Chapter 130
Before Niamh could say anything, Jayne piped up from the back.
“Yeah, bring him over! What’s one more person in a crowd like this?”
Niamh lowered her gaze, clearly uncomfortable.
She’d claimed to have a boyfriend to put an end to the office gossip about her and Jonathan. She never expected that her own lie would backfire so spectacularly.
“Niamh, you don’t actually *have* a boyfriend, do you?” Jayne snickered. “Maybe those rumors are true, and you really are someone’s side chick?”
A few others joined in Jayne’s laughter.
Niamh shot Jonathan a glance, only to see him calmly carrying a plate of fried chicken strips over to the table, looking as if her humiliation had nothing to do with him.
“Niamh, seriously… you don’t have to pretend so hard,” Marina said, putting on a sympathetic act as she reached out to pat Niamh’s shoulder–only for Niamh to sidestep her touch.
“Marina, why do you even bother with her?” Jayne said, hauling Marina over to her side. “You’re way too nice. No need to help her save face.”
Everyone was waiting for Niamh to make a fool of herself–including Jonathan.
Niamh’s face darkened as she pulled out her phone and sent someone a quick WhatsApp message.
“Oh, look at her go! She really does have a boyfriend, huh? Or did you hire a stand–in at the last minute?” Jayne laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Niamh went to open the door, and a man stepped in.
The room, which had been filled with mocking laughter only moments before, fell
silent.
Jonathan glanced at Peter, his expression unreadable–but he didn’t look surprised.
The rest of the group, however, could barely contain themselves.
14:01
Chapter 1301
“Wait, isn’t that the co–founder of FY Corp? The current executive director…
“Yeah, I think his name’s Peter.”
“Is that really Mr. Peter? I’ve admired him for years!”
“No way… He’s Niamh’s boyfriend?”
Most of the Thomas Group Design Division employees had at least heard of Peter; some had even met him in person.
“Hey, everyone. I’m Niamh’s boyfriend–just call me Peter,” he said with easy confidence, slipping his arm casually around Niamh’s shoulders.
Peter’s smile was natural, his demeanor relaxed.
Niamh, on the other hand, looked more than a little uneasy with his arm around her. She’d only texted Peter, begging him to come over and pretend to be her boyfriend for a bit. She hadn’t expected him to throw himself into the role so convincingly.
Jonathan’s face remained impassive, but his eyes sharpened, fixing on Peter’s hand resting on Niamh’s shoulder like a blade honed to a dangerous edge.
Noticing the change in Jonathan’s gaze, Marina feigned shock and turned to Niamh. “Niamh, your boyfriend is *Mr. Peter*? You’re too much! Back when we were both at FY, why didn’t you say a word? No wonder you got promoted barely two months after joining the company.”
As soon as Marina finished, whispers rippled through the crowd.
Niamh just knew nothing good ever came out of Marina’s mouth.
“FY has a clear promotion system,” Peter said, his voice calm but carrying. “Promotions are based on performance, period. Not even the executive -director–let alone the chairman–can make exceptions for
derperformers. Since
you
worked at FY, Marina, how do you not know that? Or are you spreading rumors about FY right in front of a board member and expecting me to just let it slide?”
Marina hadn’t expected Peter to call her out in front of everyone. Flushed with embarrassment, she ducked her head and tried to shrink behind Jonathan.
Jonathan stepped forward.
“Hey, this is a house party–we’re all here to have fun, Mr. Peter. No need to bring up work, right?”
“I wasn’t the one who brought up office politics, was I?”
Chapter 130
“So, what are you saying Marina should apologize before you’ll let this go?”
“All I’m saying is, Mr. Thomas, let’s be reasonable. Don’t be a hypocrite.”
The room fell into an uneasy hush. No one dared even breathe too loudly.
Niamh watched from the sidelines, surprised to see Peter openly challenging
