Chapter 9 Confrontation

• I verbally acknowledged Julien's advice.
• When we finally exited the abandoned building, Julien opened the car door before helping me to secure my mom in the backseat.
• I glanced at him gratefully, and he immediately avoided my gaze, darting into the driver's seat and starting the engine.
• I sat in the back with my mom. The faint glow of the car's dashboard illuminated Julien's profile, highlighting the sharpness of his features. An odd feeling bloomed in my chest; I had not felt this way in a long time.
• Amazingly, he seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. As if sensing my gaze on him, he drawled, “Don't stare at me in that lovesick manner. I only followed you because I was worried that I wouldn't get my money back if you died. Plus, I've always been a sucker for a good fight. Don't start dreaming about our wedding or something.”
• I was speechless for the rest of the car ride.
• Julien showed no signs of alighting from the car when we arrived at the sanitarium. I helped my mom out of the car and thanked him through the car window.
• He drove off like he did not hear me. I stared blankly after his car until it disappeared into traffic, suddenly overcome with a sense of inexplicable sorrow.
• We headed into the sanitarium, where I tucked my mom into bed before setting up a foldable mattress for myself. Despite my exhaustion, it was impossible to fall asleep. Julien came to my mind several times, and despite my best efforts, his handsome face remained stubbornly rooted in my mind. After hours of tossing and turning, I eventually fell asleep.
• The next morning, I began my job at Sunshine Media as a clerk. When I told the HR department that I had interviewed for an accountant position, they told me that they were merely acting on Mr. Starck's orders.
• Since this was Julien's arrangement, I had no choice but to follow along. I knew I should have been counting my blessings that I had a job in the first place, let alone one in the Starcks' company. My plan was starting to take shape; I would have jumped at the chance to be a janitor if it meant I could stay in the company.
• That night, the company had planned a birthday dinner for one of the higher-ups. Julien's assistant informed me to attend the dinner and acquaint myself with the employees on Julien's orders.
• I had the misfortune of sighting Cary at the dinner. A woman was clinging to him like a limpet who, of course, had to be Sienna Starck.
• How I wished I could storm over to her and reveal Cary's deceit — a married man, a shameless liar, an engagement ring bought using misappropriated funds from my ex-company, and how he had driven my mom crazy after his scheme.
• I changed my mind after witnessing Sienna's arrogant air. There was no guarantee that she would believe the words of a lowly employee. Plus, if I told Sienna that Cary and I had not yet formalized our divorce, a pampered heiress like her would immediately assume that I was painting her as a mistress. While none of that was false, how could someone like her ever admit to being the mistress in a relationship?
• If she fired me from the company, it would be harder to exact my revenge on Cary. That sc*mbag's also threatening me with my mom's safety. I have to bide my time until I have the resources to ruin him.
• Cary, however, was not about to grant me the privacy I had so kindly afforded him. He followed me out onto the balcony, where I was enjoying the company of the night breeze. He gloated, “Why would Sunshine Media hire someone who was fired for misappropriating funds?”
• My body was positively burning with rage. This *sshole keeps pestering me even after he got away with his shameless crime!
• I glared at his disgusting face before turning to leave. He seized my wrist before I could escape and mocked, “Where are you going? I've got more to say.”
• My patience had run its course, and I slapped him as hard as I could with my free hand. “You shameless sc*mbag! You know exactly why I misappropriated those funds! Get away from me! You disgust me.”
• Cary grabbed my free hand and pressed my face against the balcony wall. “Don't try to hit above your weight. You're just an ordinary clerk, while I'm a manager.”
• “And how powerful would a manager be?” Julien's cold voice suddenly drifted from behind us.
• I twisted my head around to look at him. He had never seemed taller and more handsome than he did at this moment.
• “Mr. Starck, thank you for personally inviting me to tonight's dinner,” I said, placing extra emphasis on the word personally.