Chapter 136
The midday sun hung high, but Isabella Sinclair found herself with no desire for lunch. Alexander Kingsley’s lavish breakfast still sat heavily in her stomach. The mere sight of cafeteria sandwiches turned her appetite sour.
Needing space, she grabbed a takeaway coffee and a packaged salad before heading toward the rooftop for fresh air.
Her hand froze on the fire exit door.
Muffled voices carried through the metal.
“Evelyn, you’ve turned traitor rather quickly.” A woman’s mocking tone dripped with venom. “After everything we taught you? The senior staff expected better.”
Isabella’s grip tightened. Tabitha Redford. The same woman who’d orchestrated those vicious rumors about her last week. Now she’d set her sights on Evelyn.
Phone already recording, Isabella zoomed the camera through the door’s narrow window.
Evelyn stood encircled by five colleagues, their expressions ranging from amusement to disgust. Marcus Wainwright leaned in with undisguised contempt.
“We all know about your pathetic background. But playing both sides?” He barked a laugh. “Isabella only got her position through connections. You really think Mr. Kingsley will keep her around once he’s bored?”
Snickers rippled through the group.
Tabitha spat on the concrete near Evelyn’s shoes. “Pathetic. You’re nothing to her. Just another disposable pawn.”
Isabella’s camera focused on the food stains marring Evelyn’s blouse. Scattered takeout containers littered the ground. The realization struck like a physical blow—they’d thrown their lunches at her.
Evelyn’s shoulders hunched, strands of hair obscuring her face. The way she stood—small, defeated—explained everything. Those frequent outfit changes Isabella had noticed weren’t vanity. They were survival.
Yet despite enduring this daily torment, Evelyn had still warned her about the sabotage attempts.
Marcus raised his hand, face twisted with malice. “Reporting me? You’ll regret that every single day you—”
His threat died as Isabella wrenched the door open.
Her fingers closed around his wrist with bone-crushing force. “Touch her,” she said softly, “and I’ll break every finger you’ve got.”
Marcus paled. The others recoiled as if electrocuted.
“It—it was just office banter!” he stammered.
Isabella didn’t bother responding. One sharp twist sent him sprawling. He hit the pavement with a grunt, cradling his already purpling wrist.
She turned to Evelyn, gently brushing food debris from her collar. “I’ve got you now.” Her voice remained calm, but when she lifted her gaze to the others, the temperature seemed to drop twenty degrees.
“Grown adults behaving like middle school bullies?” Her laugh held no humor. “Harassment charges carry jail time. Shall we test that theory?”
Silence.
Tabitha opened her mouth, but Isabella cut her off with a look.
“One more incident—one snide comment, one ‘accidental’ spill—and I’ll personally ensure you’re all unemployed before sunset.” She stepped closer, voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “Try me.”
