An Affair With The Ceo (Natasha and Jared) novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110 She Was Already Gone

Chapter 110 She Was Already Gone

Natasha instinctively frowned.

She had no idea why Bernard had suddenly called her to work at Whittier Group.

But one thing was crystal clear to her: it definitely wasn’t about her.

“No!” Natasha refused.

Bernard fixed Natasha with a steely glare. “Think carefully before you answer me.”

Natasha stared right back at Bernard and replied again. “My answer is still no.”

Without warning, Bernard threw the golf club right at Natasha.

Natasha managed to dodge just in time.

The club crashed to the floor with a heavy thud.

Bernard’s face twisted in fury. “Damn fool. I’m offering you a chance, and you actually dare to refuse me?”

Bernard grumbled to himself, ‘Does she think I want her working at Whittier Group?

‘Bringing her into Whittier Group will be a nightmare to explain to Roxanne.

‘I have to figure out how to placate Roxanne and make up for it.

‘But Natasha just shut me down with a single word.

‘She doesn’t give a damn about my efforts as her father.’

“If I’m right, Dad, the real reason you want me at Whittier Group is so you don’t end up offending Harley, isn’t it?” Natasha’s expression was inscrutable as she murmured, speculating quietly.

Bernard froze for a second.

He found himself studying Natasha, his youngest daughter, a bit more closely.

Natasha was born to his second wife, and to make matters worse, she was a girl.

Bernard, Natasha’s father, barely cared for her or guided her as she grew up.

He never had high expectations for Natasha, nor did he expect much from her.

As long as she behaved herself and stayed quietly in the Whittier family, that was enough for him.

Most of the time, Bernard paid far more attention to his son, Collin, and his daughter, Joelle.

Unfortunately, Collin lacked talent, and Joelle, Roxanne’s daughter, was constantly misbehaving.

Whittier Group had been in a bad way for years.

He was forced to rely on Harley to survive the ruthless power struggles among the upper-class families.

But last night, Harley happened to spot Natasha hanging around with Jared, his nephew, a little too much.

When Bernard got home, he had his people dig into it and found out Natasha was actually working as Jared’s assistant.

He’d already thrown the Whittier family’s lot in with Harley.

Everyone knew that ever since Harley’s older brother died, he’d been controlling the Rundell family and wanted nothing more than to get rid of Jared, his nephew.

And now Natasha was actually working for Jared. Wasn’t she making things harder for Bernard?

“Knowing all this, you still say no?” Bernard shot back, disbelief in his voice.

He couldn’t help but admit Natasha was sharper than he’d ever expected.

But Natasha was working as Jared’s assistant, which was causing him to indirectly offend Harley. That was a grudge Bernard couldn’t swallow.

Hearing Bernard’s words, Natasha knew she’d hit the nail on the head.

She narrowed her eyes. “That’s exactly why I had to say no.”

“You!” Bernard glared at her, his aged face darkening with fury.

Natasha retorted, “From what I know, Harley isn’t the true heir of the Rundell family. Jared is! Are you so sure that throwing in with Harley will actually keep the Whittier family safe?”

“I…” Bernard was caught off guard, unable to come up with a response.

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Chapter 110 She Was Already Gone

Natasha laid it out calmly, “Back then, Jared was young and reckless, and got sent overseas. That gave Harley the chance chante to take over the Rundell family after his brother died. But he was never the true heir.

“Sooner or later, the Rundell family and Rundell Group will return to Jared. If you bet everything on Harley, and Jared ends up taking control while Harley loses power, the Whittier family will be caught in the fallout and pay the price!”

Bernard’s face grew somber, lost in thought.

To his surprise, he realized that Natasha, whom he never thought much of, actually made some sense.

But he quickly scoffed. “You think I don’t know all that? The Whittier family has already sided with Harley. Do you think we can just walk away whenever we feel like it?”

After all these years in business, Bernard knew full well that Harley was past his prime and couldn’t compete with Jared

anymore.

But he’s already taken Harley’s favors and thrown his lot in with him. Pulling out now was easier said than done. Natasha shot back, “Dad, just because you teamed up with Harley doesn’t mean everyone in the Whittier family has to all in line. Especially not me, the daughter you never favored and could never control.”

Bernard got it instantly.

He thought, ‘Natasha is hinting that I should keep a foot in both camps.

‘I can stay on good terms with Harley while turning a blind eye to Natasha working for Jared.

‘If anyone asks, I can claim Natasha is a troublemaker, always defying me and refusing to be managed.

‘I always look down on Natasha anyway.

‘Nobody will question it.

‘That way, the Whittier family will have a hidden card with Jared in the pocket.

‘No matter who wins or loses between Harley and Jared, the Whittier family will never lose.’

Bernard’s eyes flickered with a hint of admiration.

For the first time, he truly saw Natasha in a new, more respectful light.

“I’ll think about it,” Bernard finally relented, his voice losing its edge.

He dropped the issue, no longer pressuring Natasha to quit and join Whittier Group.

“Everything we discussed today stays between us. Not a word to anyone, not even your mother,” Bernard said, his tone

serious.

Natasha nodded. “Got it, Dad.”

Natasha finally let out a sigh of relief once she stepped out of the Whittier Group building.

Thank goodness, she’d thought up that story on the fly to get Bernard off her back.

If Bernard had forced her into the Whittier Group, Roxanne would never have let her stay.

And then, Roxanne would kick her and her mother out of the Whittier family, which wouldn’t just be empty threats anymore.

It was almost noon.

Natasha was dead tired and barely keeping her eyes open.

Her whole body was still sore from her first night with Jared.

And to make matters worse, Bernard had hauled her into Whittier Group early this morning.

It felt like she’d just finished another round of mental sparring with Bernard.

Now, she was totally spent. There wasn’t a drop of energy left in her.

Natasha wandered into a random diner nearby and grabbed a quick bowl of pasta.

Then she called Derek and asked him to call in sick for her.

After that, she headed straight back to her apartment at Oceanview International.

She crashed into bed and was out like a light.

*****

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