Chapter 219 Whipped
"If you needed money, you could have just asked me. Why did you take a job in PR? Am I not living and breathing?" Malcolm's words hung in the air, the implication clear. If she was in need of financial assistance, he was more than capable of providing. There was no need for her to degrade herself by working in PR.Beside them, Justin was on the verge of laughter. Mr. Flynn was certainly an enigma. From his expression just moments ago, Justin had assumed Flynn was about to erupt in anger at Reese. However, he had instead offered a completely unexpected sentiment.Reese found herself momentarily stunned by Malcolm's sudden declaration, caught in a whirlwind of surprise and confusion. Yet, she didn't believe for a second that Malcolm was entirely clueless about her sudden appearance, especially given the timing with the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new project. She suspected his confusion and anger ran far deeper than he was letting on.For the first time, she found herself unable to read a man, unable to decipher his thoughts through his eyes. She was at a loss, unsure of what was brewing in his mind. Was it a delayed reaction? No, that couldn't be it. Malcolm was anything but slow. If he had suspected her the moment the project hit a snag, his reasoning must have been sound.The project manager standing nearby watched the exchange between Reese and Malcolm with a look of incredulity on his face. "So... Reese, are you truly Mr. Flynn's Reese? If so, why are you out here working in PR?"Reese shot the manager a glare, wishing she could silence his prattling with a mere look. She responded with a snort of disdain, "My husband has more than enough money. I'm out here gaining life experience. Is there an issue with that?"The manager was left speechless, pondering if this was typical behavior of the rich—seeking a taste of the working-class life for mere amusement.Moments earlier, Rico had been contemplating inviting someone to dinner. Now, however, the idea seemed akin to signing his own death warrant.Malcolm hadn't forgotten the incident either. He sauntered over to Reese, encircling her in his arms with a show of dominance, and lifted his chin in a display of unspoken pride and arrogance. "I heard someone wanted to take you out for dinner?" he asked. His face was devoid of anger, but Reese could detect a hint of annoyance in his tone.Confused, Rico approached Malcolm, "What's going on here? Why are you hugging my dream girl?" He had been engaged in other matters outside and had missed the unfolding drama in the hall. Now, he was confronted with the sight of Malcolm holding Reese close, their intimacy evident.Malcolm shot him a sharp, piercing look, a hint of menace in his eyes. "Dream girl?"Rico nodded, then turned a bright smile toward Reese. "Yeah, we've just met, and she's really my type. What, you're into her too?"A sense of foreboding washed over Reese. She had a feeling that a storm was brewing between these two, and Rico seemed likely to bear the brunt of it. She decided it was best to remain silent for now. Better safe than sorry.The atmosphere around Malcolm changed instantly, turning icy. Rico sensed something was off, but his thoughts didn't lead him to the correct conclusion. He blurted out, "Don't tell me you've fallen for her? Man, she's a publicist! Old man Flynn will have your hide if he finds out you're dating a publicist!"Malcolm's voice held a dangerous edge as he warned, "You better shut up, or you'll be on your way to the hospital." Toying with his wife was a death wish, as far as Rico was concerned.Seeing the situation escalate, Justin quickly intervened, "Mr. Rico, she's not just some publicist; she's Mr. Flynn's wife, Reese."Rico gasped, surprised, "When did you get married, and who's Reese?"Malcolm shot him a look that screamed 'are you an idiot?', dripping with disdain, "What's it to you?"Rico attempted to be friendly and slapped Malcolm on the shoulder, only to be dodged with disdain. However, Rico was not easily deterred, a seasoned charmer who knew when to put his dignity aside.He approached again, all smiles, "Hey Malcolm, as a buddy, how could you not tell me about the wedding? I should at least write you a check for the occasion." He then turned to Reese to offer a more formal greeting, "My apologies, Reese. I had no idea you were Malcolm's girl. No offense meant."Reese was taken aback to discover a potential partner who was already a close friend of Malcolm's. The world felt too small, and she realized she would have to carefully screen future partners for any ties to Malcolm to avoid potential embarrassment and protect her secret.Having received Rico's apology, she had no choice but to respond politely, "No worries, Mr. Rico. Don't think of me as Malcolm's Reese, I'm just out here working.""Oh, and Reese, you mentioned something about a robotics project. Since we're on the subject and I'm already tight with Malcolm, perhaps we can discuss it."Malcolm's eyes flickered with suspicion as he queried Rico, "What robotics project?" Rico quickly responded, "It was Reese who was just now telling me about this robot development project. I think it's pretty solid, worth giving a shot."Malcolm turned back to Reese, his gaze sweeping over her with a questioning look. "Since when did you have a robot project, honey?"A flicker of unease crossed Reese's mind, but she was quick to come up with a plan. "Well, it's my boss. Recently, he's been toying with the idea of starting a robotics initiative and asked me to inquire about it."Malcolm raised an eyebrow, his tone rising playfully, "Aren't I your boss?""I mean the boss I was helping out today. I'm moonlighting for him. The day's pay is pretty decent," Reese lied smoothly.Malcolm wasn't buying it. Seeing her eyes darting around, he could tell she was hiding something. But with so many people around, he chose not to call her out. That was a conversation for when they got home.Turning to Rico, he said, "Let's talk about that project another time. I need to take my Reese home now."Rico was surprised by how swiftly Malcolm wanted to leave, and he tried to persuade him to stay. "Leaving so soon? When was the last time we got together? Come on, let's at least share a meal."Malcolm teased him, "I'd rather not have dinner with someone eyeing my wife."Rico was left speechless. "Come on, Malcolm, when did you become so possessive?" He was taken aback by the change in the usually decisive Malcolm, who now seemed almost whipped.Taking Reese by the hand, Malcolm ignored Rico's further comments and led Reese straight out of the event.Reese hadn't expected the day to turn out like this. If Malcolm hadn't shown up, she had planned to work Rico for more angles. Now it was clear that Rico wasn't an ideal candidate for collaboration. Moreover, she needed to figure out how to keep this whole episode under wraps.
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