me."

Right on cue, Scott walked in with long strides.

Seeing the two of them crowding me, he paused, surprised.

"And you are?"

Quinton's face lit up instantly. He hurried forward and grabbed Scott's hand.

"Mr. Snyder! What a surprise. If I'd known you liked this place, I would've bought you coffee every day."

Andrea shot me a sharp, jealous glance before turning on a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"So you're trying to fix things by hunting for investors?" she said lightly. "Quinton only approved your resignation in the heat of the moment. If you behave yourself, I can help talk him into forgiving you."

She made sure to emphasize her closeness to him.

Quinton nodded, clearly pleased.

Watching the two of them perform, Scott couldn't help asking, "Lisa, what's going on here?"

Quinton stepped forward, his tall frame blocking me completely.

"Mr. Snyder, Lisa isn't senior enough to handle this. She's just a regular employee. Besides, she's heading to Northreach tonight, so she won't have time for follow-ups. I'm Quinton Kemp, the CEO. This is our vice president, Andrea Roffe. We'll handle the talks."

Even now, he didn't miss a chance to dress Andrea up.

I was about to speak when a calm, amused male voice sounded from behind me.

"Well, Quinton, have you really fallen so far that you're trying to steal my vice president and my investor?"