16 min left
Cool as ice, Caroline fired back, “Valid concerns. But let me drop some logic: if I were really hustling kickbacks, wouldn’t I at least make it look legit? What kind of idiot uses their personal account? You think I spent years as a senior secretary with my head up my ass?
“This frame job’s amateur hour. But now this BS has blown up into a media circus, dragging my rep through the mud.
“And where’s the Martin Group? MIA, leaving me to handle this alone.
“Once this dumpster fire dies down, I’m considering new career paths.”
Caroline played the media like a fiddle, charging at the Martin Group without getting her hands dirty. And got her name cleared.
The reporters smelled blood. What started as a sketchy transfer was turning into prime–time drama, and they started coming at the Martin Group hard.
“Ms. Warren, you saying someone inside Martin Group set you. up?”
Caroline blinked, playing it smooth. “Never said that. When that transfer went down, I was knocked out cold. Could be some
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hacker playing games.”
16 min left
Just as the vultures were circling in, a voice like liquid nitrogen cut through the chaos. “Whether it’s some hacker’s work or you’re using us as a stepping stone with this little soap opera, you know what’s what.”
Not loud, but it packed a punch.
Everyone’s heads snapped toward a Maybach parked nearby.
The door swung open, but Caleb stayed put. He lounged back like he owned the place in that bougie seat, legs crossed, giving Caroline the coldest side–eye ever.
“Martin Group isn’t ghosting anyone. Some people are just getting way too ahead of themselves. Ms. Warren, you’re dropping career bombshells to the press before giving your boss a memo? Real classy move there, don’t you think?”
As he talked, he flicked his wrist. Bodyguards materialized from nowhere, pushing back the press and boxing in Caroline and Anthony.
Protection detail? More like a power move.
Anthony couldn’t help smirking. “Mr. Martin, they snatched Caroline right under your nose. If you really wanted to lend a hand, you could’ve stepped up then. Why wait for me to play white knight?”
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These supposed rivals were acting more like old drinking buddies.
16 min loft
With Caleb staying quiet, Anthony kept running his mouth, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “If Caroline’s thinking about jumping ship, why all the theatrics? Just give me the green light, and I’ll snag her for my company, no questions asked.
“After all, she’s one of the top–notch talents. I’ve been watching. her for years, dying to get her on my squad.”
Everyone in Chicago knew these two were at each other’s throats, but here they were, playing tug–of–war over Caroline. like she was the last cookic.
Caleb kept his cool, even throwing out a smirk. “Funny you say that. With all these economic fraud rumors flying around, people are doubting every project she was in charge of.
“Since you’re so confident in her, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and audit every single one? Clear her name while you’re at it.”
Anthony’s face dropped. His little game of chicken just backfired spectacularly.
He forced a smile through clenched teeth, then turned to
Caroline, pouting a bit. “Impressive. Your man’s got teeth sharp enough to shred titanium.”
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16 min left
Suddenly, all eyes were on Caleb as the cameras zeroed in on
him.
Caroline leaned in close to Anthony, keeping it low. “Pro tip: don’t burn bridges. Just grab the chance he’s throwing your way to boost your company’s rep.”
Anthony’s frown lasted a hot second before the lightbulb went off.
Being a big shot for years, he had to hand it to Caroline–she could think fast on her feet.
Admiration flashed in his eyes.
Watching them whispering and getting all cozy like that had Caleb losing his mind with jealousy.
He gave his bodyguards a nod.
In a heartbeat, one of them stepped between Caroline and Anthony like a wall. “Ms. Warren, this circus is getting wild. For your safety, we’re taking you back right now!”
Before Caroline could even blink, he grabbed her arm, leading her away from the commotion.
Caroline couldn’t wriggle free, and Anthony soon got boxed out by two more bodyguards. Trapped in the media mess, he could
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only watch Caroline get whisked into Caleb’s car.
The car door slammed shut, and the partition went up.
16 min left
Caleb’s fingers, sharp as knives, dug into Caroline’s shoulder as he demanded, “What’s going on between you two?”
Caroline leaned against the window and hit him with a death stare, smirking. “None of your damn business.”
His face went storm–cloud dark, grip tightening. “Playing coy? Are you covering for him?”
With a cold snort of disgust, he went in. “So you already had your backup plan locked and loaded. No wonder you were dead. set on divorce. But I thought you’d found someone better… That Anthony? For real? Did you leave your brain cells in the trash when you quit or what?”
Yet Caroline’s smirk got even more toxic. “You really think you’re all that compared to him? I quit because you and your company are going down the tubes. Now you’re trying to frame me with this whack BS. That’s some next–level crazy.”
Caleb spat, “Ridiculous! If I were really behind this, you think he could’ve gotten you out today? Starting to think you staged this whole thing just to play victim for the media.”
Caroline studied his face. She could tell he was quite furious.
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Frame job is indeed beneath him.
He probably just wanted to watch me sweat it out.
16 min left
“Since you’re so dying to know, here’s the tea,” she retorted. “That money was transferred the night before Michelle posted on Instagram.
“Dominic, who always acted like I had the plague or something, suddenly got all clingy about sharing my bed. By the time that transfer went through, I was out cold and my phone was in his hands.
“Connect the dots, genius. Who’s really pulling strings here?”
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