There it was again.
Those two words had become his all-purpose excuse to exploit me, to hurt me.
"Neal, I don't need your protection. I quit."
Shock froze his features. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
I didn't look back. I turned and walked out of the gala, one deliberate step at a time.
Behind me: insults. Mockery.
In my hand, my phone buzzed with a message from Apex Industries HR:
"Ms. Pruitt, congratulations on making the right choice! Effective immediately, you will serve as President of our subsidiary, with full authority over all operations!"
I read the message. A smile spread across my face as I typed my reply:
"Looking forward to working together!"
Moments later, Paddy Finch called.
"Ms. Pruitt, I knew you'd come around! I've always said—staying at Gilbert Corp for the sake of some man was a dead end. With your abilities, I have no doubt you'll land the $500 million contract with Runhao Group. You'll have the company's full support."
My smile deepened.
The Runhao Group's $500 million contract.
Oh, I knew all about it.
That was the project Neal had been hell-bent on landing lately. He'd been bragging nonstop about how this deal would catapult Gilbert Corp to the next level.