The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 148

Cordelia reckoned that Deanna was trying to stir her curiosity with the flash drive, hoping she would sneak a peek. She could guess what was inside, definitely intimate photos of her and Ronan from back in the day, maybe even some saucy ones of them in bed, all to stir up some drama between them. But Cordelia was having none of it.

When she clocked out, she spilled the beans to Ronan.

"You're really not gonna look?" Ronan asked her.

"It's all water under the bridge, nothing worth seeing. I'm not interested." Cordelia replied, her gaze drifting outside the window, seemingly uninterested in Ronan.

Ronan's cell started buzzing, and he picked it up. Cordelia heard him talk about having HR clear out an office for some onboarding.

"Got a new recruit?" Cordelia asked Ronan after he hung up.

"Yep, CFO."

"Who's the new CFO?" Cordelia asked again.

"A buddy of mine, Emerson. He's a top gun from the University of Chicago's finance department."

Cordelia was bummed to hear Brenda was out of the running.

"Playing favorites, are we?" Cordelia couldn't help showing some resentment.

"So, if I picked Brenda, that wouldn't be playing favorites?" Ronan fired back.

Cordelia was silent, her thoughts seen right through.

"I didn't say anything," was all Cordelia could say. She felt somewhat guilty about Brenda losing her job.

"You're not crashing at the mansion tonight?" Cordelia asked, "Aren't you worried about your grandpa?"

"Are you trying to rush me out, or threaten me?"

"Like I could threaten you," Cordelia scoffed. She used to know little about Ronan and rarely saw him at the company, knowing only that he was the big cheese. Seeing his style and determination now, she knew she had to tread carefully.

Ronan drove off to Shelley's place. He found himself missing Cordelia's flower-printed sheets, and missing her silhouette when she opened the window.