Chapter 23

After the auction ended, Darwin entered, carrying a tray draped with a red cloth. Thea barely glanced at him until he approached.

"What's this?" she asked, her heart fluttering slightly as she instinctively looked at Nicolas.

Nicolas's gaze shifted to the tray. "Open it. It's for you. Consider it an apology from the Hendrix family and Avon Ventures for Jake's behavior."

Thea hesitated, then lifted the red cloth, revealing a pair of earrings. They were silver, crescent moon-shaped, each adorned with pure light blue gemstones that seemed to capture the glow of moonlight. These were Moonlight Fantasy, the final creation of a world-renowned jewelry designer, with a starting bid of $10 million. Nicolas had won them for close to $15 million.

No woman could easily resist such exquisite jewelry, and Thea was no exception. Still, she shook her head. "Mr. Hendrix, this is too much."

Nicolas's calm gaze rested on her. "If you hadn't spoken up today, I might have assumed Jake handled those projects himself. I was about to entrust him with a deal worth tens of millions of dollars. By telling the truth, you saved me from taking a major risk. These earrings are simply compensation for all the bonuses Jake took credit for in your name."

Thea's cheeks warmed. She had done so much for Jake, never expecting Nicolas—known for his ruthlessness—to be anything but angry, let alone acknowledge her contributions. She realized he must value her abilities.

With that realization, Thea smiled and accepted the gift. As she held the earrings, she wondered when Nicolas had started looking out for Jake so much, even cleaning up his messes.

Jake had always portrayed Nicolas negatively. He'd told Thea that Nicolas was cold-hearted and emotionless, even recounting how Nicolas hadn't blinked when his grandmother died in front of him. Jake had made him seem utterly indifferent. Thea had believed it. For years, even at family gatherings, she had kept her distance.

For seven years, her perception of the Hendrix family's leader had been shaped by Jake and his parents' fragmented, critical comments. But ironically, the man Jake had described as heartless was the first to truly consider her perspective.

Whether it was because he valued her skills or because of Jake, it didn't matter. What mattered was that Nicolas had given her an opportunity to continue.

The announcement from headquarters came swiftly. Thea was cleared of any wrongdoing in the company data leak, and the real culprit was still under investigation. While her former position as deputy manager wasn't reinstated, she was given a new role as secretary to the CEO's office at Avon Ventures, with authority equivalent to Jake's. Madelyn's position as deputy manager was eliminated. Going forward, Jake would need Thea's approval for any decisions.

As Thea moved her belongings back into her office, she passed Madelyn's workspace. The office door was ajar, revealing Jake and Madelyn embracing. Madelyn sobbed uncontrollably, her frail form trembling. Jake held her close, murmuring reassurances, but his other hand was clenched into a fist, his suppressed rage evident.

Thea knocked. "Excuse me, Miss Terell. Could you hurry and pack your things? Mr. Nicolas Hendrix has assigned me a lot of work, and I need to get started. You wouldn't want to hold up someone else's job, would you? Also, I don't like the tacky decorations in this office, so make sure to get rid of everything."

Madelyn's sobs intensified. Jake's eyes reddened with fury as he glared at Thea. "Are you happy now? Look at what you've done to Madelyn."