The receptionist''s fragile expression twisted into one of terror. "Sir, I... it was them..."


    That damned woman, why did she record it? Now she had no way to defend herself.


    Sean stepped forward, his face grim. "Go to HR, collect your final paycheck, and get out."


    "No, no! Ms. Scott, please help me! I don''t want to leave!" the receptionist pleaded, turning to Joanna. "You told me to do it! You said you were the president''s wife and that I could block any woman who came looking for him. You said you''d take responsibility!"


    Joanna''s face tightened. The damn fool was selling her out.


    "Sebastian, I never said that. But you did promise me I coulde and go as I please,” she said, trying to deflect. "She''s just trying to frame me to save her own skin. It''s despicable."


    Sebastian didn''t even nce at her.


    Sean waved for security. As they grabbed the receptionist, he instructed her, "Apologize to Ms. Sanders. Then, go find the person who put you up to this. You know who to me."


    The receptionist''s face was ashen. She looked at Natalie and bowed her head. "I''m sorry, Ms. Sanders. It was my fault. I''ll never do it again. Please, give me one more chance."


    Natalie offered a serene smile. "You willingly let yourself be used as a weapon. You certainly provoked me, but unlike the person pulling your strings, I don''t pass the buck when things go wrong. I don''t ept your apology. Get out."


    "Ah..." The receptionist panicked. The pay at the Griffith Group was the best in all of Yaro. She had a mortgage to pay; she couldn''t lose this job.


    She dropped to her knees, crying and begging. "Ms. Sanders, I''m truly sorry for what I said. Please, be the bigger person and forgive me this once."


    Natalie looked down at her. "I''m not the bigger person. I hold a grudge, and I always repay my debts. Go back to whoever put you up to this If you is running on empty, that''s not my problem. I''m not here to recharge it for you."


    Sean waved his hand, and the guards dragged the woman away.


    Joanna stomped her foot in frustration. "Natalie, you''re so heartless! She was on


    her knees begging you!"


    Natalie sneered. “You''re so


    "You... Natalie, you''re beingpletely unreasonable!" Joanna fumed. When had Natalie''s tongue be so sharp?


    "Unreasonable? Are you sure you''re not the unreasonable one here? The one


    who conspired with the receptionist to give me a hard time?" Natalie''s voice was cold and piercing.


    "Sebastian, look at her..."


    "Shut up and get out of my way," Natalie cut her off furiously. "If you want to put on


    a show, wait until I''m gone. The sight of you makes me sick."


    She had to go deal with Verna.


    Joanna''s eyes widened. Natalie''s words were a tant insult.


    Before she could retort, Natalie turned to Sebastian. "I''m here to see your design director, Verna. The new products youunched this morning were based on designs that Jerome photographed in my office two weeks ago. I still have the torn draft pages. You stole my work, and while I can''t sue you, I not let Verna get away with this. Are you going to call her down so I can beat some sense into her, or should I just call the police?"


    She had ways to prove the designs were hers. The rage inside her had reached


    its peak. Since her rebirth, she had refused to tolerate anything.