Chapter 32: Apologize to me, and I’ll help you.

Words : 1185 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 32: Apologize to me, and I’ll help you. Anne’s stomach twisted, an uncomfortable feeling coiling inside her. His words were meant to shake her, to plant doubt—but she refused to let them take root. "It’s my life," she said firmly, lifting her chin. "Mine to worry about. You don’t need to concern yourself with me." She pushed his hand away. "You’re still acting stubborn," he snarled, his fury boiling. "If I wanted, I could make him disappear instantly." Anne’s body went rigid, but she didn’t step back. Instead, she took a bold step forward, her eyes flashing with unshakable determination. "Dare to hurt him," she warned. "And I’ll ruin you." Her unwavering defiance caught Denis off guard. She wasn’t cowering, wasn’t pleading. She was standing her ground—against him. "You’re really ready to fight me for him?" he grunted. "What’s so special about that loser?" His anger burned hotter as he stared at her, daring her to answer. "You barely know him. How can you be so blind? How can you trust him?" Anne’s expression didn’t waver. Her next words cut deeper than any blade. "I trusted you for years. And what did I get in return? Betrayal. How do you expect me to ever put my faith back in you? Augustine is far better than you. At least he didn’t abandon me alone, in the middle of nowhere. He saved me. And that alone... is enough for me to trust him." Silence filled the room. For the first time, Denis had no response. The regret twisted in his gut—left him speechless. Anne let out a slow, measured breath before shrugging. "If you’re not going to take action against Becca, there is no reason for me to keep working here. I’m leaving right now. " She turned sharply, ready to walk out of his office for good. But his next words stopped her in her tracks. "I haven’t approved your resignation yet." Anne stiffened. "Don’t forget the contract clauses," Denis continued icily. "If you resign, you’ll have to pay the penalty." Her fists clenched at her sides. She had just drained a significant portion of her savings on her father’s new medication. The hospital bills were still looming over her. She didn’t have the money to pay the penalty. Anger burned inside her, but she swallowed it down. Begrudgingly, she loosened her fists, forcing herself to remain composed. Without sparing him another glance, she stepped toward the door. But Denis wasn’t done yet. "Attend the meeting with me," he ordered, his tone even colder. "Explain to the investors why you failed to present the report. If you can’t convince them, I’ll withhold your salary for this month." Anne spun on her heels, her eyes narrowing. She had never expected kindness from him. But still, his cruelty—the way he wielded his power over her so effortlessly—managed to stun her. A bitter smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. ’He must think he can bully me into submission. What he doesn’t know... is that I already have the backup.’ She squared her shoulders as she met his piercing gaze head-on. "Fine. I’ll attend the meeting. But only on one condition—you must take action against Becca." Denis waved a dismissive hand. "Convince the investors first," he said indifferently. "Then I’ll consider what to do with Becca." She held his gaze for a moment longer, then strode out without another word. Bottom of Form Denis stood motionless, his jaw clenched tightly. "She didn’t even ask for my help," he muttered, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "What is she thinking? The investors would tear her apart in that meeting." He nodded, his nostrils flaring. "Fine. If you want to be this stubborn, then so be it. I won’t lift a finger to help you," he gritted out. "Let’s see how long you can keep up this defiance." Meanwhile, Anne sat at her desk, her fingers moving swiftly as she pulled up the file from her Google Drive. A sharp, calculated glint flashed in her eyes. ’Denis... you forced me to do this.’ If he was so willing to gamble with the success or failure of this project, she would make sure he suffered for it. She plugged in a pen drive, quickly transferring all the project data onto it. The moment the transfer was complete, she held up the device, her fingers curling around it. "A massive loss is waiting for you." In the meantime, her phone buzzed. She looked down and saw a text message from Augustine. ’Are you still mad at me?’ Anne exhaled, her mind drifting back to the morning incident. A flicker of guilt crossed her face. She owed him an apology. "I’ll make it up to you," she whispered. She quickly typed a reply: ’Don’t dwell on it. Let’s talk in the evening.’ Stuffing the pen drive into her bag, she grabbed her laptop and rose to her feet. With steady determination, she headed toward the conference hall. The meeting room was quiet, the long table unoccupied as Anne settled into her seat. The investors had yet to arrive, giving her just enough time to finalize her work. Her fingers danced across the keyboard, swiftly crafting a concise yet sophisticated presentation outlining the project’s progress. She meticulously arranged the details, ensuring everything was polished to perfection. As soon as she hit the save button, a triumphant smirk curved her lips. "It’ll be fun to watch the shock on Denis’s face." Just as the thought crossed her mind, the door creaked open. Denis entered with his usual air of arrogance, exuding quiet authority. Behind him, Haris followed closely. Anne barely spared them a glance, muttering under her breath, "Speak of the devil..." Denis sank into his chair, his piercing eyes locking onto her. But he said nothing. Instead, he tilted his head toward Haris. "Go and check if the investors have arrived," he ordered coolly. "Escort them in with honor." Haris nodded. As he turned to leave, he stole a quick, almost sympathetic glance at Anne before slipping out the door. "You still have time," Denis said. "Apologize to me, and I’ll help you." Anne flashed him a slow, challenging look. "Just don’t forget what I asked for," she replied smoothly. Denis’s fingers curled into a tight fist, anger flashing in his eyes. But before he could snap back, the investors walked in. He swallowed his frustration instantly, his expression shifting into a composed, welcoming mask. Rising from his chair, he stepped forward, greeting them. "Gentlemen...Thank you for attending today’s meeting. Please, have a seat. We’ll begin shortly." As the five investors settled into their seats, Denis leaned back with an air of authority, his gaze shifting toward Anne. "This is Miss Clair." With a subtle, mocking smirk, he gestured toward her. "She will be leading today’s presentation. Over to you, Anne." Rising gracefully from her chair, she addressed the investors first, her tone professional. "I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Beaumont, to present the progress report to these esteemed gentlemen." Denis’s smug expression flickered slightly. ’What is she up to?’

Chapter 32: Apologize to me, and I’ll help you.

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