Chapter 781


    Austin had not lied to her!


    Ophelia almost wanted to p herself. Of all the people she could''ve picked a fight with at work, it


    had to be someone you just don''t cross.


    "I''ll take my leave, Ms. Sanchez," she muttered, not daring to linger any longer as she hustled out of


    Dorothy''s office.


    Dorothy sighed, her elegant brow furrowing in frustration. She hated ying the ''Everett card'' to


    command respect, especially since they were no longer together. It felt so awkward.


    Her phone was still ringing. Dorothy snatched it up and hit the answer button.


    "Hey, Everett."


    "You getting bullied?" His voice was unmistakable, even raspy and hoarse from illness. It carried an


    undeniable authority.


    "No," Dorothy replied, thinking he was just guessing. "No one dares mess with me at the Lopez


    Corporation! I just... suddenly wanted to check on how Abigail and Langston were doing at school."


    There was a pause on the other end before Everett spoke, "I heard about the office spat."


    "What spat?"


    "The argument you had."


    Dorothy was stunned. "How do you even know about that?"


    "I tried calling you, but you didn''t pick up, so I had someone check the fourth project team''s security


    cams."


    Dorothy was speechless. Privacy was evidently a myth when it came to Everett''s turf.


    "It''s cool. It was just a little tiff with a colleague. She''s already apologized!"


    But Everett was clearly not pleased.


    "That person won''t be at the Lopez Corporation ANY longer."


    "Hey, no! She came to my office to apologize. Don''t fire her. It’ll make things super awkward for me."


    If she said she forgave Ophelia only for Everett to turn around and fire her, that would make it seem


    like sheined behind her back!


    "She''s just an assistant. The Lopez Corporation won''t miss her."


    "But I''ve only been here for six months. I don''t want to stir up any trouble."


    Their conversation hit a lull.


    After a while, Dorothy broke the silence. "You sick, Everett?"


    "No."


    "Liar, I can hear it in your voice. What''s up with your throat?"


    He was always too stubborn for his own good. She knew he hadn’t answered her call earlier


    because he didn''t want her to hear that he was unwell.


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    "Everett, go see a doctor if you''re sick. I''m not around, and Abigail and Langston count on you to


    take care of them."


    "They''re fine."


    "I know you''ve got the kids well taken care of, but they need their dad! And if you''re sick, you can''t


    y with them."


    There was another heavy silence on Everett''s end before he finally said, "I got it."


    "I gotta go. Take your medicine, get your shots."


    "Alright."


    Dorothy exhaled deeply after hanging up. Talking to Everett was like walking on eggshells. Every


    word, every sentence, had to be weighed carefully. Conversations were tricky terrain for exes.


    ...


    On the way to the tech summit in Liberty City, Everett stared at his darkened phone screen for what


    seemed like an eternity.


    As they neared their destination, he finally shifted his gaze to Kevin, who was driving.


    "What did you tell Dorothy?"


    "Uh, nothing much, really!"


    Everett looked down, his voice firm. "Don''t talk to her about my business next time."