Chapter 22


    "Was the snow mountain pretty?"


    "How much did you drink?"


    He dodged my question.


    I turned away gloomily and stared out the car window. Then I heard Bruce say, “Don''t say that I didn''t warn you. Drop your schemes."


    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then, I asked, "What schemes?"


    He said coldly, "Trying to be sneaky, but you''re on the wrong path."


    Oh, so he knew. I really couldn''t hide anything from him.


    I yed it cool, "You''re right, Mr. Harold. I''ve always been way off the track."


    Right after I said that, the car screeched to a halt and made me lurch forward. It took a moment for me to settle down.


    I opened my eyes confusedly, only to find the car stopped. Bruce was staring at me in a way he never had before.


    Even his arms holding the steering wheel tightened a bit.


    I felt something dangerous in the air.


    Before I could say anything, he suddenly leaned over. His fingers brushed over my shoulder, sending chills down my spine in the dim light.


    A soapy scent filled my senses, and his warm breath was felt upon my face. In a daze, I heard him say, "Nance."


    I dreamt of those hands again, tightly gripping onta my waist.


    But when I woke up. I was at my ce. My head throbbed, and my muscles ached.


    Looking down, I saw a bruise under my corbone, like a deliberate mark. That jolted me awake.


    Everything in the dream felt real. But. there was no sign of a man having been in my room


    I went to work in a daze. Right as I .


    walked in; Caroline dragged me into


    her office. '' ‘Nance, your tactic.‘


    worked wonders. Bruce has forgiven


    us."


    My heart tightened. "When did this happen?"


    ‘His assistant called me first thing in


    the morning. But Bruce also said,if


    Anika won''t adjust the design tothe


    one > Cindy wants, then we''ll still need


    ta. change the designer.’ Content


    belongs to  ~


    That made me feel uneasy. The timing was too coincidental, especially right after what happenedst night.


    Cindy''s voice interrupted my thoughts.


    Caroline and I exchanged nces before opening the door.


    Cindy handed us a box of macarons, saying softly, "Ms. Whittaker, Nance, I bought these desserts especially for you."


    Caroline smiled and said, "Ms. Lane, you''re too kind.”? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Cindy''s eyes sparkled. "Ms.


    Whittaker, Nance, I mishandled


    things before, so please don''t takett


    to heart. {Wve already talked it over


    with Bruce. Moving forward, lets all


    work-together and achieve —


    greatness."


    4


    After saying this, she even made a fist pump gesture—yful yet sincere. It was hard to stay mad at her.


    But when did she talk to Bruce?


    “Nance.” Cindy blinked her big eyes. "I sent you a messagest night. Didn''t you see it?"


    I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. There it was, a message from Cindy. "Nance, Bruce has agreed.”


    The message was sent shortly after I left the hillside vi.