Skipped At The Altar, Taken By His Uncle novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Klein’s words stirred up a storm.

The crowd was stunned, jaws nearly hitting the floor.

Dustin: [Girlfriend?]

Oliver: [Is Klein drunk or just daydreaming?]

Eric: [Come on, boy. Let’s all say it. “Congrats, Klein!“]

Whitney never saw the post.

She hadn’t checked Instagram in a long time.

She was already feeling down, so after sending the message, she headed home right away.

she’d barely stepped through the door when her phone rang, and it was Lena.

Whit, huge gossip! You know my uncle Klein, right? He’s so aloof and cold. I honestly thought he would be single forever But guess what?” Lena blurted out.

All of a sudden, Whitney had a bad feeling.

What is it?” she asked, her tone nervous.

Lena’s voice was practically bursting with excitement. “Klein just posted on Instagram. He said he has a girlfriend!”

What?” Whitney gasped.

she frantically scrolled through her phone, panic rising. ‘Didn’t we agree not to go public?‘ Whitney thought. When did he >ost that? How long has it been up? What did he even say? Why am I the last to know?‘

Whit, you have no idea how wild this post is. My grandpa’s already blowing up the family group chat about it has less i he comments. It’s almost at a hundred and still climbing,” Lena gushed.

Whit, who do you think this woman is? I wonder if she’s easy to get along with.

You know, I always thought Klein looked out for you a little too much. For a second, I even wondered if he had a you or something weird like that,” Lena joked.

Hey Whit, you still there? Why so quiet?” Lena pressed, sounding a bit concerned

Whitney was so stunned she broke out in a cold sweat, unable to get a single word out

It wasn’t until Whitney finally opened Klem’s Instagram page that she felt herself snap back to lie

It was just a photo of his curtains and she wasnt in the shot at all

As for the hundred–plus comments Fena had hyped up there was shy Bod mat ene tuired ather Netan girlfriend he was talking about

“Sorry. I lost you for a second. Anyway well Mr Harp con

to her

1/5

already begging to meet his girlfriend

Whitney’s heart clenched again. “So, what did he say?”

“He totally ignored them at first. You know how cold he is. No way he’d bother replying Oh wait, he actually did repo exclaimed, sounding genuinely surprised.

Whitney gripped her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

“What did he say?” Whitney asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lena’s lips twitched as she read the reply out loud. “Klein said his girlfriend’s shy and doesn’t want to meet us

Lena teased, her voice full of disbelief. “Seriously, Whit, did someone put a spell on Klein or something? Since when does he say stuff that cheesy?”

Whitney’s ears were on fire.

Still rattled, she ended the call with Lena and kept staring at Klein’s post. Her thumb brushed the screen, and the little heart it up before she even realized it. Whitney sucked in a sharp breath and unliked it immediately.

It felt like the end of the world. She chucked her phone onto the couch, not daring to even glance at it again.

Her phone suddenly rang, snapping her out of her panic.

She hesitated before checking the caller ID. Seeing Ivan’s name on the screen, she finally felt herself relax

Klein’s long fingers gripped his phone as he watched Whitney go from liking his post to quickly unliking it catching even move in real time.

She finally saw it, Klein thought, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his mind.

But why would she take back her like? What does that mean?‘ Klein wondered, a trace of confusion in his es

Is she mad at me?‘ Klein couldn’t help but worry, his mind racing.

Before Klein could think too much about it, his phone buzzed with a call from James

Kiem did you really get yourself a girlfriend?” James asked, his tone full of curiosity

Klein was the only one in the Harris family who didn’t get nagged by James about withing down

It was that James didn’t want to push bum It’s just that he didn’t dare

The last turar jamus tried to set him up with so

Everyone che thought klein werd abroad to grow the Ford, busnes dodging all the man making andhuches James had planne Heaton

That left things really awkward later them and tora faglige afhj senling down

So when Kiem posted iron ristagnan

25

James took a deep breath. In a month

replied, his tone calm and steady

Klein replied, unhurned. “No point in waiting. I’m not exactly young anymore. Thirty–three is prime time for wing the

know

James felt a slow wave of confusion rising inside him. What’s going on here?

Five years ago, he was the one using that line to push Klein into marriage. Now, Klein was saying it himselt. Did he really come around after all this time? James wondered, genuinely taken aback.

James spoke with heartfelt sincerity. “I don’t have any special requirements for your wife. As long as she’s decent and carries herself well. That’s enough. Her family background doesn’t matter. We’re not looking to make some big alliance What matters most is that you love her.

Nothing was more important than love.

“I know,” Klein said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Dad. I really do love her.

James couldn’t help but smile. “That’s great to hear. One of these days, bring her over so I can meet her in person.

‘She’s a bit shy, so try not to overwhelm her. Let’s wait until next month.” Klein replied gently.

After they literally got married, he would bring her home for sure.

James had no idea what Klein was really thinking. He simply thought Klein’s girlfriend was just shy.

They didn’t talk for long before hanging up.

Klein called Martin. “Martin, when Whitney stopped by the house today, was everything okay?”

Everything was fine, sir. But Ms. Moore looked a little off today,” Martin replied.

Klein’s gaze darkened, and his smile disappeared. “A little off?”

Yeah, I tried to talk to her twice, but she seemed totally lost in thought both times,” Martin said.

Klein frowned, lost in thought. ‘Why was she in such a bad mood? Doesn’t sound like it’s because of me Is it becaus Carter?

