His Last Command Came Back to Kill Him novel Chapter 77

Whitley stared at the number she knew by heart, a bitter, mocking smile pulling at her lips.

She hung up the phone without a word.

She had pulled countless all-nighters organizing the project data. She had run the lab simulations hundreds of times. This was the project she had poured her absolute soul into, and now Yelena had blatantly stolen it and claimed it as her own.

And the most ridiculous part? Yelena was playing the victim.

Now they were throwing a celebration.

It was nothing short of twisting the knife.

At that exact moment, her phone buzzed again. It was Clive.

Whitley didn't even blink as she hit the reject button, her motion decisive and completely devoid of hesitation.

She immediately opened her messaging app, found the profile she had kept pinned to the top of her list for three years, paused for a fraction of a second, and ruthlessly blocked him.

Out of sight, out of mind.

A gentle knock sounded at her office door before Chisholm walked in, holding a folder.

"The equipment supplier from Horizon Lab Systems happens to be in the area. Their rep wants to meet face-to-face to hash out the final details. They booked a table at The Zenith. Does that work for you?"

Whitley slowly opened her eyes.

She stood up, smoothed out her blazer, and replied in a perfectly calm voice, "Let's go. We'll talk there."

The lab equipment was the critical next step for her new project; she couldn't let her personal rage interfere with her work.

Everything she had lost, she would have to claw back piece by piece. Wallowing in self-pity wouldn't achieve anything.

"Still acting high and mighty?" Xander sneered. "My cousin called you earlier and you instantly hung up, playing the untouchable saint and refusing to come. And now here you are, sneaking around trying to fake a 'coincidental' run-in? You're just a massive hypocrite. You're still obsessing over this project, aren't you?"

Every word was dripping with venom, actively attempting to smear Whitley in front of everyone.

Whitley continued to ignore him. She reached her booth, sat down gracefully, and gestured for the waiter to pour her some water, never once sparing a glance in Xander's direction.

Clowns like him weren't worth an ounce of her emotional energy.

Seeing himself completely ignored, Xander's irritation flared.

Who did she think she was?

"Xander, don't say that," Yelena interjected at exactly the right moment. "Whitley is very capable. Maybe she just came here to eat. We're all family, let's not ruin the mood."

As she spoke, she stood up and waved toward Whitley, her tone sickeningly affectionate. "Whitley, come sit with us! We're celebrating the project's success, the more the merrier."