“Let’s put this meeting on hold,” Arnold said, avoiding her question. “I didn’t know she was friends with Dexter.” After all, it’s unsurprising that a woman of her social standing would know Dexter. “What about Summer?”
He seemed unfazed as he answered, “She’s none of my business anymore.” Josie wouldn’t believe him. “Why did you call me here today?” “You won’t find Dexter at the Russell Group headquarters, but you will find him here.”
So, this was his plan all along. Josie didn’t know how she would stand up against Dexter. As the CEO, he could fire her from her director position at any time. She also had no say in his aggressive actions on the Carter Group.
She felt a sense of dread in her chest, suffocating her since she met eyes with him. Josie felt so anxious that she thought she was going to be sick. “I have to use the restroom,” she stood up and excused herself.
There were a few private rooms on the way to the restroom. Josie scanned around but didn’t find Eileen or Dexter in any of them. Josie splashed some water on her face to wake herself up.
She looked in the mirror and saw that she looked terrible. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, her skin sunken and dry, a clear sign of over exhaustion. Her appearance was no match for Eileen’s.
Josie walked out of the washroom, head down, contemplating whether to go home and take a rest. She was tired, and her head was starting to ache.
“Ah…” Josie bumped into someone’s rock-solid chest and felt her head spinning. She stumbled backward but was caught in time by the person’s large, strong hands.
Josie felt her heart racing in her chest. As she slowly gained footing, her gaze fell on the familiar jaw. Her eyes lifted slowly…
Josie was frightened, and her eyes grew wide. She gazed upon his face with a sense of anxiety creeping within her. “What are you doing here?”
The man loomed over her, his voice low and menacing. “I see you’re clearly attracted to him, and you’re not going to let his willingness to be a bootlicker stop you from getting close to him.”
He sneered as he emphasized the word “bootlicker,” dripping with contempt and condescension. Josie’s face tightened with annoyance, and her pupils flared red. She wanted to smack him. across the face with her bag. ‘Dexter, that’s enough,” she warned through gritted teeth.
He gripped her wrist tightly and pulled her close, his voice full of venom. “Arnold wants the Laxir Corporation to help the Carter Group, right? But how much power does he have without his shares? He won’t be able to marry her right away, so this will all be for nothing.”
Josie clenched her fists and raised her hands to slap Dexter. “Dexter!” she cried. But he was too strong for her. Josie’s eyes filled with tears.
The realization finally dawned upon her. Dexter’s aim all along was to leave Arnold between a rock and a hard place. It was either the fall of the Carter Group or Arnold getting married. Either way, Dexter would win. A perfect scheme to bring Arnold down.
He grabbed her wrists and held them tightly. Josie was quivering with anger, but she didn’t know how Dexter’s heart sank when he saw Arnold gently slicing the steak for her and how she uncharacteristically let her guard down around him.
Josie tried to break away, but her stomach churned, and she felt bile rising in her throat.. She covered her mouth and bent over slightly, her face pale. Dexter’s eyes widened in shock at her sudden behavior. She quickly dashed towards the restroom and vomited into the sink
Dexter followed behind her, his heart swelling as he looked at her in her vulnerable state. The corner of his mouth turned down in a grimace as he watched Josie retch into the sink. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but his hands hovered in the air, frozen. He didn’t have the right to touch her anymore.
Josie felt better after a while. She turned on the faucet to wash her hands, and as she lifted her eyes, she met the indiscernible gaze of the man who had followed her inside. “Why…”
Josie lifted the corner of her lips. “Why are you here?” The man’s lips quivered. Josie felt her heart. stop, and her vision flashed black. She collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
“Josie!” he shouted.
