Thea kicked open the office door to find Madelyn cuddling Jake, looking flushed and radiant, as if basking in sweet bliss. Madelyn's eyes flickered with panic at Thea's sudden entrance, but Jake's reaction was different. His gaze wavered for a moment before he regained his composure, his face settling into an expression of cold sarcasm.

"I remember you walking out so proudly earlier, insisting we were done," Jake said mockingly. "So what are you doing here now? What's the point?"

Thea fought to control her fury. "To keep yourself from being outmatched by me, you spread rumors about me to the buyer. Is that how you get your kicks?" she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "I used to think you were just useless, always needing me to handle everything. Now I see you're not just useless; you're pathetic and disgusting."

Her harsh words wiped the smirk off Jake's face. His expression darkened as he clenched his fists, his knuckles audibly cracking.

"Thea, what's wrong with you?" he snapped. "Not sealing that deal is your own failure. I told you from the start you'd never pull it off, but you wouldn't listen."

Thea's eyes narrowed. "Just wait. One day, you'll pay for everything you took from me."

Jake's chest heaved with barely restrained anger. Madelyn gently patted his back, her voice soothing. "Don't be upset, Jake. Miss Rowland is just frustrated about the deal falling through. I'm sure she didn't mean it."

Jake gritted his teeth. "If she had even a fraction of your sweetness, I would have married her long ago. I hesitated because I waited for her to change. Uncle Nicolas only kept her around because of me. But now she thinks she's already Mrs. Hendrix and dares to challenge me."

Madelyn's expression briefly shifted; a strange flicker appeared in her eyes. She clung to Jake's arm. "Jake, Miss Rowland's always been like this. If you marry her, I'm afraid there won't be any place for me. I'm scared."

"Don't worry," Jake said, stroking her cheek. "I've already worked out a long-term partnership between the Rowland family and ours. Once she marries me, if she's still acting like this, I'll send her off to a sanitarium abroad."

Madelyn smiled sweetly. "Jake, you're so good to her. You're making me jealous."

By the next day, rumors spread throughout the company that Thea had not only failed to close the deal but had also offended the clients. Everywhere she went, she heard whispers.

"I'm sick of her," someone muttered. "What does she even do? It's all just because of her family connections, right?"

"Exactly," another person chimed in. "I used to feel sorry for her after what happened with Madelyn, but now I see Mr. Hendrix was right all along. How could someone like her handle such a high position?"

"Let's stop complaining," someone else groaned. "Now that the deal fell through, we'll have to start contacting buyers from scratch. What a hassle."

Just then, Madelyn appeared with a sweet, gentle smile. "Let's not be too hard on Ms. Rowland. She just has a bit of a temper. I'm sure she didn't mean to upset anyone. She's probably disappointed about the deal as well."

At first, people were reluctant to listen. But with Jake by her side, they quickly changed their tune, eager to support her.

"You're too kind, Madelyn," one employee said. "After everything she did to you, you're still concerned about her."

"Right! Just thinking about all the overtime we have to do because of her is exhausting," another added.

Madelyn's smile hardened slightly. "Actually, you don't need to worry. The buyer was really upset at first, but after some talks, they've calmed down. They agreed to have dinner tonight, so we still have a chance."

Jake smiled and added, "Madelyn's quick thinking and immediate apologies made all the difference. She saved the situation and got us a second chance."

The news stirred excitement. "We're saved! At least we won't have to pull all-nighters now," someone exclaimed. "Madelyn really is our savior. What would we do without her?" another said. "Honestly, the project should have gone to her from the start. Some people just create more problems than they solve," someone else added.

Madelyn's cheeks flushed, though her eyes glinted with pride. "Well, this is actually my first time handling something like this. I guess they chose me because I'm easier to work with. I'll do everything I can to close the deal quickly so we can all head home early."

"Awesome!" Everyone was excited.

But the celebration was cut short by a sharp voice. "Madelyn, I can't believe you're taking credit for Mr. Nicolas Hendrix's work. Don't you think you're getting a bit too full of yourself?"

Thea strode into the room, her posture straight and commanding in a sleek suit dress and high heels.

Madelyn's expression shifted, her lips turning down in a soft pout. "Ms. Rowland, I understand you're upset about losing the deal, but I'm just trying to help the company. It's not my fault the client chose to work with me instead." Her voice trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Jake grabbed Madelyn's wrist, pulling her slightly behind him, his expression filled with displeasure. "You nearly cost the company a major client this time. The higher-ups didn't come down hard on you only because Madelyn persuaded me to beg for mercy for you. That's already more than generous. What? Do you want me to fire you?"

Thea sneered. "With all these people watching, I won't spill how you managed to get this dinner meeting. Let's make a bet instead. If Madelyn closes this deal, I'll leave the company immediately. But if she fails, both of you are out."

Jake's eyes narrowed. "Thea, have you lost your mind?"

Madelyn hesitated before raising her chin with a determined expression. "Don't involve Mr. Hendrix. I'll take on this challenge myself, Ms. Rowland. I may be weak, but I won't let you bully me."

Thea smiled knowingly. "Alright then. Let's see how it goes." She wasn't worried. After all, the dinner meeting had only come about because of Nicolas's influence, not Madelyn's capabilities.

When the time for dinner arrived, Jake and Madelyn arrived early. Thea arrived soon after, dressed in a light blue long dress with a cream-colored coat draped elegantly over her shoulders. Her hair was swept up, and the two pearls dangling from her ears, paired with light makeup, made her look effortlessly refined and sophisticated. Madelyn, despite her best efforts, still couldn't avoid a slightly tacky appearance. Standing next to Thea, she was once again overshadowed.

A flash of jealousy and resentment passed through Madelyn's eyes. As she walked past Thea, she said loudly, "Ms. Rowland, why don't you join us in the private room? It must be cold waiting out here." Her voice was laced with condescension, and she lifted her chin slightly.