Chapter 182
Niamh spoke smoothly, flipping to a contract she’d clearly prepared in advance.
“You didn’t just come up with this, did you?” Quentin frowned at her, suspicion written all over his face.
Niamh just smiled, giving nothing away.
Her studio was stretched thin–barely enough cash to make ends meet, and definitely not enough to hire someone with decent skills and experience without worrying about payroll. Finding someone competent who’d work for next to nothing was a pipe dream.
But after everything that had happened, Niamh guessed that Marina would never take Quentin back. Keeping Quentin on her side would save her some
money–really, it was the best of both worlds.
In the end, Quentin signed the internship contract. As soon as he finished, he shot Niamh a glare.
“Don’t think giving me this job means I’ll be grateful.”
“I’d never expect gratitude from you. Honestly, if you’d just stop badmouthing me behind my back, I’ll count my blessings.”
Face flushed, Quentin strode out of the conference room.
Niamh could only shrug and give a wry smile–maybe, deep down, Quentin was just stubborn and proud.
She waited all day, but there was still no word that Jonathan was back in the
country.
She’d tried reaching out to Prescott a few more times. He confirmed Jonathan was still abroad, though his business meetings had wrapped up.
That night, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly, Niamh stumbled onto one of Jonathan’s social media posts. He’d uploaded a photo: himself on a yacht, the ocean glittering behind him, and a bikini–clad woman at his side.
The woman’s face was turned away, but the bubblegum–pink swimsuit was unmistakable. Niamh recognized Marina instantly.
So that’s why Jonathan hadn’t come home–he was busy vacationing with Marina.
From the looks of it, Marina must have lost that competition and dragged Jonathan
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off for some distraction.
Niamh locked her phone, then lay back on her bed and closed her eyes.
Once Jonathan finally brought Marina back home, she could officially file for
divorce…
***
Aldonia.
At night, the lights along the waterfront sparkled.
The yacht was docked; Jonathan and Marina made their way back to the garden hotel.
“Feeling any better now?” Jonathan asked as they strolled through the lobby.
“Much better, thanks to you,” Marina replied, looping her arm through his and leaning into him, lingering just a second too long.
“This is my fault. I never expected Niamh to win by having Peter rig the results.”
“It’s not your fault,” Marina sighed, putting on a show of regret. “I just never thought Niamh would stoop so low… All the judges have connections to FY. Without Peter pulling strings ahead of time, there’s no way they would’ve all given her perfect scores!”
Jonathan nodded, a shadow crossing his face.
They reached the suite at the end of the hall.
The whole garden hotel was empty except for the two of them–plenty of rooms, no chance of bumping into anyone.
“Jonathan…”
Marina’s eyes sparkled, warm and inviting, the meaning in her gaze unmistakable.
Jonathan gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and opened the door.
“Goodnight.”
Marina slipped into her room.
The door closed quietly.
Jonathan didn’t follow.
Standing alone, staring at the closed door, Marina’s expression finally cracked.
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Anger flashed across her face.
She yanked out her phone and messaged Joker:
Is that Flynn you mentioned ever going to do something or not?
***
The day Jonathan brought Marina home, Niamh was waiting at the doors of The Thomas Group headquarters.
Jonathan spotted her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes–gone as quickly as it appeared.
He led Niamh to the executive elevator, taking her up to a seldom–used conference
room.
As soon as Niamh opened the door, she was greeted by a group of men and women in sharp business suits-
the entire Thomas family legal team was already waiting.
