Chapter 3

The next morning, I presented Mr. Jenning with the heart of the project proposal and closed the deal with the contract signing. Mr. Jenning's firm was a leading player in the field of new energy. There was a strong demand for cutting-edge energy storage technology. So, securing a close partnership with him was the goal every competitor strove toward. His whereabouts were always kept confidential. If I hadn't learned of his itinerary through specific channels, this opportunity would have slipped through my fingers. I continuously presented my technical visions to him for a week. In the end, my professionalism and foresight won him over. He ultimately entrusted me with the project. I had believed that once the project had been secured, Chase and I could focus on preparing for our wedding. But ever since Ashley's promotion, Chase ceased to care about any of that. After the contract signing, I ran into Ashley in the office lobby. She sneered the moment she saw me. "Are you here to trade your body for the project?" I glared at her. My professional reputation had never been so insulted. "Watch your mouth!" Ashley's gaze shifted downward and landed on the coffee stain on my skirt. She mocked, "The cafe in this building charges 15 dollars for coffee. You couldn't even pay for your 30-thousand-dollar fine. And yet, here you are. "Who knows if you negotiated some under-the-table deal with your clients? You look like a mess. It must have been an intense negotiation, huh?" The moment she spotted the file folder in my hand, she reached for it. "Well, you actually landed the contract. Are you that eager to crawl back to Chase's company?" "I never planned on returning!" Ashley scoffed. "I guess you never learn!" I tried to grab the folder back, but she snatched it away. "If you ask me, women like you with some mileage under your belts make the worst schemers. You're always looking for shortcuts. You sell your body and pull cheap stunts to get results. Doesn't it eat you up inside? "It's people like you who ruin this industry's reputation! Your lack of professional ethics is disgusting!" I couldn't take it anymore. I flung the glass of water in my hand straight into Ashley's face. Then, I fixed her with an icy stare. "Slander me again, and my attorney will teach you exactly what defamation means." Immediately, tears welled up in her eyes as she darted behind Chase, who had just arrived. Chase's eyes flickered over to Ashley's miserable state with concern. Then, he turned a furious glare my way. "What the hell makes you think you can lash out like that? It's a misunderstanding. Ashley and I have a strictly professional relationship. Not everyone is as dirty-minded as you." I snickered. "She spreads lies the moment she opens her mouth. Am I not allowed to set her straight? For the record, I couldn't care less about whatever is going on between you two!" Chase snorted. "You don't care? You've been dragging your feet on calling off the engagement. You also refused to take the money I sent. And now, you're going after Ashley to get my attention. You're pathetic, Willow." I pulled out my phone, realizing I had forgotten to collect the payment after rushing home yesterday to organize the proposal. I tapped into the notification and accepted the transfer right in front of him before raising an eyebrow. "Satisfied?" Chase's expression hardened as he went still. Meanwhile, Ashley murmured tearful accusations behind him while pointing at the folder in my hand. "I've been trying to ease your burdens, Mr. Gibson. So, I kept following up on the project and finally got a letter of intent. "But Willow accused me of selling out the company to get it because she was jealous. She even tried to destroy the documents. I was only trying to help, but she splashed water at me!" I'd applaud her for her acting skills. She could make a lie sound like gospel. But Chase fell for it. He signaled for security to grab me by my wrists. "Let me handle this! Whatever she's done to hurt you, I'll make her pay double!" I glared at him. I couldn't believe he was standing up for Ashley. "Try me, Chase!" I knew he might have given his heart to someone else, but I refused to believe he was indifferent toward what we once had. After all, in the company's early days, I accompanied him everywhere to pull investments. I was so exhausted that I ended up in the hospital. As I was being wheeled out of the sick ward, he held my hand and promised that he'd never let me down. At that moment, Ashley approached with steaming-hot water and hurled it at my face. The searing pain made me cry out. "This is what you get for being so reckless, Willow!" I was stunned by the pain. Ashley was ruthless. The scalding water made my scalp swell and split from the burn. Blood clouded my vision. Chase didn't even spare me a glance. Ashley clung to his arm and said coyly, "You're the best, Mr. Gibson!" Soon, the security guards dragged me out the door like trash. Chase tenderly wiped the water off Ashley's face. "Are you alright? I'll take you out for a nice meal later to help you calm your nerves."