I was in the middle of exining something about work when Jared suddenly threw that question at me. I subconsciously took a sniff and shook my head. “I don’t smell anything.”


    But Jared’s expression changed in a sh. His eyes turned razor–sharp, and the next second, he reached out and brushed my hair aside from my neck.


    38


    “Jared, what are you doing?” His action crossed the line <i>for </i>me—I instantly got angry, stood


    up, and backed away a few steps.


    Jared’s eyes were like a brewing storm. He was breathing hard, and it looked like his legs


    could barely hold him up. He propped himself up on the table with one hand, ring at me,


    furious and embarrassed.


    “Victoria, which random guy did you spend the night withst night?” His voice was burning


    with rage, like he wanted to devour me whole.


    I froze. I didn’t understand why Jared was out of his mind and how the hell he knew I spent


    the night with a guy. I thought he might pick up on something just from a scent. He was like


    a bloodhound.


    I frowned, my voice icy. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Are you even interested in my proposal or not?”


    But Jared seemed not to care about it at all. He just went on, ignoring my question. “I know


    that scent of yours better than anyone. It’s not perfume. It’s something I only ever catch


    from you.”


    My face went bright red, and I red at him, both angry and embarrassed. “Stop being ridiculous. If you’re not here to talk business, I’m out.”


    Jared squeezed his eyes shut, and when he opened them again, he was still fuming, still ring at me. “You’re feeling guilty, huh? So, you really slept with someonest night.”


    “Mr. Hob, you’re such a thoughtful boss<b>, </b>so worried about your staff’s private lives. But you’re way out of line. My life has nothing to do with you,” I shot back, my voice dripping


    with sarcasm.


    Jared just stood there in a daze, staring at me, unable to snap out of it. “How could you do


    08:43 Fri, 22 Aug We


    this? Victoria, do you even remember the promise you made?


    65%


    “You said you’d only ever love me in this life. You’re such a liar.” Jared was so furious that he


    was shaking, pointing at me, and yelling.


    I shot back with a cold sneer, “Those vows were just something I said in the heat of the


    moment. We’re both adults, Jared. Can you please be reasonable about this?


    “If you need a woman, go ahead. Tracy’s practically throwing herself at you. If you feel like


    you’re suffering losses from me, just go to her.”


    Jared looked like he’d just been blindsided,pletely shocked–because my words were an indirect admission about what happenedst night.


    “So, you really…” Jared’s eyes red red with rage. He snatched up my carefully printed


    documents and hurled them to the floor with a violent m. “Victoria, you’ve crossed the


    line.”


    I stared at my scattered papers, my voice angry. “Mr. Hob, if you’re going to keep flying


    off the handle like this, maybe I should just submit my resignation.


    “I have no interest in working for a boss who throws tantrums and screams at his staff.”


    With that, I walked over, shut myptop, and got ready to leave.


    “Who is he?” Jared sounded like he’d just taken a punch to the gut, his voice low and shaky.


    “Tell me, who is he?”


    I turned back to re at him, my expression frosty. “I don’t owe you an answer.” Then I walked away without even ncing back.


    After leaving the hotel, I went straight home. There was a man at home who knew how to keep his cool, waiting for me,


    When I got back, Nathan was still there. He opened the door, and for a split second, his face lit up with surprise at seeing me. “Victoria, I thought you were going to have lunch out,” Nathan said, sounding a little put out.