Chapter 50 Throw a Fit
Fiona had finally had enough.
She could stick around, but no way was she gonna keep playing the part of some weak, harmless chick.
Right after the meeting kicked off, the other side started setting traps.
Fiona looked up and cut them off, no mercy. "Mr. Barnett, don't even try with those bogus financial reports you show to outsiders. If you ain't serious, there's no deal."
The room went dead silent.
Manuel Barnett was the first to break it, looking pissed. "Ms. Woods, what are you getting at?"
He'd seen Fiona a few times before.
Usually, she was just tagging along with Darwin, organizing stuff, and taking notes.
She never spoke up in meetings.
Everyone knew about Fiona and Darwin's thing.
Manuel often made fun of her behind her back.
He'd say Fiona was like a juice box Darwin carried around, sipping whenever he felt like it.
He'd also sneer that a pretty face like Fiona's could make easy money—just sleep with some guys, moan a bit, and cash in.
Now, getting called out by her in front of all these execs? Manuel was fuming.
"Let's be real." Fiona shoved the papers forward. "If we're talking partnership, bringing fake reports is just wasting everyone's time."
Manuel's face darkened.
There was a lot of whispering.
The Atlas Group folks were loving the drama, though some were critical of Fiona.
Those were the ones hoping the deal would go through.
But Manuel's crew? They were livid.
"Mr. Solomon, your secretary's out of line!" someone snapped at Darwin.
Fiona didn't even glance at Darwin.
She hoped he was pissed.
It'd save her the hassle of trying to make him hate her.
"What did she say wrong?" Darwin leaned back, his voice icy. "She told the truth. What's harsh about that?"
Fiona was stunned.
She instinctively looked at Darwin.
Fake reports were pretty common.
Usually, no one called them out. There were a million ways to negotiate and haggle.
Fiona knew that.
But the report in her hand was so bad it was insulting. And she'd heard enough of Manuel's crap about her.
So, she called it out.
She'd put up with enough to keep her harmless image in Darwin's eyes.
Now, she thought, 'Screw it. If anyone wants to put up with this, they can. I'm done!'
She just didn't expect Darwin to back her up, which had never happened before.
Manuel felt embarrassed, "Mr. Solomon..."
"Cut the crap!" Fiona shot at Manuel. "This kind of report wouldn't even make it to my desk, let alone Mr. Solomon's."
She turned to the senior managers from the Capital City branch handling the project. "You've been with Solomon Group for years. Can't you see how bad this report is? And you still brought it to the meeting?"
"Ms. Woods! You don't get it. We've reviewed the report; it's fine. Mr. Solomon..." The senior managers couldn't stand her words; they always looked down on Fiona.
"Are you sure it's fine?" Darwin asked, his voice cool as ice.
To the senior managers, it was like a ticking time bomb.
"Mr. Solomon, maybe you should take a break while we review it again?" one of them suggested, sweating bullets.
Darwin ignored him.
Instead, he turned to Fiona, who had a frosty look on her face.
She was always beautiful when she was all sweet and obedient.
But with that icy stare? She was drop-dead gorgeous.
"Ms. Woods, what's your take?" he asked.
Fiona thought Darwin must've lost his mind.
Everyone else seemed to think the same.
"Mr. Solomon, it's your call," Fiona replied.
"Then let's push it back a day," Darwin said out of nowhere. "If you can't come up with a financial report that Ms. Woods approves by tomorrow, we'll find someone else to partner with."
Everyone was floored.
After Darwin and Fiona left, Manuel let out a bitter laugh and looked at the senior managers. "Mr. Solomon got hitched and now he's trying to make it up to Ms. Woods by using our project?"
"Mr. Solomon isn't like that!"
"Isn't he? Seems like it to me!"
"Yeah, didn't you see his chapped lips? Clearly from biting!"
"Isn't Ms. Woods supposed to be all gentle? She bit Mr. Solomon?"
"She must've been desperate."
"But seriously, Manuel, your financial report is a joke! For an investment over three billion dollars, you should be more careful!"
"Exactly."
Manuel's face was stormy.
His company's last quarter report was trash, so he faked it.
Otherwise, even if Darwin agreed to the deal, the price would tank.
Darwin and Fiona got back to the hotel.
As soon as the door shut, Darwin pulled her close, pinning her against the wall. "Throwing a fit in the meeting now?"
Fiona frowned, worried he'd press on her belly. "With you backing me, what do I have to fear?"
She was trying to rile him up.
But Darwin seemed pretty pleased with her words.
He leaned in and kissed her twice.
"Yeah, from now on, you have my full support. Do whatever you want!" Darwin said, all fired up.
He hadn't touched Fiona Since that last time in the secretary's office.
His kisses trailed down to her ears and neck.
Fiona's alarm bells went off.
"Really?" She quickly tried to change the subject. "Can I mess with your wife too?"
Darwin froze.
Then he looked up, annoyed. "What wife? It's just a marriage of convenience. She's not my wife, don't overthink it."
"Then can I mess with her?" Fiona asked.
She had no intention of messing with Hathaway.
Fiona actually liked her; she was a beautiful woman.
"No, you can't." Darwin pinched her cheek. "There's no connection between you two. She'll be gone when the time comes."
Fiona pretended to be mad.
She dodged Darwin's kiss. "Right, I'm just your plaything. What right do I have to mess with your wife?"
Darwin went quiet.
Fiona pushed him away. "I don't want to do it. I'm tired."
Darwin was silent at first.
In the past, he wouldn't have cared if she was tired.
He sighed and hugged Fiona, burying his head in her chest. "I get it."
Fiona was a bit taken aback.
He actually backed down?
"I just want to hold you while I sleep. I haven't slept well without you," Darwin said, sounding all sad.
Fiona found it really strange.
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