Chapter38


    AvelinehungupthephoneandturnedtoLucas.“Ineedtogo.backtotheoffice.”


    Lucas’sexpressionwascold.“No,we’llfilefordivorcefirst.”


    Avelinefeltapang inherchestbutresponded,“Icandivorceyouanytime,butIcan’tlosemyjob.YouknowIrelyonthisjobtomakealiving.”


    Lucas‘darkeyesstaredatherforalongmomentbeforehefinallysaid,“Gototheoffice.”


    Thedriverimmediatelychangeddirection.


    Assoonastheygotoutofthecar,Avelinehurriedtowardstheelevator.ShegotinjustasitarrivedandpressedtheclosebuttonwithoutwaitingforLucas.Butjustbeforethedoorsclosed,ahandreachedin,triggeringthesensorstoreopenthe doors.


    Avelinesighed.Couldn’thehavetakentheotherelevator?


    Lucas’stallfigureentered,makingtheelevatorfeelevensmaller.Avelinestoodinthecorner,openingtheprojectfilesonherphoreviewallthedetailsandensureshewaspreparedtodiscussthemwithhermanager.


    Whentheelevatordoorsopened,Avelinewalkedoutwithoutlookingback.


    Lucaswatchedherslenderfiguredisappear,someofthedarknessinhiseyesfading.


    AssoonasAvelineenteredtheoffice,shenoticedtheunusutmosphere.Everyonelookedserious,andWilliamwaspacing


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    backandforth,lookingextremelystressed.


    “Mr.Foster,what’sgoingon?”Avelineasked.


    Seeingher,themanagerimmediatelysaid,“ThedesignnsfortheShentonprojectwereleaked.SomeoneusedthemtonegotiatewithBrightonEnterprisesfirst.


    “BrightonEnterprisesjustcalledmetosaythey’rereconsideringthecoboration.MissYoung,youwereinchargeoftheShentonproject.Duringthistime,didyouevertakeanymaterialsoutoftheoffice?”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Aveline’sexpressionturnedserious.“Mr.Foster,areyouusingmeofleakingthens?”


    Williamreplied,“Ijustcheckedwitheveryoneelse,andtheyhavenosuspicions.Butyou’vebeeinginearlyandleavinte, andyou’veevenmissedafewdaysofwork.MissYoung,Iknowyou’recapable,butit’shardnottosuspectyou.”


    Avelineresponded,“Iwasinthehospitalforaworkinjury.Areyoucountingthatagainstmetoo?”


    Atthatmoment,awoman’svoiceinterrupted,“Isn’titeasytodosomethinglikethiswhileyou’reinthehospital?”


    ThewomanwasZoeFox,whohadpreviouslpetedwithAveline fortheShentonproject,whichAvelineultimatelysecured.


    Avelinereplied,“Didyouseemeleakingthens?”


    Zoepaused.“Ofcoursenot.”


    “Thenwhyareyoutalkingnonsense?”Avelineretorted.


    Zoe’sexpressiondarkened.


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    Williamwavedhishand.“Nowisnotthetimeforarguments.ThemostimportantthingrightnowistosalvageourcoborationwithBrightonEnterprises.Youallknowwhatthisdealmeans.Ifweseed,itwillbeasignificantachievementforoupany,andpromotionsandraiseswillsurelyfollow!”


    HethenturnedtoAveline.“MissYoung,youarethemainpersonresponsibleforthisproject.Whatdoyouthink?”


    Avelineloweredhergazeand,afteramomentofcontemtion,said,“IwillworktorecoverthelossesandgetBrightonEnterprisestocoboratewithusagain.”


    Zoescoffed.“You’resofullofyourself.”


    Avelinelookedather,hercleareyesfilledwithcoldness.


    Zoemutteredacurseandwalkedaway.


    Williamsaid,“Alright,we’recountingonyou.Everyoneelse,stayfocusedanddon’tneglectyourtasks.”


    Avelinereturnedtoherdesk,staredatheputerindeepthoughtforawhile,thentookoutherphosendamessagetoSelena.


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