Alright, I got it.” Klein said.

After hanging up with Ivan, Whitney stared at the group chat for the acquisition and investment protect She held herse back from blowing up in the chat and instead called Calvin, the project lead

Calvin had just gotten back to his other, sounding distant Hello who is this?”

Whitney greeted him politely, keeping her composure Hello. Mi Malone This is Whitney Moon from Prone Solec Law

Firm

Calvin raised an eyebrow “Oh. Ms Moore Is there some thing you need

Whitney calling him directly was definitely skipping the usual chum of copy/mand

3:5

Chapter 53

Calvin had always suspected there was something off between Whitney and Klein, but nothing annoyed him more than subordinates going over his head.

And when a partner pulled that stunt, it really rubbed him the wrong way.

Whitney didn’t care about his icy attitude. She kept things professional and said, “Mr. Malone, someone from your side Mr. Barton yesterday that I was acting inappropriately and asked for me to be taken off the project. Were you aware of

As soon as Townsend Barton landed, he reached out to Ivan.

He claimed someone from Harris Group had accused Whitney of “unprofessional conduct and of getting involved in someone else’s relationship. Afraid the scandal would blow back on the firm, Townsend removed her from the project without consulting Ivan.

With Ivan’s approval, Whitney wanted to find out directly from Calvin who had made those accusations.

She knew Townsend would never spill the beans, so this was her only shot.

Calvin’s eyes widened in shock. “Are you sure? I seriously had no clue.”

He was irritated that Whitney had come straight to him, but what really freaked him out was the possibility that someon his own team was stirring up trouble.

If Klein ever caught wind of this…

He didn’t even want to think about it.

“Ms. Moore, I trust you completely. I’ll look into this right away and find out who’s behind these rumors. I promise you’ll a clear answer from me. Is that okay with you?” Calvin said, sounding genuinely serious.

Whitney had a whole rant prepared, but she was caught off guard when Calvin actually stood up for her instead of just backing his own team.

“Hearing you say that really puts my mind at ease,” Whitney replied, her voice steady.

As soon as he hung

He hadn’t eve

called a meeting.

Klein

ference room when a message from Klein came in

h the NextSphere Electronics acquisition?]

Whitney had ratted to Klein about him.

Sore was this important to Mr. Harris, Calvin thought, stunned

ered Klein’s post from

ne photo, he spotted

inoked uncantly like

an down his spine H

vin: [Mr. Harris, ever

Klein’s long, slender

415

d in the floor–to–ceiling window

ting those cenere about Ms Morty vagh an

flon of whet

per lighter fis voice icy Rumors

Calvin’s phone buzzed no for. he thought.

Hello, Mr. Harr-

Before he could finish. Klein’s cold voice cut in “We’ve got a rat in the Harris Group spreading rumors

The lighter in Klein’s hand flicked on, casting a faint glow over his half–lit face. You’ve got fifteen minutes

With a click the call ended.

Calvin let out a bitter laugh. Who the hell is it? Well, now they re screwed, and I am too.

Ivan kept calling Townsend, three times in a row, not giving up.

Townsend was clearly getting fed up. “Ivan, are you really that protective of your protégé?”

“Mr. Barton, she’s easily the best young attorney we’ve had at PrimeBridge in the last two years. Of course I’m going to up for her, Ivan said.

“I swear she’s nothing like what people are saying. Mr. Barton, don’t let a few rumors ruin her career, okay?

Townsend gave a wry chuckle. “I’m not writing her off. She just isn’t the right fit for this project right now Sunce the cher contacted me directly, I had to take her off the assignment. I’m sure you understand.

“We’re just switching out the co–counsel. It won’t affect your position at all. What do you say, Ivan?”

Just as Ivan was about to say something else, Townsend saw another call coming in and cut him off “Okay, I’ve got an call coming in. We’ll talk later.”

As soon as Townsend picked up, the caller got straight to the point.

Hello, Mr. Barton

lone. I’m heading up the Harris Group’s current investment and acqu

said.

He con

you

in our company bad–mouthed Ms. Moore to you Mr Harris is als

Bad–mouthed? And Mr. Harris knows about this”

and wants me to find out who did it within ten minutes. Mr. Hari

d I’m calling you because I figured you’d know what’s going on

gave an awkward chuckle

alone agreed Thats oight

getting the name Calving

glu MC Abcrct

Klein glanced impatiently at his watch. So it was me all along who made her upset,‘ he thought.

Thirteen minutes later, his phone rang. It was Calvin.

“Mr. Harris, I’ve got the answer. It was Naomi Evans, the new girl in finance. She called someone at Prime Bridge and the rumors,” Calvin said.

“Why did she do that?” Klein asked, clearly losing patience.

Calvin hesitated, wondering how to explain.

“I just talked to her. She said Ms. Miller invited her out for dinner a few days ago and mentioned Ms. Moore, Calvin s

It was only now that Calvin realized Emily and Whitney weren’t exactly on friendly terms.

Klein scoffed, “Emily?”

“Yes, Mr. Harris. Ms. Miller and Naomi went to high school together,” Calvin replied.

At Harris Manor, James seemed to have come to terms with Carter and Emily being together.

But deep down, he still wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.

Of course he would feel unsettled when a girl raised as family suddenly ended up dating his grandson.

“Carter, when are you and Milly planning to get married?” James asked.