Chapter 172
Frederick’s patience was running thin.
“Of course, I know she’s not divorced yet. I don’t need you to remind me! Well, looks like you just want to be fired, huh? Go to HR and collect your final paycheck now.”
“Forget it.” I nudged Frederick, then glanced at Velvet. “Give her three chances. If she steps out of line again, then fire her.”
Velvet glowered at me. “Are you pretending to be generous now? I don’t need your pity!”
“Did you think I was speaking up for you?”
I gave her a look. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want to deal with this same drama every time I show up. It’s exhausting.”
Velvet did a double-take. She was clearly surprised by how blunt I was.
I approached her. “Mind having a chat with me?”
She didn’t respond, so I simply grabbed her arm and dragged her to the hallway.
Once it was just the two of us, she quickly yanked her arm away.
“Spit it out,” she hissed. “Mr. Guzman’s not here anyway. You don’t have to keep up your little act.”
Amused, I looked at her and asked, “Why do you keep assuming that I’m putting on an act? Is that how you see me? Some manipulative flirt?”
“Exactly! And a particularly shameless one,” she snapped. “Why do you keep clinging to Mr. Guzman? You’re already married. Even if Jonathan mistreats you, that doesn’t mean you should drag someone else into this!”
My gaze dimmed. I turned around and propped my arms against the railing, gazing into the distance.
“You’re right,” I said softly. “There’s nothing for me to argue.”
Velvet’s eyes widened. “You’re admitting that you’re using Mr. Guzman?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m using him. Our relationship is mutually beneficial,” I corrected her. “What do you take him for? Do you think he’s stupid enough to be manipulated by me? That he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on?”
She went silent.
I looked her in the eye. “You know it too, don’t you? He’s not the type to be easily manipulated by others. That’s why you’re angry at me instead, isn’t it?”
Clenching her fists, she immediately retorted, “Don’t get cocky. You’re just acting like this because he likes you-”
“Hush!” I smirked at her. “Have you forgotten that I’m a married woman? I’m still not divorced yet. If you say things like that, it’s not great for his reputation.”
“Stop acting like you care,” she said through gritted teeth, clearly enraged. “If you really cared about his reputation, you wouldn’t have made him announce that you’re his god-sister in public! Everyone knew what you two were up to – you were just using him to get back at Jonathan. Do you really think people will ever see you as one of the Guzman family?”
“Of course not. That terrifies me, and I’m well aware of it,” I said, meeting her gaze. “Believe it or not, I didn’t know he was planning to make that announcement.”
Velvet’s eyes flickered. She said nothing, but I could tell she believed me.
After all, I had no reason to lie to her.
“I’m at a disadvantage right now. I’ll do whatever I can to get myself out of this situation,” I said, closing in on her. “Listen, I’ll stop at nothing to divorce Jonathan.
“But of course,” I added, lifting a lock of her hair and toying with it between my fingers. “I have hard limits. I won’t cross certain lines. You don’t have to worry about Frederick. I might be using him, but I won’t let him end up with nothing.”