Chapter 129
Austin slammed the folder onto the table, making everyone in the conference room jump. The atmosphere instantly shifted from boardroom to war zone; the tension was suffocating. Seriously, what was with Austin today? He was always strict, but this was a whole new level. He even tore into the marketing team for having a few extra words in one section of their proposal.
Austin’s sharp gaze swept across the room. His voice, low and icy, cut through the silence. “Is this the so-called team of top-tier professionals I paid a fortune to hire?” That look alone sent a wave of panic through the room. He flung the stack of documents onto the table. “You have three days. If you can’t come up with a decent proposal by then, you’re all out.”
With that, he pushed back his chair and strode out, leaving a room full of people gasping for air.
“Oh my god, what the hell was that?” one person whispered. "That was a disaster. I swear, I thought I was done for. Look at this—I'm drenched in sweat!" Tyler Hartman, dressed in a sleek charcoal gray suit, shook out his jacket as if he'd just survived a natural disaster. His legs still felt like jelly. Austin's presence was overwhelming. He was young, but the sheer authority he commanded could crush a room full of executives. Anyone who didn't know better would never believe this group of high-ranking executives, currently sweating through their expensive suits, actually ran Hall Corporation. This was supposed to be a powerhouse company, where even entry-level employees needed nerves of steel. And yet, look at them.
One of the other executives patted Tyler on the shoulder and sighed. “Just focus on the work, man. Unless you wanna be unemployed.” One by one, the executives gathered their files and dragged themselves back to their offices. Mason Winston let out a long, defeated sigh as he stood up. “Damn…”
Jenson sat in the back of the SUV, his expression dark and unreadable. The whole Suzanne situation was still weighing on him, leaving him in a foul mood. He yanked at his tie, loosening it as he stared out the window.
Mason, sitting up front, noticed his mood and reached into the side compartment for a bottle of water. He passed it to Jenson. “Man, that collaboration with Jane today was solid. When this episode airs, it’s definitely gonna blow up. So why the long face?”
Jenson’s mood had been off since filming started, and Mason still couldn’t figure out why. Was he actually into Jane? Even if he was, why would that make him this irritated? Mason pondered this but came up empty.
Just then, Jenson’s phone rang. He took the water bottle, shoved it into the console, and answered the call. A sweet, playful voice came through the line. “Jenson, you done with work? Are you tired?”
Seline had been trying to reach him for a while. She finally found out his schedule and knew he was free now.
“Not really,” Jenson said flatly.
Seline froze for a second. Why did he sound so cold today? She quickly adjusted her tone, softening her voice. “Let’s grab dinner together, okay? You haven’t taken me out in forever. I miss you, Jenson.”
Jenson was already irritated. Now, hearing her voice just made him feel even more foolish. How could he have been so stupid? So gullible! His expression turned even colder. “I have plans.” He forced himself to keep his temper in check.
Mason, sensing the shift, kept quiet and casually moved to the front seat to chat with the driver. Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, Seline’s smile faltered. She knew Jenson should be heading straight home after this. He was avoiding her. Her fingers tightened around her phone as unease crept in. Was this because of Suzanne? Ever since that night at the bar, Jenson had been distant. No, she couldn’t let this happen.
Seline sighed softly, adding a touch of sadness to her voice. “Jenson, I don’t know what’s been going on with Suzanne lately. The other night, she came home and hit Dad. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.” She needed Jenson to see Suzanne for what she really was—a cold, ruthless woman.