Chapter 163

Thinking it through, I finally calmed down.

I looked at Jonathan, my voice flat. “I don’t want to come back a second time. HR said I need your approval to resign. Just sign the papers; I’ll leave right after.”

Jonathan slowly straightened up and gave me a cool glance before sitting down in his office chair.

His long fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. “Give me a reason.”

I stood up, walked over to him, and met his eyes. “Why do I need a reason to quit? I don’t want the job anymore, and it’s not like I need your permission. If I want to leave, I’ll leave.”

“You can leave. I’ll hold others accountable.”

His tone was calm, but the words hit like a threat. I had no idea how he could make something so menacing sound so casual.

“You’re shameless,” I snapped. “You think I care? I barely know anyone here, and I’m not close to them. Do whatever you want.”

“Oh, really?” Jonathan asked, completely unfazed. “What about Gabrielle? Doesn’t she matter to you either?”

He pulled out a personnel file. Gabrielle’s name was printed right on the front.

“She worked her ass off to get this job. Her education didn’t even meet Millenia’s standards. I only hired her because of you. You want to throw away all her effort just like that?”

He closed the folder and tossed it on the desk in front of me. “It’s your call, Elise.”

He said it was my choice, but it was nothing more than a threat dressed up as generosity.

I clenched my fists, glaring at him, my temper hitting a breaking point.

Grabbing Gabrielle’s file, I shot him a cold look. “You’re blackmailing me, Jonathan.”

“It’s not blackmail, just giving you two options.”

He said it so matter-of-factly, like he already knew I wouldn’t let Gabrielle suffer for this.

I took a deep breath. “You’re really that determined to keep me here?”

“I told you, you don’t leave without my approval.”

“Fine, have it your way. I’ll stay.”

Then I gave him one last look and turned to walk out.

Jonathan seemed surprised that I had given in so easily. He paused but didn’t say a word to stop me.

Just as I was about to push the door open, it swung toward me. Alicia was coming in.

Our eyes met, and I froze.

She glared at me first, then frowned. “Elise, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re bothering Jon at work again!”

“Did you personally see me bothering him? Can’t you see I’m leaving?” I shot her a cold look. “Move. Don’t block the door like some guard dog.”

“You—”

Alicia’s hands curled into fists. She took a second to compose herself, then looked me over, clearly annoyed.

“After the scene you made at my birthday party, isn’t that enough? Now you’re here picking a fight with Jon again? Can’t you just stop causing trouble?”

I shoved past her, not in the mood to waste any more words.

Just then, a man following behind her stepped into the office, and I nearly ran into him. He instinctively reached out to steady me. “Careful,” he said softly.

The second I heard his voice, my head snapped up.

He looked just as startled to see me.

We locked eyes, and before either of us could say a word, Jonathan appeared. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him, cutting off our line of sight.

“Don’t stare at people like that,” he said sharply, like I was some intern who needed discipline.

I turned my head away, ignoring him completely.

Alicia looked back and forth between us, her brow furrowing. “Wait, you two know each other?”

Our reactions had been way too strange to ignore.

I stared coldly at the man. “Why are you here?”

He didn’t answer. He rubbed his nose, avoiding my eyes.

After a long moment, I raised my hand and pointed toward the door. “Get out, or I swear I won’t be polite about it.”