Chapter 144
Chapter 144:
Bella had confided her plans to Jacob, who had brushed them off as a trivial matter, promising it would all be sorted out in no time. The thought thrilled Bella. She harbored a long-standing grudge against Yelena, one that had festered deep in her heart. In this house, there was room for only one queen—and as far as Bella was concerned, that would never be Yelena.
Her expression darkened, a fierce determination etched across her face. Meanwhile, Yelena was on her way to the office. Her agenda? Delivering design plans and reviewing the company’s latest performance metrics. It had been a while since she’d last stepped foot in the building, and she felt a quiet resolve as she approached the lobby.
As she entered, her eyes landed on a familiar silhouette by the reception desk. Her brow furrowed slightly. “Jonathan?” What was he doing here?
Given the latest string of events, it wasn’t hard for Yelena to piece it together. Jonathan, ever the opportunist, was likely feeling the heat. Roberts Group was drowning in financial woes, leaving him scrambling to secure investments.
Once upon a time, Yelena had funneled her business toward Roberts Group, paving the way for their meteoric rise. Jonathan, naturally, had chalked it all up to his genius, blissfully unaware of the bigger picture. The Roberts family had gloated over ousting Yelena, basking in their supposed triumph. Little did they know, the storm was far from over.
Yelena decided he wasn’t worth her time. Without so much as a glance, she stepped into the executive elevator and zipped straight to the top floor.
Downstairs, Jonathan was still at it, trying to sweet-talk the receptionist. “I’ve been here before,” he insisted, a note of desperation in his voice. “I need to see your CEO p>
The receptionist remained unfazed, offering him a polite but firm smile. “I’m sorry, sir, but without an appointment, we can’t let you through. Besides, our CEO rarely comes in. I suggest you leave.” Her tone was patient, but her expression left no room for negotiation.
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Jonathan had been here several times, and Brody had explicitly ordered that he wasn’t to be let upstairs. Brody’s stern orders left no room for misinterpretation. Jonathan was decidedly unwelcome.
The receptionist took the directive seriously. She didn’t dare risk her job by disobeying Brody’s orders.
But Jonathan was nothing if not persistent. Most of his company’s revenue had come from this group, and now that their collaboration had ended, his business was teetering on the brink of collapse. His desperation was palpable.
Even so, the receptionist remained resolute. Her patience wore thin as Jonathan’s annoying pleas persisted. She was seconds away from summoning security when Jonathan finally backed down reluctantly.
Jonathan shuffled out the door, but instead of leaving the premises, he stationed himself just outside the entrance. He wasn’t giving up yet. No matter what, he was determined to speak to the company’s CEO. All he needed was a chance.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Yelena was busy. She handed over the design drawings to Brody, who nodded approvingly, and then spent some time catching up with Lenora, a senior designer and trusted colleague.
The three of them shared a strong rapport, built on mutual respect and camaraderie. Conversations flowed easily, tinged with humor and warmth. After wrapping up her tasks, Yelena checked the time and decided it was time to head out. She took the executive elevator back down, striding confidently through the lobby on her way out.