An Affair With The Ceo (Natasha and Jared) novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77 He Couldn’t Punish Her

Chapter 77 He Couldn’t Punish Her

Suddenly, a sharp bang echoed through the room.

Jared brought his hand down hard on the conference table.

“Are you telling me what to do?” he said coldly.

His gaze was sharp and cold, his voice dripping with arrogance.

The atmosphere in the conference room instantly turned icy.

Everyone else in the room held their breath and kept completely silent, not even daring to make a sound.

The consequences of angering Jared were more than any of them could handle.

“I’m not resigning!” Natasha shot Jared a determined look, straightening her back as she spoke, her tone/firm and unyielding.

She said, “I didn’t leak any information. There’s no way I’m taking the fall and quitting for something I didn’t do!”

Her eyes locked onto Marsh. “On the contrary, I’m going to find out who really betrayed Rundell Group and leaked the BC Project!”

Jared’s sharp, hawk-like eyes locked onto her, his lips pressed into a thin, hard line.

Jared thought, ‘Why can’t she understand my good intentions?’

He only wanted her to resign so she’d be safe.

But she didn’t appreciate it, not at all.

Jared felt like his anger had just hit a wall of cotton, no resistance, no impact.

But seeing the steely determination in Natasha’s eyes, something he’d never witnessed before, he managed to hold back his anger.

“Whatever!” he said coldly, leaving the words hanging in the air.

He strode out of the conference room, his expression icy.

Everyone else filed out one by one.

Natasha stood there, her brows furrowed in frustration.

She felt a wave of hurt and injustice she couldn’t even put into words.

Derek walked over to comfort her. “Natasha, don’t be upset! We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”

He thought, ‘Since Mr. Rundell hasn’t called the cops or kicked her out right then and there, it is clear he is giving her

another shot.’

With hope flickering in her eyes, Natasha turned to him. “Derek, do you believe me?”

Derek nodded instantly. “Of course, I believe you.”

Natasha smiled in relief, the tension finally easing from her face.

‘Finally, someone actually believes me, Natasha thought, feeling the burden in her heart lighten at last.

But her eyes quickly lost their spark again. “But… why doesn’t he trust me?”

They didn’t need to say his name. They both knew exactly who she meant.

Derek sighed. “Maybe Mr. Rundell has his own struggles.”

After all, being at the top wasn’t easy. Sometimes, Jared had to make tough calls, whether he liked it or not.

But one thing Derek knew for sure. If it wasn’t Natasha caught up in this mess, Jared would’ve had the cops here and fired the culprit without a second thought.

Marsh hurried back to his office and locked the door behind him.

He immediately called Harley Rundell.

Marsh blurted out, “Mr. Rundell, you have to get my whole family out of the country, now. If Jared finds out I was the one who copied the BC Project files, he’ll kill me!”

He’d seen firsthand just how furious Jared was in the conference room today.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine the kind of dire consequences he’d face if Jared ever discovered he was the one who

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Chapter 77 He Couldn’t Punish Her

betrayed him and the company.

Harley’s voice came through, dark and menacing. “What are you so afraid of? Nobody’s pinned this on you yet. If you bolt now, you’ll just tip them off and make yourself look even more suspicious.”

Marsh blurted out, his panic barely contained. “But people are already starting to suspect me! If I don’t get out now, I might not have another shot…”

His nerves were shot, like a thief caught in the act. All he wanted was to grab the cash and get out before it was too late. Harley narrowed his eyes. “Who’s got you in their sights?”

Marsh had no choice but to come clean. “Natasha Whittier, the assistant.

“The day I slipped into the CEO’s office to make a copy of the BC Project files, she happened to run into me just as I was leaving…”

A cold glint flashed in Harley’s eyes. “I’ll deal with her for you. Just stay at Rundell Group and keep playing your part. You’ll get every benefit I promised, not a cent short.”

Marsh felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Thank you, Mr. Rundell!”

With Harley stepping in to handle Natasha, Marsh could finally relax.

Night had fallen, heavy and dark.

The CEO’s office was still lit up.

Derek pushed the door open and walked in.

He spotted Jared standing alone by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his tall frame silhouetted against the city lights, a cigar in hand, looking brooding and lost. Derek let out a sigh.

“Mr. Rundell…” Derek called out softly.

He walked over and tried to reassure him. “Honestly, the leak didn’t involve the most sensitive parts of the BC Project, and we contained the situation quickly.

“If you go to Thalruar and explain things to their team in person, they might not push for canceling the contract after all…”

After a long pause, Jared finally spoke, his voice low and heavy. “I know.”

Derek looked puzzled. “If you already know that, then why are you still so…”

‘It’s almost eleven, and he’s still here, refusing to call it a night?’ Derek thought, feeling a mix of concern and helplessness.

Jared turned around, his tall frame casting a shadow, and sank into his executive chair.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, weariness etched across his face. “It’s not about that…”

Derek paused, surprised.

But then realization dawned on him. “Is this about Natasha?” Derek asked.

Derek had long sensed that Jared had special feelings for Natasha.

Jared’s expression froze for a moment.

A flicker of pain flashed in his eyes, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

His heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain sharp and twisting.

It was the kind of deep wound he would get when someone he loved betrayed him.

“Honestly, I don’t think Natasha had anything to do with the BC Project leak. If you ask me, Marsh looks way more suspicious,” Derek said, laying out his opinion.

I had someone tail Marsh all day.

After the meeting, Marsh just holed up in his office and didn’t come out once.

That kind of behavior screamed guilty.

“It’s not just about the leak. It’s her…” Jared’s face twisted with hurt, and he stopped, unable to get the words out.

If Natasha hadn’t played him last night, pretending it was a date, only to shove him toward another woman, he would’ve trusted her completely today.

But she already let him down once last night.

That just showed she never really cared about him, not even a little.

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Chapter 77 He Couldn’t Punish Her

With the BC Project leak, he had to treat it like business, no room for personal feelings.

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