Chapter127 Didn't You Invite Her to Stay for Dinner?
Summer felt her anger rising again – why couldn't this woman leave her be? Gritting her teeth, she defiantly retorted, "Who told you my mom and Mr. Murphy weren’t married?"
"Mr. Murphy told me," replied Daphne.
Those words struck Summer like a resounding slap, making her feel as if her face was on fire. What exactly was Daphne's relationship with Murphy? How could she know something like this?
"My mother and Mr. Murphy are married," Summer insisted, her confidence artificially bolstered to uphold her deception.
"Even if that's true, you couldn't get a job at Murphy Group without my approval," Daphne declared with finality, clearly fed up with her. "That includes any of its subsidiaries."
"What gives you the right to say that?" Summer's heart was in turmoil.
Although she knew this woman couldn't possibly wield that much power, she couldn't help but feel worried and frightened when confronted with Daphne's composed and indifferent assertion.
"I’m an investment consultant for Murphy Group," Daphne stated calmly, delivering a symbolic slap, "and personnel matters are a small part of what I oversee. I have a say in it."
Summer was seething with rage. How could this woman be so infuriating?
Daphne ignored the hateful glare and left to find Gavin. She hadn't even reached the CEO's office before she saw the CEO leaning against the corridor wall at the turn.
He opened his arms to her: "Come here, let your big brother hug you. No tears now."
Daphne was speechless.
She walked past him straight into his office, retorting, "When did you see me crying?"
It was clear that Summer was the one close to tears from being bullied.
"Enough with the tough act." Gavin strode over to her, joining her as they entered the CEO's office. "Don't think I don't know you actually care about Murphy’s ‘getting remarried’."
"It's none of my business whether he remarries or not," Daphne retorted, her tone icy.
Gavin recognized she was still unwilling to open up, but he didn't press her. Everyone has their secrets and worries, he understood.
"You need to send a memo to HR later—anytime you see the name Summer, just reject it," Daphne said. "If Mr. Murphy asks, tell him it was my call."
Gavin chuckled, covering his mouth.
Confused, Daphne asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"Still Mr. Murphy, huh?" Gavin flicked her forehead gently. "Do we really need to be that formal?"
Daphne didn't respond.
She knew Murphy was kind to her and Lydia, but he had wronged her mom, and she couldn't forgive him for that.
"Did we have any business with the Lancelot Group, recently?" She changed the subject.
"Yes," Gavin was reliable when it came to work, "there's actually an artificial intelligence robot project in negotiation. Are you interested?"
"Show me," Daphne was serious about work.
Her marriage and subsequent divorce from Charles were only known by her father, Lydia, a few friends, and her assistant, unbeknownst to others, including Gavin.
Gavin quickly brought the project.
After scanning the documents, Daphne decided firmly, "I'll handle this project."
Although the previous deals with the Lancelot Group, Charles's company, had been quite successful, she couldn't help wanting to gain more from them.
Gavin didn't try to stop her. He was well aware of his cousin's business acumen.
After collecting the project details, Gavin invited her to stay for lunch, but Daphne declined. Jesse was waiting for her downstairs, and they needed to head back to the office together.
Just as she left, Murphy arrived.
He had searched the office without success and so turned to Gavin. "Have you seen Daffy?"
"She just left," replied Gavin.
"Gone?" Murphy frowned slightly, "You didn’t ask her for lunch?"
He had just instructed the secretary to order food.
All of Daffy's favorites.
“How come she left?” Murphy asked.
"She had something urgent," Gavin explained, hinting, "Maybe in the future, we shouldn't just let people into the company so casually. Some may not say it, but they might harbor some resentment."
With that subtle cue, Murphy understood.
Daffy was still fuming!
...
By the time Daphne left Murphy Group and got into the car, Jesse had been waiting for over two hours. Upon her arrival, he drove straight to the restaurant.
He had pre-ordered lunch, choosing all of the boss's favorite dishes. He knew she wasn't picky, but he was well-versed in her preferences.
Just as they reached the restaurant, Daphne received a WhatsApp message from her stepfather.
Stepfather: [How about we have dinner together at home tonight, okay?]
Daphne didn't respond.
Today, she figuratively slapped Summer right in the face at the office. No doubt, Summer would go home and cry to her mother. Daphne had no idea what kind of person her new stepmother really was, and she wasn't one to speculate. The last thing she wanted was to sit through dinner and see her stepfather receiving a call about it. Turning down the dinner was the best choice.
The two of them were in the middle of lunch when Daphne heard a voice, a voice she didn't care for.
"It was because of a woman that I was fired," Summer's voice, neither too loud nor too soft, floated to Daphne, "You have no idea how embarrassing it was. That woman announced in front of the whole planning department that she'd make sure I'd never step foot in Murphy Group again."
"I didn't make a scene. It wasn't my fault!” exclaimed Summer.
"I've told you, it was that woman causing trouble. I've always been working diligently, and then, out of the blue today, they fired me.”
"I don’t want to talk about this anymore."
Summer's dissatisfaction was palpable through the phone. "Everything is always my fault. Keep defending him if you must. When he leaves you for that woman, we'll see how composed you can remain."
She hung up and sat down in a huff, anger puffing her cheeks.
A man was sitting beside her.
After she grumpily ended the call, the man spoke to her softly, trying to comfort her, "Didn't I tell you to talk nicely with your mom?"
"You saw how that went. She didn't listen," Summer vented, her frustration peaking. "She's convinced that I must've done something wrong to cross Mr. Murphy. I have no idea what kind of magic Mr. Murphy enchanted her with!"
"Alright, don’t be upset," the man soothed her. "Your uncle will talk to her when he gets a chance."
That simple phrase caught Daphne's attention.
Uncle?
Tony?
She turned to look and saw Summer sitting with a man.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
