Chapter 24

After our meal, Ariana took me to another private establishment. Just as I stepped out of the car, I received a call from Bacquella.

“Where are you? Why aren’t you at the office?” she demanded sharply, as if being absent was a capital offense.

I took a deep breath and replied calmly, “Aren’t the sected documents in your office?”

I could clearly hear her slam her hand on the table at the other end. Then, she scolded, “That’s why I’m calling you. Did you really piece all those shredded papers together by yourself?”

I replied coolly, “Isn’t this what you wanted? I followed your instructions and got the job done. So, are you saying you’re not satisfied?”

“Joshua,” Bacquella’s voice was filled with frustration. “I told you to do this on your own without asking anyone else for help. Do you think my words are just a joke?” When I didn’t respond, she added, “Are you aware that this is our company’s confidential information? If this is leaked, it could lead to huge financial losses for the company.”

I replied calmly, “Just so you know, you shredded those contracts. Leaking that information might not hurt us financially, but if you did this intentionally and delayed it, we could lose money and damage our relationships with collaborators.”

My rebuttal only fueled Bacquella’s anger.

“Didn’t you pay attention to what I just said?” she spat. “You didn’t follow my instructions and finish the task yourself. Instead, you passed it to someone else to do for you.” She continued, “Why are you pushing the blame onto me? Who’s the boss here, you or me?”

Bacquella furiously ripped the documents on her desk to shreds and threw them at me. “Pick them up. You’re not leaving this office until you piece them back together, poet.”

Her expression was gloomy, and her finger felt like it was practically inches from my face as she unleashed a stream of insults. At that moment, her assistant rushed in, looking flustered. “Ms. Smith…”

Racquella glared venomously and barked, “Get to the point and stop wasting my time.”

After being scolded, the assistant awkwardly replied, “Ms. Smith, Mr. Gerald is here.”

Jacquelle sprang to her feet, and a fleeting look of panic crossed her face. “What? Isn’t Dad away on a business trip? Why is he back so soon?”

The office door swung open, and Gerald walked in with a gloomy face. “What’s going on with the contracts on the floor?”

Racquella, trying to appear helpful, stammered, “Dad, Joshua doesn’t pay close attention to his work. I’m just trying to teach him to be more thorough.”

“Nonsense?” Gerald snorted coldly and reprimanded her, “He’s the company’s general manager. Do you really think he needed your guidance to ascend to his position?”

Being scolded, Racquelle felt aggrieved, and her eyes turned red. “Dad, I’m your biological daughter. Why do you always side with Joshua?”

“That’s enough!” With a stern look, he reprimanded, “Do you think I can’t see through your act?”

As he kept scolding her, she felt even more aggrieved. With her eyes welling up, she shouted, “Fine! I’ll take the blame for everything!”