The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Mars Wright woke up with a pounding headache, the aftermath of last night’s heavy drinking weighing heavily on him. The abruptness of being roused so suddenly only made his throbbing temples worse. He groaned, rubbing his forehead in frustration. “What now?” he barked into the phone.

“Mr. Wright, have you forgotten? The partners were supposed to arrive at 9:30 this morning to sign the contract. We couldn’t reach you, so they waited until 10 before storming out. The VP called immediately to apologize, but they hung up on him. Just five minutes ago, their office called to say they’re putting the contract on hold,” the assistant reported, his voice tinged with urgency.

Mars’s stomach dropped. This was Cloudbreak’s biggest project this year, the culmination of six months of relentless effort from the entire team. For it to collapse simply because the head of the company showed up late—right after the partners had finally agreed to sign—would be a disaster. The company’s reputation would be in ruins.

“How did I not know about a 9:30 signing?” Mars demanded, his annoyance bubbling over. “Are you all brain-dead? Why wasn’t I notified the day before?”

The assistant’s voice faltered, sounding genuinely aggrieved. “We did notify you! We called and texted Secretary Autumn Lopez a day ahead and reminded her again last night before leaving. She assured us she’d inform you.”

Mars’s jaw tightened. “I never received anything.”

Though his business acumen was sometimes questionable, Mars had always guarded his public image fiercely. Years of careful cultivation had painted him as a modest, capable leader—a dark horse in the corporate world. For him to be late was unthinkable. The partners probably saw it as a deliberate slight, a power play, or worse—a sign of disrespect. No wonder they’d stormed out in anger.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Mars shot out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, shouting into the phone, “Get Autumn Lopez on the line right now! Does she think she can just walk away after screwing up this badly? Tell her if this deal falls apart, she can hand in her resignation—and she’ll be personally responsible for every penny Cloudbreak loses!”

Then it hit him—he’d locked Autumn in the bathroom last night. His anger shifted, but he still needed someone to blame for this chaos.

A heavy silence hung on the other end.

“Say something! Are you mute?” Mars snarled, squeezing toothpaste onto his brush.

The assistant hesitated, then steadied his voice. “But Mr. Wright… don’t you remember? Secretary Autumn is currently on leave. You suspended her yourself.”

Mars froze. The memory surfaced suddenly. That was right—he had sent the suspension order in the group chat. Anyone could still find it if they looked back.

His face drained of color, then flushed with embarrassment and fury. “Then who the hell were you talking about? If Autumn’s gone, who’s this ‘Secretary Autumn’ you mentioned?”

“No wonder I didn’t get any notifications. So this is how the Executive Office covers their tracks?” Mars snapped.

The assistant was silent again. When Mars finally stopped yelling, the assistant spoke up, “Mr. Wright, we notified Secretary Lydia Lopez. Didn’t you personally appoint her to take over as chief secretary? You said she would handle all secretarial duties during Autumn’s absence and that we should report directly to her.”

The toothbrush clattered to the floor from Mars’s trembling hand. His fragmented memories surged back, and suddenly everything made sense.

“Are you sure you notified her?” Mars asked, his voice low.

“Absolutely,” the assistant replied firmly.

Mars’s expression twisted into something unreadable. “I see. I’m heading to the office now. We’ll talk there,” he muttered before hanging up.

On the other end, the assistant rolled his eyes in silent frustration. Everyone knew who truly kept the company afloat. Autumn Lopez had been gone only a few days, and already disaster had struck. Who knew what would happen next?

He shook his head and used the “Mr. Wright is on his way” excuse to fend off curious coworkers, then grimly began considering looking for a new job.

After freshening up, Mars stepped out of the bathroom. Lydia Lopez was still asleep on the bed, her chest rising and falling gently.

His expression softened briefly as he approached and tenderly brushed a hand over her cheek. “Lydia, wake up.”

She let out a sleepy moan, wrapping her arms around his waist and nuzzling into his chest. “I’m so tired, Mars. Just a little longer, please?”

Mars’s heart melted, but the looming crisis hardened his resolve. This time, he gave her cheek a firm slap. “Lydia, wake up!”

The sting finally roused her. Tears welled in her eyes as she pouted. “What was that for?”

“You were so rough last night, I didn’t get any rest. Don’t tell me you want to go out again first thing this morning?”

A mischievous smile blossomed on Lydia’s lips, as if to say, “You’re impossible.” Her hand, soft and sinuous like a snake, slid beneath the hem of Mars’s shirt, wandering downward.

“Enough,” Mars growled, a surge of frustration boiling inside him. The company was in turmoil, and she was acting like everything was fine. It infuriated him.

“Did anyone try to reach me last night about the contract signing today?” he asked sharply.

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