ou don’t actually think your dramatic sighs are funny, do you?” Niamh shot back.
Her instincts told her Michael had come prepared. He knew more about her than he let on, and the trap was already set–just waiting for her to walk right into it.
Michael adjusted his gold–rimmed glasses, taking his time for the first time to study Niamh’s face intently.
The Thomas Group.
Prescott stepped into the managing director’s office.
“Mr. Thomas, the recent fluctuations in our share price–my hunch is the Burtons are behind it.”
“The Burtons…” Jonathan let out a cold laugh. “Barely back in the country, and already playing games. Keep a close watch on them.”
“Yes, sir.”
After Prescott left, Jonathan dialed Marina’s number.
“Are you busy?”
“Not really. I’m still working on the samples for Luminous Divas Fashion Week,” Marina replied from the other end.
“Michael’s back. You know that, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“You went to the reunion?”
Marina immediately picked up on Jonathan’s displeasure and hurried to explain. “Laurie invited me. I had no idea it was actually a welcome party for Michael… Jonathan, you’re not upset with me, are you?”
A long silence.
“…No.”
Marina let out a theatrical sigh of relief. “Don’t worry. Even if Michael asks to see me, I’d never meet him alone. I know how much you dislike him. I can’t stand him either, and… honestly, it feels like he still hasn’t gotten over me…”
She trailed off, then switched topics.
1/3
Chapter 230
“Let’s talk about something else. Oh, my parents said it’s thanks to you that their rehab center got the funding. They want to take you out for dinner–when are you free?”
“No need for all that.”
“Just… think of it as family getting together for a casual meal.” Marina tested the waters. Jonathan didn’t object.
She chatted a little longer before hanging up, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.
He’s jealous! Jonathan’s actually jealous!
Michael’s timing couldn’t have been better, she thought, grinning to herself.
She really did dislike Michael.
And Michael really was still hung up on her.
A loyal puppy, desperate for affection–why not take advantage?
At a private club, Niamh was busy writing a statement.
Michael stood before her, silent and watchful, like a teacher monitoring an exam
for cheaters.
Once she finished, she signed her name and pressed her thumbprint on the paper.
Michael reached for it, but Niamh quickly tucked the paper behind her back.
She looked straight at his confused face, pulled out her phone, and called Lana.
“Hey, Lana, are you at work?”
Lana hesitated on the other end.
She didn’t want Niamh to know she’d lost her job after spending so much time at the hospital with her.
“I’d been wanting to leave that place anyway. Something better came along, and I’m about to jump ship–double the salary.”
But Lana wasn’t one to keep secrets. In the end, she admitted she’d left her job, though she called it “switching companies,” never mentioning she’d been fired.
Niamh was silent.
So Michael hadn’t lied to her after all.
2/3
17.24 i
Chapter SU
“I believe in you. With your skills, you could triple your salary.”
She hung up, then raised an eyebrow and gave Michael a knowing look.
Michael got the hint. He immediately called NeoFrontier.
“That’s right–double her salary. Actually, make it triple.”
His eyes never left Niamh as he spoke. She nodded faintly, as if to say, “Well done.”
Once everything was arranged, Michael reached out his hand.
“Now will you give me the statement?”
Niamh checked with Lana, who confirmed she’d received a new contract from her former employer–with triple the pay.
“Here.” She handed the statement to Michael without hesitation this time.
Michael read it over twice, found nothing wrong, and shrugged with a grin.
“A woman on the verge of divorce really is terrifying–her friends rank higher than her husband, huh?”
