Chapter 59

“Indeed,” Dominic drawled, his eyes observing Blake as his expression stilled. “Are you afraid, Mr. Blake?”

A moment passed before Blake forced out a hearty laugh. “Afraid? Now why would I be? If she’s been found, that’s fantastic. At least now, I can clear my name. This is the best news I’ve heard all day.”

Blake’s calm demeanor hid his disdain. Even if they did find her, it would be as a lifeless corpse. “They didn’t incriminate him.”

“Is Ms. Gildon really that important?” Nancy finally implored. She slammed her bag onto the table, her frustration boiling over. From the moment she walked in, she had seen enough of Dominic’s concern for another woman. He had never cared this much for anyone before.

Dominic met her gaze, his expression cold and authoritative. “Do you even know why she came to the factory? Do you know why she disappeared?”

“This is all a joke!” Nancy retorted. “I’m the branch’s general manager. Why should I care about a secretary who’s been here less than three days?”

Her heart clenched, and her words cut like a knife. “But you—you’re the president of the entire corporation, yet you’re pulling all these strings for a secretary. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she’s your wife!”

“Nancy, if you put even half the effort you waste on me into your work, you wouldn’t be this embarrassingly careless.”

Nancy’s eyes burned with fury, her heart aching from the sting of his harsh words. How dare he humiliate her like this—for Vespera?

“Fine!” she shot back. “If I’m so incompetent, then I’ll step down as general manager! I’ll go right now and hand my resignation to Mr. Reid Senior!”

Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and dialed Dominic’s father—Samuel Reid, the chairman of Tavian Group. She put the call on speaker and placed it on the table. Dominic watched her coldly, offering no resistance.

When the call connected, Nancy immediately launched into a tearful recount of everything that had happened. Her voice wavered with emotion, each word dripping with grievance. She portrayed Dominic as a ruthless tyrant, trampling on his loyal employees for the sake of a mere secretary. In her telling, Vespera was nothing more than a manipulative woman, stirring chaos and ruining the company.

Blake saw the opportunity and seized it, stepping in at just the right moment to console her. He deliberately raised his voice so that Samuel could hear him. When Samuel asked for Blake’s thoughts, he responded promptly, his tone laced with sorrow. With a heavy sigh, he added, “Mr. Reid Senior, if Ms. Acosta resigns, I’ll follow her lead. Leaving voluntarily is far more dignified than being dismissed.”

As both of them threatened to resign, the room began to stir, with others quietly voicing their support. As Nancy watched the situation unfold, a sinking feeling settled in—she realized she had been manipulated. But it was already too late to salvage things for Dominic.

She stole a glance at him, only to find him standing still with his arms crossed, his face impassive. He didn’t even look in her direction.

“Dominic, what’s your side of the story?” Samuel asked, finally turning to his son for a response.

Only then did Dominic speak. “Dad, haven’t you realized? What you’re seeing right now is the most honest reflection of this company’s true state.”

His words were steady, yet they sliced through the tension like a blade. The masks were stripped away, and the dark truths that had been hidden were exposed. Nancy’s face shifted, a mixture of embarrassment and anger flashing across her features.

“You’re the one who’s lost all reason over a woman!” she retorted. “You can’t separate your personal feelings from business! Why are you protecting her so much? Why do you care about her so much? Do you have feelings for her? She’s already married!”

“Nancy!” Dominic’s voice snapped through the air like a lash. His gaze locked onto hers, cold and filled with disappointment. “Is romance all you can think about? I asked if you even knew why Ms. Gildon was at the factory, and all you care about is whether I have feelings for her!”

“You say I care about her, right? Well, you’re right—I do. Because in a matter of days, she uncovered what you failed to see in two years. She got into trouble because she was investigating the company’s finances on my behalf!”

Nancy froze. The disappointment in his eyes cut through her like a blade to the chest. But the worst part was hearing him say that Vespera had done what she couldn’t. Jealousy surged inside her, choking her breath.

“Just because she says there’s a problem, does that mean it’s true?” she shot back. “Does finding something wrong make her right?”

Blake chimed in, “I agree with Ms. Acosta. Just because Ms. Gildon claims there’s an issue doesn’t make it fact. Even if there was something wrong with the books, why didn’t she report it through the proper channels? Why didn’t she come to Ms. Acosta? Clearly, she was just trying to impress you, Mr. Reid.”

“Because this company has a traitor within!” A trailed-off male voice echoed from the doorway.