After the Affair Falling into a Billionaire's Arms novel Chapter 22

**Clocks Lie To Hearts by Asa River Flint**

Louisa came to an abrupt halt, her expression as frigid as a winter’s night.

From the confines of the office, Jared sensed the turmoil and squeezed his eyes shut, a wave of despair washing over him. It was all over now; there was no turning back.

Louisa’s reaction was minimal, but the look she shot him was enough to send a chill down his spine. “Move!” she commanded, her voice sharp and authoritative, leaving no room for debate.

Without a word, Jared stepped aside, his heart racing as he let her pass.

With a determined stride, Louisa pushed the office door open, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the tense silence.

A loud bang reverberated through the room, followed by the piercing scream of Vivian.

Vivian was perched on George’s lap, clad in a sheer lace dress that left little to the imagination, completely bare beneath it.

George’s hand had been lost in the fabric of her dress, caressing her with a familiarity that made Louisa’s stomach twist. When their eyes met, he instinctively withdrew his hand, the panic evident on his face.

In stark contrast to the chaos unfolding before her, Louisa remained unsettlingly composed.

She stood at the threshold, her gaze locked onto them with an icy intensity. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said, her tone steady and devoid of emotion.

Vivian was the first to break the silence, her voice rising in a frantic pitch. “Louisa, you’re nothing but a lowly secretary! How dare you barge into the CEO’s office? You’re fired! Get out! Get out!”

Louisa remained unfazed, her focus unwavering as she directed her attention solely to George. “I came to inform you that the marketing department is stable now. Starting tomorrow, I won’t be coming in.”

She took a breath, her voice unwavering. “Naomi Kelly and Liam Barnes, whom I trained, are more than capable. You can hand over the marketing department to them, and it won’t fall apart.”

“Or, if you prefer, you can make other arrangements. Just don’t send an idiot to manage them, or they’ll slack off.”

Her tone was formal, entirely devoid of the emotional upheaval one might expect from a wronged wife confronting infidelity.

George felt a flicker of guilt rise within him, murmuring, “Got it.”

Louisa nodded curtly, her gaze flicking to Vivian before returning to George. “You can continue your… meeting.”

With that, she turned to leave, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

Yet, just as she reached the threshold, Vivian’s shrill voice sliced through the air once more.

Louisa had dared to call her an idiot, and Vivian’s anger boiled over. “Louisa, who do you think you are, calling me names? You don’t get to decide if we continue or not! George said he’s not interested in you anymore. He loves me! We’re together every night…”

“Enough!” George’s voice thundered, cutting her off with a fierce authority.

Vivian instinctively fell silent, her eyes wide.

Louisa turned back, a mocking smile curling her lips. “Why stop her? Let her talk. I’d love to hear just how low the Price family’s daughter can stoop!”

“Stoop?! How dare you!” Vivian’s fury erupted, and she lunged at Louisa, her hands clawing.

Without hesitation, Louisa retaliated, delivering a sharp slap across Vivian’s face.

The two men in the room stood in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

Vivian, fueled by rage, attempted to strike back.

Louisa seized the moment, grabbing Vivian’s dress and yanking it down, raising her hand for another blow.

But before she could make contact, George stepped between them, his hand striking Louisa instead.

The force of his slap sent her staggering back, the corner of the desk colliding painfully with her lower back.

After a moment, she steadied herself, the pain subsiding enough for her to start the car and drive out of the Capulet Group’s parking lot.

The rain began to fall, a light drizzle that quickly intensified.

George’s calls flooded her phone, but she silenced it, craving solitude amidst the chaos.

Finally, a moment of peace enveloped her.

The sky overhead was a dreary gray, and the rain poured down in heavy sheets.

Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the red light ahead.

Fortunately, she wasn’t speeding. She attempted to brake, but the pain in her back flared violently, rendering her unable to stop.

With a sickening thud, she crashed into the sleek black Maybach in front of her, her body slamming against the steering wheel, intensifying the agony in her back.

Her face drained of color, she felt momentarily dazed, the world around her blurring.

Suddenly, a knock on her window jolted her back to reality.

She blinked slowly, forcing herself to open the door despite the pain coursing through her.

The figure outside was taken aback upon seeing her face. “Ms. Forbes?”

Louisa looked up, equally surprised. “Mr. Young?”

It was Teddy, Julian’s special assistant.

She glanced at the Maybach, then back at Teddy. “I’m really sorry for hitting your car. Do you want to settle this privately, or should we involve insurance?”