The Billionaire’s Fight For Redemption (Noah and Sierra) novel Chapter 274

I stare at Jocelyn for a long moment.

My brain refuses to catch up with what she just said. It feels like I’m standing in water that’s suddenly gone ice-cold. Like, I know something is wrong; I just haven’t figured out how bad yet.

“Your… surprise?” I repeat slowly.

She tilts her head, eyes glittering. “Are you always this slow, or is today special?”

Something sharp and ugly twists violently in my chest as what she’s implying finally crashes into me.

“You did this,” I say. It’s not a question.

She doesn’t confirm it, but she doesn’t even have to. That smug, triumphant smile tells me everything I need to know.

I stare at her in shock and disbelief as it finally sinks in that this was her doing.

We’ve had our ups and downs, but there was always a line. One that was never crossed.

I never thought she would cross it and yet, today, she did.

“How could you?” I whisper.

She shrugs like I’ve asked her what she wants for lunch. “I warned you… I told you that I would make you pay.”

She did but I never imagined she would go this far.

“How could you take it this far, Jocely?” I ask, struggling to form words. “How could you do this to me?”

“Are those pathetic tears supposed to make me feel guilty?” she asks, with no remorse whatsoever. "Pathetic."

“This is my career you’re messing with,” I snap.

“So? It’s none of my concern,” she cuts in lightly. “You should’ve thought about that before you decided to mess with me.”

“All this, because I slapped you?” I ask, rage burning hot inside me.

She laughs. “You think this is about that? This is about so much more. It’s about all the years I had to serve under you. About your arrogance. About you taking what rightfully belongs to me.” Her smile turns sharp. “I’ve waited years to put you in your place and now it’s finally happening.”

None of it makes any sense. It’s just jumbled justifications from a jealous woman, twisting reality into something ugly just so she can see me beaten down

I grab her wrist before I can stop myself.

“You’re coming with me to HR. You’re going to confess,” I hiss. “You’re going to tell them you lied.”

I shake my head. “No.”

“What happened?” Carl asks.

“I was suspended,” I say quietly. “I reported me for leaking research.”

The room erupts with angry curses and chairs scraping against the floor. In seconds, I’m surrounded by Carl, Rose and Benji.

“What?” Rose all but screeches

“That’s bullshit.” Carl says, “Who the hell would fucking do that?”

Benji slams his fist against one of the desks. “That’s insane. You’re the most honest researcher here. How could they even take that report seriously? You would never do anything to endanger the company.”

The others nod fiercely.

“They can’t do that to you,” Rose says. “They should be digging into who made the accusation instead of suspending you… that’s malicious intent and it’s punishable by law.”

“Exactly,” Carl grows, “And I know exactly who hates Sierra enough to have the balls to do this to her.”

I don’t answer. Don’t confirm his suspicion. I just move to my desk and start collecting my things.