Even from behind the door, Irene could hear Dennis's frustration and fury."How could you be so stupid?!""It's all her fault, or Mr. Kitsch would have been—""No, that's Tobey's own damn fault, and he almost got Irene killed for it! She was only saved because her husband is Isaac Jefferson—if she ended up dead, things would be even worse for Tobey!" Dennis was utterly disappointed. "I know you owe Tobey, but you should also read the situation first! Trying to get even for Tobey when he's the one who messed up? Are you fucking crazy?!"Even though Dennis was losing it to the point of cursing, Finn Cook stayed obstinately silent, refusing to accept his mistake!Dennis glared at him, and he would have slapped Finn if he were his kid.Restraining himself, he said, "Irene Spencer will arrive for work soon. Apologize sincerely, and ask for her forgiveness—""No," Finn refused. "She did Mr. Kitsch dirty."Dennis almost slapped him right then.Still, he restrained himself again and l
Irene actually had an idea, but she just wanted Dennis to prove it."Tobey Kitsch, the former deputy director," Dennis said.Irene glowered—she was not surprised, but she was unhappy about it too.As she took a seat on the couch, Dennis asked, "Have you decided what to do about this?""You've been here for a while and you know the people here," Irene countered. "What do you think?"Dennis took the single-seat couch then, musing his words before saying, "It's not Finn Cook's fault. The boy is naive, and he's only sharp when it comes to academics. He made it here because he was the top of his class, and his score was much higher than the second-placer. Tobey instructed him after he arrived, though Tobey was still a head of department at the time, not deputy director.""He's from the sticks, but he got a state scholarship, so he's the type who's studious but not good with people. He's only being terrible partly because he was used, and because Tobey used to take good care of him. Yo
James said, "When Finn Cook first started to work at Hotmesh Research, it's Tobey Kitsch who mentored him."Isaac understood right then.Since things ended badly for Tobey, he must be aiming for revenge against Irene.So that was the reason for that phone call?Isaac sprang to his feet at the thought—Irene was in danger at Hotmesh."Get my car…" Isaac began as he put on his jacket, but changed his mind. "Forget it. I'm driving there myself."James wanted to say something, but Isaac already left his office.He simply shrugged and smiled, and mused to himself that people do change.He used to think that Isaac would never get worried. But these days……Meanwhile, Irene ran into yet another disgruntled colleague who wanted to mess with her soon after leaving Dennis's office.Yolanda King was in her forties, and also unhappy that Irene was airdropped as the next director. Still, she was pompous, and always pulled rank and threw her weight around just because she had seniority, an
Irene looked up when she heard the voice and saw him.His towering figure, and the presence he carried—honed after weathering trials and tribulations, seemed to strike like a powerful gust as he made his way towards her.But although Irene felt a moment of security from Isaac's arrival, she soon felt a headache—rumors that she slept her way to the top were all but proven now.She took a deep breath and asked, "What are you doing here?"Isaac remained silent, but he was leveling a sharp look at Yolanda.On the other hand, Dennis might be upset with Yolanda, but he did not want her fired.In fact, most of the employees there were quite competent. Knowing very well that Isaac was far less tender than Irene, he was really worried Isaac would want Yolanda fired!Smiling apologetically, he said, "Oh, it's just a little misunderstanding—""Really?" Isaac's lips curled up as he turned sharply toward Yolanda. "Was that a misunderstanding?"Utterly dwarfed in presence alone, Yolanda t
"Tobey Kitsch's wife," Irene answered flatly with a wane smile.She was the victim when it came to the research data leaks and was somehow targeted for relation. People were certainly as complicated as they were sinister."So? Have you thought about what you'd do?" Isaac asked, glowering. It was clear that he was very unhappy about this, especially after Irene suffered so much because of those leaks.And yet, they plotted revenge instead of being repentant, and the sheer inane attitude from that alone deserved no mercy. Seeing that Irene was silent, he quickly said, "I'll handle it."Irene looked up at him then, her dark eyelashes fluttering.After more silence, she said, "You can handle anything that happens outside this building. I'll handle what's within."Isaac became quiet, because he wanted to handle both for her.And judging from her look of hesitation, she was not going to be tough on them."Irene…""I never tell you what to do at work, so I would like you to not
Dennis was about to speak when Irene simply turned and left, while Yolanda caught his sleeve. "You've always been nice to Irene, Director. She would definitely listen if you asked."However, Dennis was smart enough to judge that the best option here was for Irene to handle this herself. Even if Irene was willing to spare Yolanda, Yolanda must first be direct with her."Do it yourself—you're not a child. Why can't you let go of your pride?"With those words, Dennis strode off.Yolanda was going to have to think through this herself, and anything anyone else would say was pointless.With that, Yolanda was left sitting on the stone bench with a major headache.It was not as if she did not know how to weigh a situation, and she certainly understood that her job was more important.She just could not put aside her pride.Moreover, she was the one who messed with Irene first, and with Irene being so much younger than she was, Yolanda knows that once she apologized, she would never
Henry was leaning on his seat, his body covered under a blanket.He was skinny and withered. The wrinkles on his neck were distinct and his eyes were sunken and dull, while his face was covered in irregular patches of liver spots.A man like him should be surrounded by his children and grandchildren, reveling in familial joy, but Henry appeared desolate and miserable.Even so, Irene still felt no sympathy because it was all Henry's own fault, and he could not blame anyone else."I know you want me to talk to Isaac. After all, you're old and need family now more than ever, don't you?""Would you help me?" Henry would certainly admit that he was old and needed company."Don't you have Ian Jefferson already?" Irene pointed out icily. "You're still blaming me for that?" Henry rasped feebly—even his voice seemed old."The past is the past. I won't pursue it any further," she said, holding his gaze. "You had me marry Isaac as my father requested, because you had your agenda. You wan
Irene did a double take. "W-What are you doing here?"Ricky was glaring at her. "Did you know that Lulu left?""I was just looking for you—""Did you know?!" Ricky was planning to have dinner with Lulu and went to her house to look for her, only to find that she was gone, along with all her belongings.She did not leave any message either, and Ricky remembered that she had been behaving strangely because she regained her memory.In that case, she most definitely would go to Irene!"Calm down first," Irene told him."Calm down? How?! I'm losing my mind looking for her!"Ricky had looked everywhere he could, and only came to Irene after he ran out of places to look."Why can't you? Lulu's not going to fall for you when you're bristling like a kid. Come to me again when you calmed down enough and can talk normally!"With that, Irene started to stride off, and Ricky panickily caught her sleeve. "Irene…"Irene held his gaze. "I'm serious. If you can't calm down and listen, I wo