Chapter 88
Iris’s POV
I watched Megan’s stiff back as she stormed out of my office area, her
designer heels clicking against the floor with angry precision. The
flush of humiliation was still visible on her neck, crawling up to her
ears. God, that was satisfying.
“That little scheme of hers really backfired, huh?” I thought, turning
back to my computer screen. All around me, I could feel my coworkers
stealing glances–not at me, but at Megan’s retreating form. Their
expressions weren’t exactly subtle; several people were practically
radiating disapproval.
“She tried to humiliate me in front of clients and ended up tanking
her own reputation instead,” I mused, organizing the files on my
desk. The irony wasn’t lost on me. For once, Megan’s manipulations
had blown up in her face in a way everyone could see.
Lisa approached my desk, her eyes full of concern. “Iris, are you
okay?” she asked quietly, glancing over her shoulder to make sure
Megan was truly gone. “That whole thing with Claire was… intense.”
I shrugged and forced a smile. “I’m fine. Takes more than Megan’s
little power plays to knock me down.”
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Chapter 88
But inside, I wasn’t nearly as confident as I sounded. My hand
instinctively moved to my stomach before I caught myself. Had
anyone noticed? Had my response to Megan given away my
pregnancy? I’d been so focused on defending myself that I hadn’t
considered how my words might be interpreted.
I bent my head and pretended to focus on the design brief in front of
me, but my mind was racing. “Seven weeks pregnant and already
feeling like I’m walking through a minefield,” I thought. “Every word,
every reaction could give me away.”
When the clock finally hit five, I immediately started packing up my
things. The thought of escaping this building, even for just fourteen
hours until tomorrow morning, felt like a lifeline.
“Finally,” I whispered to myself, sliding my tablet into my bag. “I can
get out of this snake pit.”
My body felt heavy with exhaustion. Between the pregnancy
hormones, the emotional rollercoaster with Sebastien, and now this
showdown with Megan, I was running on fumes. All I wanted was my
bed, maybe some of that ginger tea that helped with my morning
sickness, and at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
As I stood to leave, I caught Megan watching me from across the
room. Of course. She couldn’t just let it go.
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Chapter 88
“Leaving so soon, Iris?” she called out, her voice dripping with fake
sweetness. “The rest of us still have work to do. I guess being married
to the boss has its privileges.”
I felt every eye in the office turn toward us. Again. Couldn’t she give it
a rest for five minutes?
“It’s five o’clock, Megan,” I replied evenly. “Standard office hours. But
don’t let me stop you from staying late if you need the extra time to
catch up.”
I grabbed my bag and walked toward the elevator, feeling her glare
burning into my back. “She just won’t quit,” I thought wearily. “That
hospital encounter must have rattled her more than I realized if she’s
still this desperate to get at me.”
Inside the elevator, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.
“Thank god,” I muttered, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease
slightly as the doors closed. These daily verbal sparring matches were
exhausting. I had enough to worry about without Megan’s constant
attempts to undermine me.
When I stepped out into the parking garage, the cool air was a
welcome relief after the stuffy office. I fumbled for my keys, already
picturing the hot shower waiting for me at home.
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Chapter 88
That’s when I saw it–a sleek black car parked in one of the reserved
spaces near the exit. Sebastien’s car.
“What the hell?” I froze mid–step. “Isn’t he supposed to be on a
business trip?”
A humorless laugh escaped my lips. The absurdity of it was almost
funny. Daniel had told me that Sebastien was out of town on urgent
business, and yet here was his car, unmistakably his, in the company
parking lot.
“Unbelievable,” I muttered, approaching cautiously. “He tells Daniel
to feed me some line about being away, and then shows up at my
workplace? What game is he playing now?”
My mind raced through possibilities. Was this about the photo I’d
accidentally sent? That had to be it. The inappropriate outfit Megan
had tried to force me into–he’d seen it without any context. My
stomach knotted with anxiety.
“Great. Just what I need after dealing with Megan all day.”
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