Effie watched Suzan warily, but she was still caught off guard when Suzan suddenly dropped to her knees right in front of her. “Please, can’t you just let Mitchell go and give Mr. Etheridge a real chance?” Suzan pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. “Mr. Etheridge truly cares for you-he’d cherish you forever! Please, don’t come between Mitchell and me anymore, okay?”

Effie narrowed her eyes, her gaze fixed on Suzan as she spoke in a cold, sharp tone. “Suzan, have you lost your mind?”

Suzan’s performance today was Oscar-worthy-tears streaming down her face, voice breaking with sorrow. If Effie didn’t know her better, she might have actually believed her.

But suddenly, Suzan sprang to her feet. Though her eyes were still wet, the helpless little sister act vanished in an instant, replaced by something far more calculating.

“Effie, I know you’re not afraid,” Suzan said flatly. “But here’s a warning: I recorded everything that just happened and backed it up online. If you keep chasing after Mitchell-or if he so much as comes looking for you I’ll send this little video straight to Mr. Etheridge.”

Suzan looked at Effie with smug satisfaction. “You and Mr. Etheridge have barely started dating; things between you two are still shaky. You wouldn’t want a stupid misunderstanding to ruin your relationship, would you?”

Effie let out a slow, exasperated breath. She’d seen shameless people before, but Suzan took it to a whole new level.

“Keep your mutt on a leash,” Effie bit out, every word edged with fury. “If he comes sniffing around me again, I’ll make sure he regrets it.” Her voice was low and dangerous, each syllable practically seething with rage.

Suzan expected a reaction, but Effie’s intensity still rattled her. She had never intended to truly go to war-she’d only come to issue a warning. Now, she could only try to hold her ground. “Just worry about yourself.”

With a triumphant toss of her hair, Suzan strode over to the conference room door and flung it open, only to find a small crowd staring at her, their faces alight with curiosity and gossip.

Suzan gave a disdainful snort, chin held high. “And here I thought working for a major firm would be so impressive. Looks like my company puts this place to shame.”

Suzan never missed a chance to boast, even daring to compare The Etheridge Group to E&M.

But what really caught Effie’s attention was Suzan’s casual claim: “my company.”

When did E&M become Suzan’s company? Effie had poured her heart and soul into building it from scratch, and though she’d cut her losses in time, it still stung to see someone else taking credit for her work. The injustice simmered inside her. śwnovel

Suzan strutted out, still basking in her own self-importance. Irving Butler wasted no time piling on. “So, Effie, how’d the meeting go? I hear that woman’s engaged to Mr. Loyd from E&M, and she’s got her own jewelry design studio. Why would she come to you for design work?”

Effie replied curtly, “Didn’t work out.”

Irving smirked. “Oh, so she turned down your designs? Can’t say I’m surprised…”

He was only here to rub salt in the wound, never wasting an opportunity to belittle her.

Effie shot him a frosty glare. “Are you finished? Because if you are, I’d like to get back to work.”

Irving caught the edge in her voice and felt a smug little thrill. “Just try to do better next time, Effie. Maybe you’lDmanage a design someone actually wants. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Effie drew a steadying breath. “Noted.”