Chapter 68 Seraphina Got Kicked Out
This was the first time Atticus had encountered a boss personally calling to urge an employee to come back to work.
Atticus didn't dare ask questions; he simply followed orders. “Understood, Mr. Finnegan, I'll call Miss Sinclair right away."
Atticus made the call to Ophelia, relaying Finnegan's desire, expecting Ophelia to jump at the chance to return to work.
To Atticus's surprise, Ophelia's response was brief and blunt. "Mr. Montgomery, please ask Mr. Finnegan to sign my resignation letter. I won't be returning to Abbott's Corporation."
Had Ophelia been unaware of the relationship between Seraphina and Finnegan, the lucrative salary would have had her back in the office in a heartbeat. It would mean that a lack of money would no longer be an issue in her life.
"Are you holding a grudge against Mr. Finnegan, Miss Sinclair?" Atticus tried to persuade. "Mr. Finnegan himself called me—it's a good sign. Why insist on resigning?"
"Just pass the message along," was all Ophelia said, without further explanation.
Therefore, Atticus conveyed Ophelia's firm stance, and Finnegan felt a surge of anger rise in his chest.
'Does this woman refuse to back down even when given a way out? Am I expected to plead to her personally?'
Finnegan spoke with a chilling tone, "Tell her if she doesn't show up tomorrow, she needn't bother ever coming again."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Atticus was at a loss...
He relayed Finnegan's ultimatum to Ophelia, verbatim. "Miss Sinclair, Mr. Finnegan's message: If you don't come in tomorrow, don't bother ever coming back."
"I understand," Ophelia said. "Thank you, Atticus, for everything. I won't be in tomorrow."
Atticus wanted to say more, but Ophelia ended the call.
Atticus stood there, perplexed...
This tiff hardly seemed like one between a boss and employee. It felt more like a lovers' quarrel, with him caught in the middle as the reluctant messenger.
He wondered, why did it feel so strange? Mr. Finnegan and Miss Sinclair...?
Ophelia's resolute decision to quit left Finnegan stewing in silent fury as he returned to Orchid Garden.
"Mr. Finnegan."
Seraphina approached with a smile and a freshly brewed cup of coffee in hand. "Try this, I made it myself," she offered, her voice laced with cheer.
That day, Seraphina's spirits were soaring. Ophelia had moved out and wasn't pregnant, and therefore no longer posed a threat. Seraphina was secure in the knowledge that Finnegan would never discover the truth about that night's encounter.
"In the future, steer clear of such foolishness," Finnegan uttered coldly. "Pack your things. You're leaving Orchid Garden tomorrow."
His words felt like a freefall from grace for Seraphina.
"Mr. Abbott, why? Did I do something to upset you?" Seraphina pleaded, desperate not to leave the tranquility of Orchid Garden.
'Can it be that Finnegan knew of my impersonation?' Seraphina thought.
Finnegan's eyes bore into her. "You know exactly why. Drop the act. I'm not so easily fooled as to not recognize who was with me that night."
Even if he had not seen her clearly that night, after spending time with her, he was certain Seraphina was not the woman from the encounter.
He had no desire to delve into why Seraphina's resume had been in the room or to uncover the identity of the woman from that night. Ophelia's actions had already infuriated him enough.
Crash!
At his accusation, the color drained from Seraphina's face, and her coffee cup shattered on the floor.
"Mr. Abbott, I swear it was me that night... " Seraphina tried to protest.
"Lina," Finnegan called out sternly.
Lina rushed in at once.
"What do you need, Mr. Abbott?"
"Pack Miss Kingsley's belongings. She's leaving," Finnegan commanded without a trace of sympathy. "She takes only what she brought with her, nothing more."
The underlying message was clear: Seraphina was to leave Orchid Garden just as she had come.
In doing so, Finnegan was letting her off easy.
Few could deceive Finnegan and get away unscathed. Other than Ophelia, Seraphina was a rare exception.
For Ophelia, Finnegan Abbott was unwilling to bother; for Seraphina, Finnegan had only disdain.
Someone like her wasn’t worth keeping around, that's for sure.
With those words left hanging in the air, Finnegan strode up the stairs, leaving Seraphina without a chance to beg for mercy.
Lina was taken aback. ‘Has Miss Kingsley really fallen from grace just like that?'
"Miss Kingsley, I'll go upstairs to pack your bags," Lina offered without daring to ask any further, hurrying upstairs to help Seraphina gather her belongings.
Following her up, Seraphina watched all the lavish items sprinkled around the room that she couldn't take with her. It was heartbreakingly painful for Seraphina.
Realizing Finnegan's decision was final and seizing the opportunity while Lina was busy packing, Seraphina stealthily slipped a string of pearls into her pocket.
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