Whats She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185

Chapter 185

“Excuse me, I have actual work to do. I need to get going.” Laura always tried to keep Kaia’s advice in mind: work hard, stay humble, and avoid clashing with the Aethelstan team. She had only snapped back just now because Wendy’s attitude had been so infuriating.

“You’re not leaving until you explain yourself. You don’t get to drag Ms. Lawrence’s name through the mud like that. This is a huge deal.” Wendy aggressively stepped forward, physically blocking Laura’s path.

The other assistants glared at her, forming a wall to keep Laura from walking away.

“You…” Laura was fuming. What was this, a shakedown?

“Go ahead, say what you’re dying to say. Don’t hold it in, it’s bad for your health,” Wendy taunted. She knew Laura was harboring a ton of resentment over Kaia’s recent demotion. Today, she was determined to use this coward to show everyone that Laura was just as pathetic as her boss.

Laura steadied her breathing and looked them dead in the eye. “Dr. Chavez is a private person who cares about her projects and her data. She’s not like some people, desperate for the spotlight, climbing over each other just to get in front of a camera, thinking a little PR fluff makes them royalty. Oh, please. Your team over here at Aethelstan has been shamelessly begging Dr. Chavez for baseline data for your last few projects. What else do

want to hear? I’ve got a hundred receipts in my head. If you want me to list them all out, I gladly will.”

you

*Smack!*

Hearing this, Wendy lost her mind. Blinded by rage, she swung her hand and slapped Laura hard across the face.

Laura stumbled back, stunned for a second before pure fury took over. She pointed straight at the magazine on the table and yelled, “What Trailblazer? More like the Queen of Leftovers! Noelle just scooped up what Dr. Chavez tossed aside. She scored a little vanity press, and you lapdogs are acting like she cured cancer. Give me a break!”

“Shut your mouth…”

“Hit me again! Go ahead! Even if you beat me to death, I’ll say the exact same thing!” Laura took a step forward, refusing to back down.

Right at that moment, a calm but intensely authoritative voice cut through the lobby. “Laura. That’s enough.”

Everyone spun around to see Kaia standing near the entrance of the lobby, holding a file folder. No one knew how long she had been watching.

Laura’s mouth clamped shut instantly. Terrified, she quickly lowered her head and scurried

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Chapter 185

over to stand beside Kaia, her face flushed a deep, embarrassed red.

Wendy and her group held their breath. They looked at Kaia, intimidated by the quiet, commanding presence she radiated, and quickly scurried awa

with their tails between their

legs.

Kaia walked over to the coffee table, gave the magazine a brief glance, and then turned to the beet-red Laura. “From now on, unless it’s strictly about work, do not engage in petty arguments.”

ev

Laura looked up into Kaia’s clear, calm suddenly overwhelmed with shame for her outburst. “I’m so sorry, Dr. Chavez,” she whispered. “Did I just cause trouble for you?”

Kaia sighed. “Go double-check the technical integration plan with Prestige Medical Center. I need it for tomorrow morning, so get on it.”

Laura’s eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded quickly. “Right away.”

“I’m really sorry, Dr. Chavez. I’ll remember what you said. No more drama,” Laura promised, before turning and sprinting out of the lobby.

Kaia had come over for a meeting. Concordia Health and Aethelstan had several joint projects, making it impossible for her to avoid the Aethelstan offices entirely. She remained entirely focused on the work at hand.

However, the shouting match between Laura and Wendy in the lobby had an audience.

In less than half a day, the story had grown wings and flown through both Aethelstan and Concordia. If what Laura said was true, Noelle’s *Financial World* cover story was suddenly a massive joke.

Inevitably, the gossip reached Noelle’s ears.

Her expression dark, Noelle called Wendy into her office and demanded she repeat exactly what Laura had said.

Wendy, her eyes red with anger, fumed, “That Laura is out of her mind! How dare she say something like that? Saying it was just something Dr. Chavez didn’t want so it went to you? You’re brilliant, Ms. Lawrence, you don’t need anyone’s charity!”

“Shut up.” Noelle was already spiraling, and Wendy’s ranting was only making it worse.

“Go find out if it’s true. I want to know if they actually offered it to her first,” Noelle ordered. Wendy quickly left the office.

Noelle gripped her expensive pen so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Kaia again.

Even when she refused it, even when she disdained it, she still managed to stand on her high horse, casting a shadow over the glory Noelle had fought so hard to win.

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Chapter 185

Noelle spun around, snatched the magazine off her desk, and viciously ripped the cover to

shreds.

The smug satisfaction she had felt just hours ago had morphed into utterly humiliating defeat.

Meanwhile, at the Sanders Tower, in the CEO’s office.

Finnian stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, one hand in his pocket, a cigarette pinched between his fingers. Finally, he grabbed a lighter, lit it, and took a drag.

The scent of tobacco filled the air, doing nothing to mask the intense irritation written across his handsome face.

Half an hour ago, his assistant Dexter had come in to give a report and casually mentioned the incident at Aethelstan.

Right after Noelle landed the magazine cover, an assistant of Kaia’s had publicly mouthed off, saying nasty, sharp things that were now threatening the harmony between the two corporate teams. If the story leaked to the public, it could be a PR nightmare for the entire conglomerate.

Knowing it involved Kaia and Noelle, Dexter had spoken very carefully, dropping enough hints without overstepping, and quickly left.

Finnian couldn’t just ignore it.

He knew all about Noelle’s cover story; she had told him herself.

At the time, he had been entirely supportive, agreeing it was a great way to boost her public image and Aethelstan’s morale.