His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 14

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 14**

Marina’s icy stare swept across Shawna’s sharp, aggrieved little face, her voice dripping with a languid sarcasm. “You managed to mess up something as simple as pouring coffee. At this rate, we might as well just let her go, don’t you think?”

In an instant, Shawna’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears, her vulnerability threatening to spill over.

Lavern’s brow furrowed, a momentary hesitation holding him back from immediately siding with Marina.

Marina’s lips curled into a slight smirk, her frosty gaze sliding sideways to Lavern, who sat beside her. “What’s the matter? Can’t bear the thought of losing her?”

Frustration simmered just beneath the surface of Lavern’s composed demeanor, his voice deep and flat, revealing none of the emotions roiling within him.

“Marina,” he said, his tone steady yet firm, “remember how you envisioned the Ross Group as a welcoming and supportive environment? If we start firing people over a minor mistake like this, the entire team will be tiptoeing around, paranoid about every little thing they do.”

He was tossing her own words back at her, a deliberate challenge.

Marina locked her gaze onto his, her expression completely detached, as if she were an observer in this unfolding drama. “Didn’t you just say you’d cut her loose at the first sign of my unhappiness? Well, consider me very unhappy.”

Silence enveloped them, Lavern’s brows knitted tightly together as he stared back at her, annoyance flickering in his eyes, a storm brewing behind his calm exterior.

Marina maintained her gaze, a sly smile dancing in her eyes, her resolve unyielding.

The conference room was thick with tension, the air heavy and oppressive.

Shawna’s soft sniffles shattered the silence as she murmured, “I’m so sorry, Marina. I messed up. I’ll clean this up right away. Please, don’t fire me.”

As she spoke, she crouched down, desperately trying to gather the shards of the broken coffee cup. A sharp piece grazed her finger, drawing a bead of blood that glistened like a tiny, painful gem.

She didn’t dare look to Lavern for support, her head bowed as she continued to pick up the pieces with her injured hand, letting out occasional whimpers, much like a fragile flower battered by a relentless storm, struggling to hold on.

Marina’s attention shifted to Lavern, who sat beside her, his eyes a tempest of barely contained anger and control.

“Marina! Do you really have to be so cruel? She didn’t commit a capital offense, and you’re ready to toss her aside without a second thought? This is Ross Group, not some playground; I won’t let you throw a tantrum and turn everything upside down!”

Marina regarded his outburst with a subtle smirk, her eyes devoid of rage, as if she were merely an amused spectator at a captivating performance.

“Do you want me to remind you about the cameras in this room? Should I cue up the footage and show everyone what she was doing under the table during a serious meeting?”

Lavern’s expression faltered, his resolve crumbling in an instant.

Shawna clutched the jagged pieces of the cup, her tears abruptly ceasing, replaced by a chilling silence.

Marina let out a light chuckle, laced with mockery. “Or does Mr. Ross secretly thrive on that kind of thrill?”

Shawna’s face flushed a deep crimson as she scrambled to take full responsibility. “Marina, it’s all my fault; I got carried away. I just…”

Lavern, likely feeling the weight of the moment, squeezed his eyes shut for a brief second and interjected, “I think it’s best to let her go now.”

Shawna’s face fell, her expression a mix of shock and despair, tears pooling rapidly in her eyes.

Lavern avoided her gaze, his own filled with turmoil. “So, you’re good now? Not angry anymore?”

Marina, feeling a wave of boredom wash over her, was about to leave when Shawna’s desperate voice reached her ears.

“Marina, please don’t fire me. My family is struggling; they burn through medications every month. And I have student loans looming over me, the repayments take a huge chunk out of my budget every time.”

“Please, let me keep my position at Ross Group. I promise, I’ll never slip up like this again.”

Her tears flowed freely now, a stark contrast to the confident provocateur she had been just days ago.

Out of the corner of her eye, Marina noticed Lavern’s hand clenching into a fist at his side. His expression was impassive, but she could sense the turmoil within him, the ache he felt for Shawna’s plight.

Realizing she was being scrutinized, Lavern attempted to maintain his composure, reaching out to offer her comfort. “Let me take you home?”

Lavern frowned, instinctively moving to block her path. “Marina…”

“Marina,” he called out again, unable to contain himself.

Without missing a beat, Marina swung the club at him, then unleashed her fury on the entire office.

Lavern didn’t intervene this time. He pressed an ice pack from Robert to his face, watching from the sidelines with a cold, handsome scowl.

Only when the office lay in complete disarray did Marina casually toss aside the bent golf club, her effortless motion feeling like a release, as if she were finally letting go of something heavy. Lavern’s chest tightened, a sudden, wrenching sensation coursing through him; it felt like she was done with him for good.

With furrowed brows, he asked, “Feel better?” He kept his distance, merely observing her.

Marina took her time smoothing a loose strand of hair from her forehead, then flashed him a bright smile. “Yeah, much better. Free and unbridled.”

Lavern remained silent, his brows still knitted together in concern.

Marina strode out of the office, her confidence radiating.

Lavern followed at a measured pace, his gaze catching the gash on her palm. He reached out, catching her hand gently. “Your hand is injured.”

The adrenaline coursing through Marina had dulled her awareness of the pain.

Lavern began to lead her toward his office, but she yanked her hand away, repulsed by his touch. “It’s just a small cut. No big deal.”

A heavy lump settled in Lavern’s chest, stifling him. His expression darkened as he moved closer, irritation boiling in his eyes.

“You’ve screamed, you’ve wrecked the place: I let you do it all. But don’t hurt yourself to get under my skin or make me feel guilty. Is that your plan? To walk out injured so I’ll drown in remorse?”

Marina met his gaze with cold indifference, her mind swirling with bitter mockery, refusing to respond.

Lavern wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest and holding her tightly. “Marina, don’t be like this. It already hurts.”