All Chapters of Tired of me, Mr. Taylor?: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The documents spread across the conference table established one thing before the discussion properly began: Serena Ellis had earned her position at Street Nation.Her original campaign recommendation predated Damian’s involvement in the decision. The development work had followed because the technical team found value in what she contributed, and nothing in the records suggested her contract had been influenced by her private relationship with Damian. Legal had also found no breach that justified terminating her.None of that had stopped several Aella directors from supporting the Ardens’ demand that she be removed.Damian sat at the head of the table while the argument moved around him. Victor was present, along with Malcolm and members of Aella’s legal and communications teams. Elena and Daniel had joined from Street Nation because Damian had insisted that anyone proposing to remove Serena hear from the people responsible for actually working with her.The problem, according to the

You always did know how to land on your feet, Serena.Serena stared at the message, her hand resting on the contract she’d been reviewing.The number was unfamiliar, but the words weren’t. She could almost hear the woman’s voice delivering them, that particular mixture of amusement and resentment Serena had once mistaken for harmless teasing.A second message appeared.Thirty million dollars. I have to admit, even I underestimated you.Her stomach tightened.Mara Keene.For years, Serena had wondered what she would say if she ever encountered the woman again. She’d imagined demanding answers, perhaps even enjoying the satisfaction of telling Mara exactly what she thought of her.Now that Mara had resurfaced, Serena felt none of that satisfaction. Instead, she was remembering a period of her life she’d worked hard to put behind her.What do you want, Mara? she typed.There she is. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me.Serena almost laughed.There had been a period when she could

Damian called after Serena had finished speaking with Claire. She considered letting it ring, but eventually answered and leaned back in her chair. “I’m fine.”“I wasn’t going to ask whether you were fine.”Despite herself, the corner of Serena’s mouth moved. “What were you going to ask?”“Whether Mara contacted you again.”“No. Claire is handling it.”“Malcolm has everything she sent you.”“I know.”The conversation could have ended there, but Serena’s attention drifted toward the article still open on her laptop. She had stopped reading the words. It was the photograph that kept drawing her back.“Do you remember that picture of us?”Damian didn’t ask which one. “Yes.”“You were complaining about someone.”“Henderson.”Serena frowned. “Who?”“Our head of European acquisitions at the time. He presented forty-seven slides when I asked for five.”A laugh escaped her before she could stop it. “I don’t remember his name.”“I remember the forty-seven slides.”“That sounds more like you.”

The first thing Serena saw when she opened her eyes was a message from an unknown number.She reached for her phone on the bedside table, squinting at the screen. It was already past eight, and she’d slept longer than intended. For once, neither Ellis Atelier nor Street Nation required her presence that morning. She had been looking forward to it.Until she read the message.Walk away from Street Nation while you still can.Serena stared at the words, then sat up against her pillows. There was no introduction, no name, and no explanation. Just a warning delivered from a number she didn’t recognize.“Well, good morning to you too,” she muttered.She read it again, wondering whether someone had somehow obtained her personal number from the information circulating online.Since the publication of her agreement with Damian, strangers had developed an extraordinary interest in telling her what she deserved. Some believed she should return the thirty million dollars. Others insisted she had

“The brake line didn’t fail on its own.”Serena looked across the conference table at Elena, who had just placed a series of photographs beside the engineering report.“What does that mean?”“It means someone interfered with it.”Daniel Cho stood beside the wall-mounted screen, his expression grim. Damian was seated opposite Serena, unusually silent.Elena enlarged one of the photographs. “We found damage to a hydraulic line in the braking system. Initially, we considered a manufacturing defect or damage sustained when the car entered the runoff. But the location and condition of the damage don’t support either explanation.”Serena leaned forward.“Someone cut it?”“Not completely. The line had been deliberately weakened. It held during the earlier runs, but under repeated braking pressure, the damaged section ruptured.”Serena stared at the photograph. She could see the small section Elena had highlighted, although the technical details meant little to her.The conclusion was unmista