Maybe it was Ewan''s warning; Jude''d been unusually quiettely.


    Even when we crossed paths at the office, he would look the other way like I wasn''t even there.


    For a moment, I almost believed the storm had passed. Then Vivian reminded me who I was dealing with.


    林念29%會


    Elitara Group had peopleing in today. Not only did she "forget" to inform me,


    she actually left them sitting in the meeting room for over an hour.


    I only found out because Dorian messaged me on WhatsApp-he and his team had already been waiting ages.


    I rushed over, yanking open the door, and eximed in surprise, "Dorian-you''re with Elitara Group?"


    "I''m sorry, no one told me you were here. If you''d messaged me earlier, I''d havee straight to the meeting room."


    The way he was seated-center of the room, everyone else nking him-told me one thing: he wasn''t just part of the team. He was leading it.


    415


    And suddenly, I felt a little spark of relief. If Dorian was handling the project, everything just got easier. He was definitely more reasonable than Cassian.


    A young woman beside him shot me a re and snapped, "Seriously? Name dropping the second you walk in?"


    Another chimed in, arms folded, and questioned, "First you made Mr. Merritt wait, and now it''s Mr. Huxley. Are we supposed to take this as some kind of power y?"


    I put on my best corporate smile, bowing my head slightly as I apologized. Dorian helped smooth things over, which eased the tension-just barely.


    Then Ellen swept into the room with two trays stacked high with coffee cups. "Apologies, everyone-Mrs. Carson insisted on this specific café. Said it''s all the rage right now, so I had to queue," she exined.


    "I got all the trending drinks, plus pastries. Please, help yourselves while we talk," she added with a friendly tone.


    I gave her an appreciative nod. She dabbed the sweat off her brow, then winked at me behind the trays.


    Elitara''s team, mostly younger professionals, warmed up instantly. Once the coffee and sweets were on the table, the energy in the room shifted.


    "This ce is impossible to get into. It''s too popr," one of themmented between sips.


    "See, this is why it''s easier dealing with people our age-no generational gaps, no stiff nonsense," another chimed in.


    "Mrs. Carson really did her homework. I haven''t seen some of these pastries in- store at all," a third one remarked.


    Just when I thought we were finally transitioning into the actual meeting, the door opened-and Vivian walked in, the queen of bad timing,


    She took one look at the table, then curled her lip and sneered, "Really? Is this a meeting or a brunch?"


    She scoffed, eyesnding on the pastries, and taunted, "Ada, this is what you''re serving our guests? Supermarket cake? You''re not even trying to hide the fact that you''re cheap,"


    I took a slow, deliberate sip of my coffee, savoring the moment before replying coolly, "Well, you''re wee to foot the bill for luxury desserts now."


    Vivian''s jaw twitched, but before she could snap back, Dorian cut in, his voice polite butced with disdain, “You''re the assistant, right?


    "We''ve been here over an hour, and all you''ve done is tell us Mr. Carson''s too busy."


    "So what''s this sudden appearance supposed to be? A threat?" he questioned.


    stood, calmly brushing down his suit and buttoning his jacket.


    Around him, the rest of his team put down their coffee and followed his lead.


    He dered, "If this is how Carson Group handles its partnerships, we''ll take our business elsewhere.


    "Ada,


    ????


    you i for the refreshments-just so no one uses you of misusingpany funds."


    29%


    +15


    I barely had time to respond before the door opened again, and Jude stepped in, trying to mask his awkwardness with a forced smile. "Carson Group can handle a few pastries. No need for your charity, Mr. Huxley."


    Clearly, he hadn''t known Dorian was Elitara''s lead either.


    He nced at me, tone sharp, and demanded, "What''s going on? You left a client waiting?"


    Vivian jumped in before I could speak and lied, "It''s Ada. I already told the design team, but she insisted on sending someone out to stand in line for coffee. That''s what dyed everything."


    "She did the same thing with Mr. Merrittst time. I think she''s doing it on purpose," she added, continuing her act.


    Her performance was as subtle as a brick through ss. Even the Elitara girls rolled their eyes.


    We''d all been in this game long enough to recognize a petty little power grab when we saw one.


    But Jude? Judepped it up like gospel.


    "Ada, if you''re here to negotiate, then negotiate. Don''t turn it into a spectacle. If Elitara walks out because of this, will you cover the loss?" he scolded.


    I stared at him, half in disbelief, half in fury. If this was who he''d been from the start, I wouldn''t have wasted a second chasing after him.


    "Jude-are you actually this dense?" I eximed, my anger rising.


    "If I''d known Dorian wasing, I would''ve met him at the damn elevator. You think I wanted him waiting around?" I questioned, my voice heated.


    I met his eyes, the anger simmering just beneath the surface, and used, “Unless..... someone wanted to keep him from seeing me. Maybe because that someone doesn''t want a divorce and couldn''t stand the thought of me talking to another man?"


    I knew exactly which nerve to strike.


    Back in college, I barely even acknowledged Dorian, and Jude would sulk for


    days.


    He might not love me anymore, but the thought of Mrs. Carson smiling at another man still clearly got under his skin.


    And just like that-he snapped.


    "Ada, get out. You''re off this project. Leave. Now," he roared.


    Behind him, Vivian smirked like she''d just scored the winning point. I rolled my eyes so hard it almost gave me a headache.


    I was about to say something-maybe demand my cut for the project''s early work- when Dorian''s voice rang out, calm but firm, "If Mrs. Carson isn''t involved in the design phase, Elitara Group will be/pulling out."


    He turned to Jude with a pleasant smile that didn''t quite reach his eyes and asked, "You didn''t seriously think I came here to work with you, did you?"


    17:02 Thu, 8 May