Chapter 49
“Sadie!” The authority in Noah’s voice echoed in the tense air.
Sadie stopped dead in her tracks, inhaled deeply to steady her nerves, and turned around. Her lips, a striking shade of red, parted ever so slightly. With a voice that carried a steady resolve, yet trembled ever so subtly, she asked, “Mr. Wall, is there anything else you need?”
Kyla cast a wary glance at Noah, trying to gauge his thoughts. His rage was palpable, radiating in waves that filled the room. She surmised it was sparked by Sadie’s daring behavior.
“Sadie, every organization abides by its own set of rules. I trust you’ll refrain from disregarding our company’s guidelines in the future,” Kyla said, her voice soft yet imbued with an authoritative firmness. It looked like she already considered herself the CEO’s wife. “As a consequence of your actions, your bonus for this project will be withheld.”
Sadie’s response was swift and fierce. She jerked her head up, her gaze icy as she fixed Kyla with a cold, challenging stare. Her delicate features were twisted in fury, her teeth gritted. “What right do you have to make this decision?” she demanded sharply.
Ignoring the tension, Kyla subtly leaned against Noah, her posture feigning vulnerability. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at him imploringly. “Noah, did I do something wrong? Imagine the chaos if everyone at Wall Group behaved as she did.”
Noah’s response came as a dismissive snort, his voice laced with a clear edge of impatience. “I have to agree with Kyla—Sadie, you really did mess up here.”
Sadie’s fingers clenched around her bag, the sharp press of her nails against her palm unnoticed in her rising agitation.
She had poured her heart into this project, aiming to impress Roy and shift the tide in her favor. Yet here she was, on the brink of losing everything because of Kyla’s remarks.
“Noah, it appears Sadie is opposed to this punishment,” Kyla murmured, her voice a mask of regret, though her eyes told a different story. “However, without it, we risk setting a precedent that might lead others to disregard our policies.”
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“Mr. Wall,” Sadie interjected, her restraint evaporating as she faced Noah directly. Her features hardened with resolve, each word tinged with a quiet ferocity. “If I’m denied the bonus for this project, then consider the proposal for Mr. Dominguez withdrawn. If he pushes for more details, don’t expect me to back you up.”
In that moment, Sadie realized she would rather face the repercussions than watch Noah reap the benefits of her diligence. Why should she be the one to endure such injustice? All she desired was a modest bonus to ease her and her child’s life after the divorce.
Why the hell couldn’t Noah just let her have this one?
With a heavy heart and no desire to linger, Sadie turned and walked away, each step echoing her profound disappointment.
Sadie’s high heels clicked sharply against the floor, each step echoing like a mockery of her misplaced confidence.
Kyla watched as Sadie walked away, a smug smile curling the corners of her lips. Her eyes and brows sparkled with uncontained triumph, as if she was savoring a small but sweet victory. “Noah, how could Sadie say that?” she asked, her voice tinged with grievance and accusation. “She works for Wall Group, so naturally, her project proposal belongs to the company.”
Noah’s gaze followed Sadie’s departure, his expression inscrutable. He gently removed Kyla’s hand, containing his inner conflict, and said softly, “Kyla, go home.”
Kyla’s smile faltered, her perfectly groomed eyebrows knitting together in frustration. She wasn’t ready to leave, not like this. It had taken so much effort to convince Noah to spend time with her, only for Sadie to ruin everything.
Suppressing her irritation, Kyla leaned in close, her arm wrapping around Noah’s with feigned tenderness. “Noah, let me stay with you. It’s been so hard for us to get back together…” Her voice was sweet but carried a hint of reproach, as if blaming Noah for their scarce moments together.
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