Chapter 138
“Do you think that woman will actually speak up?” Tabitha’s voice trembled as she shot Marcus a nervous glance after they left Isabella and Evelyn behind.
Tabitha knew if this mess got exposed, the scandal would be far beyond anything she could control. A knot of dread twisted in her stomach, making it hard to breathe.
Though she and Marcus were experts at manipulating situations and preying on the vulnerable, the mere thought of Isabella uncovering their schemes sent a cold shiver down her spine.
A sharp scoff sliced through the tension.
“Relax. What’s she going to do? We have Evelyn right where we want her, don’t we, Marcus?”
Marcus winced, his entire body throbbing with pain. He clenched his jaw.
“Obviously. And let’s not forget—Isabella is just another woman with a big mouth. Confident, sure. Thinks she can throw her weight around, but mark my words, she won’t last long.”
Tabitha had been on edge ever since Isabella humiliated her earlier, but Marcus’s dismissive tone gave her a surge of false confidence. Straightening her shoulders, she nodded, as if trying to convince herself more than anyone else.
“Exactly! We’ve been at Charisma for years. Isabella doesn’t scare me. If she thinks she can push us around, she’s only making enemies. Can you imagine the fallout if she actually tried?”
They were veterans at Charisma Company, and their survival had always depended on sticking together. Beneath the surface, though, they were nothing but petty and ruthless. Every time someone competent rose through the ranks, they made sure to tear them down—an unspoken rule they lived by.
And if Isabella found out the truth? It wouldn’t matter. Evelyn wouldn’t dare expose them.
“The company’s thriving. We can’t let some newcomer ruin that. The paychecks are too good, the perks even better.”
Another colleague leaned in, voice dripping with loyalty. “Marcus, we’ve got your back. Just say the word.”
Marcus exhaled slowly, his words deliberate. “Isabella knows too much. We need to act first. If we don’t, she’ll come for us.”
His eyes darkened with bitterness, a simmering hatred for Isabella burning inside him.
Tabitha stayed silent. She knew Marcus better than anyone—he was ruthless, always finding someone else to take the fall. History had proven that time and again.
The others didn’t need much convincing. “We’re with you, Marcus. Let’s make sure she’s gone for good.”
On the rooftop, Isabella shrugged off her jacket and draped it over Evelyn’s shoulders, helping her change out of her stained clothes.
“Why are you so afraid of them?” Isabella asked, her voice gentle but probing.
Evelyn’s gaze dropped, clouded with shame. She fidgeted under Isabella’s steady stare, unwilling to show just how broken she felt.
“Thank you, Ms. Sinclair, but… you don’t need to worry about me.”
“Of course I do,” Isabella replied, her tone firm yet kind. “I can handle them, but I need you to stand with me. They’re arrogant, and they don’t respect me. As the new leader, I will deal with them. Don’t you want to help?”
Evelyn bit her lip, hesitation clear in her eyes. She always shrank from confrontation when it came to herself, but she was the type who’d go to great lengths for others. Isabella knew that—and she intended to use it.
“I’m going to need you, Evelyn. You know they’ll try to set me up. Wouldn’t you rather be one step ahead?”
Evelyn’s gaze flickered with uncertainty. After a long pause, she sighed.
“When I first started, I landed a major client… but they stole it from me.”
Isabella frowned, sensing there was more. “And then?”
