Chapter 14
Daniel Reed never did get to meet with the subsidiary’s leadership. In the end, he walked out of the conference room with his face dark as iron.
Hours of waiting had earned him nothing more than a casual, “We’re not sure yet.” The frustration burned in his chest like a trapped fire.
Just as he stepped into the main lobby of the office floor, a crowd of people came toward him, surrounding two figures. At the center was Henry Collins, head of the subsidiary, wearing an obsequious smile Daniel had never seen on him before, leaning in to speak quietly to the woman walking beside him.
Daniel’s eyes locked instantly on her–charcoal–gray skirt suit, hair swept up, pearl earrings glinting at her ears… She was the exact same woman he’d glimpsed through the crack in the door earlier.
It was Claire Whitmore.
What was she doing here? And why was she walking so closely with Henry Collins?”
His heart felt as if it had been slammed with a heavy hammer, the blood rushing hot to his head.
Keeping to the side, Daniel couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he didn’t take his eyes off them.
Claire inclined her head slightly, listening to Henry’s report with calm detachment. Occasionally, she lifted her hand to flip through the documents in her grasp, her fingers gliding over the paper with poised, deliberate grace–gone was the gentleness or subdued patience she had once shown him.
“Miss Whitmore, the optimization suggestions you provided are critical. We’ll have the team start implementing them this afternoon.“<
Henry’s tone was respectful to the point of subservience. “I’ve arranged a dinner tonight and was hoping to invite you-” “That won’t be necessary. Someone’s waiting for me downstairs,” Claire interrupted, her voice even but edged with the kind of polite distance that brooked no argument.”
At that moment, a black Bentley rolled to a stop at the lobby entrance. The window lowered to reveal Ethan Cole’s refined profile.<
He leaned out slightly, and the instant his gaze fell on Claire, his expression softened. “Claire, ready?“}
“Yes.” Claire gave a small nod, turned to say goodbye to Henry, and walked toward the Bentley with light, unhurried steps.
Ethan was already out of the car, opening the door for her. The motion was so natural, so familiar, that he instinctively raised a hand to shield her head as she bent to get in.
The Bentley eased away, leaving behind only a trace of polished elegance.
From Daniel’s distance, he had only seen the scene inside the lobby. He couldn’t hear the words exchanged–only the appearance of closeness between Claire and Henry.
He froze, his blood turning to ice.[
No wonder… no wonder she’d appeared in the heart of the subsidiary’s offices. No wonder Henry had said he’d offended someone untouchable. No wonder his deal had been abruptly ruined.”
So that was it.
A poisonous suspicion festered quickly in his mind: Claire must have latched on to Henry Collins, that “high branch” of influence. She had probably been involved with him long before she left Daniel, and that’s why she could walk unchallenged through the subsidiary–why she could end his deal with a single word.
He thought back to the cold finality with which she’d left, theute lack of hesitation when she blocked him. She hadn’t been sulking–she’d simply secured her next benefactor.
This woman, who had once seemed so pure and understanding, was in truth fickle and calculating, willing to use any means to climb higher.”
A low, humorless chuckle escaped him, his eyes filling with disdain and anger, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists.
He had thought she truly loved him. In reality, he’d been nothing but a stepping stone. Now that she had grasped the Whitmore Group’s higher branches, she found him–this penniless man–an eyesore.N
Staring in the direction the Bentley had gone, Daniel glanced down at the thin “reschedule notice” in his hand. Humiliation, jealousy, and resentment churned together inside him.
Claire Whitmore, you’re something else.
You think this is how you secure your place? Just wait. When I make my comeback, I’ll tear that façade off you for everyone to see.”
He spat hard on the ground, turned on his heel, and strode out of the subsidiary’s building. The sunlight outside was so bright it made his eyes water, yet inside, he felt as if he were filled with cold, dirty water from a gutter–clammy and foul.”
He didn’t notice the front desk employees whispering as they watched his retreating back.” “Who was that guy? He was staring at Miss Whitmore the whole time–gave me the creeps.“\ “Pretty sure he’s a small business owner here begging for a partnership. Maybe he saw Miss Whitmore with Mr. Collins and got the wrong idea.”
“As if he’s even in her league. Miss Whitmore’s from headquarters. He wishes.“”
