Chapter 70

“I already submitted my resignation. My voice was cold and detached.

“I didn’t approve it.”

Jonathan’s grip on me tightened, forcing me to stand. As I tumed and, I quickly slid the documents I was holding into the drawer behind me and shut it without drawing attention

I kept the motion subtle, deliberately out of his line of sight.

Jonathan looked down at me and said, out of nowhere, “I’m going on a business trip in a few days.”

frowned. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

“Why would17″

I looked athlin, geminely puzzled. “You’re going for work, not vacation.”

Why would I tag along? Did have nothing better to do?”

“You used to come,” he said. “Even if it was just for oneday.

By now, I’d heard enough stories about how obsessed I used to be. So, instead of being shocked, I just raised an eyebrow andsaid, “Aren’t you going there to work?Whatwould I even do, hold your briefcase? And anyway, didn’t Alicia say she wanted to tag along? Let her. She could use the experience.”

His pression tightened. “Are you seriously being passive–aggressiveagain?

How is that passive–aggressive?” I asked, genuinely confused.“I’mjust bring practical. Didn’t she say she’s trying to revive her family’s business? Leaming you up close should be good for her.”

Before 1 could finish, Jonathan shot me a cold

Isaid nothing else.

He didn’t come back to sleep that night.

glare and walked out of the room without another word.

1, on the other hand, slept great–completely sprawled out on the king–size bed like a starfish. No one called me for dinner either, they All Thad to do was open it and grab my food.

Honestly, this setup worked just fine for me as long asJonathanstayed out of sight

from

left it outside the door.

Thad no idea why he insisted on keeping me in thishouse. So what if Mr. Ford Senior was dying? That had nothing to do with me. He had never liked me anyway. He probably hated the sight of me.

Maybe itwasaside effectfromthe whole suicide thing, but I hadn’t been sleeping well lately. It used to be that I could knock out the second I hit the mattress.

That night, somewhere around midnight, 1 fell a chill and fumbled for the blanket–but before I could pull it over me, something heavy pressed down on top of me. Then, a wave of warmth wrapped around me, and in myhalf–asleep daze, I instinctively curled toward the hear

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but I heardadeep sigh

When are you finallygoingto stop being mada

A hand brushed through my hair, gratle and slow

I tried to louce my eyes open,buta heavy wave of sleep washed overne. Everything around meta–nothing was left except the overwhelming pull of rafiustion

The next morning, when I woke up, I was alone.

Tuiriched with a contented yawn, feeling refreshed

Jonathan had already belt for his worktrip.

When I stopped by Millera Coporation to meet with dabelle, she told me the news.

He really movedlaut. Told me two nights ago hewasheading out thenboom, gone the next day.”

As I passed by the secartarial depattinent, I saw Alicia inside, tearing into someone.Herexpression soured the moment she spotted me. Then she gave meatorcedsmile it was dripping with sasni

completely ignored her and walled straight into cattelle’s office,

In the reflection of the glassdoor, fould see her glaring daggers at my back, clearly fuming.

Twok my head.

Gabrielle came to thedoor, ecluding i begging him to Lalor her on the trip. She even posted all over her stagram stores aslong which hotel was the best. And then boom–be just left without even likeacat who’d just watched someone trip. “Looks like jonathan’s finally not giving her the time of day. I heard she kept telling her.”