Chapter 69
When Abigail returned to Halden Group with the partnership contract, Leon shuffled closer and murmured, "You got messed with by that jerk at Celestial Group. Why didn't you mention it?"
Abigail, clutching the contract and intending to see Timothy, asked in surprise, "Huh? How'd you hear about that?"
Leon dropped his voice. "Sebastian's personal assistant called our top brass directly. He said if this partnership sparked a scandal, none of us—Halden Group, Celestial Group, or even Sebastian—would have a future in this industry. If it goes viral online, we’d get buried in backlash."
Abigail held the contract tighter. "I should’ve told Mr. Newman." She’d kept quiet about Quentin’s harassment for her own reasons.
"Here, have some water to steady your nerves. Don't argue when you’re stressed. At least you nailed the project, so the bonus is safe. Just grin and bear it for now, yeah?" Leon handed her a glass of water.
Right as Abigail, who was coughing, chugged it down, Timothy's office door banged open. Leon practically dove back to his desk.
Setting the glass aside, Abigail faced Timothy coolly. "Mr. Newman, Celestial Group is happy with our contract terms. Just review their version and sort out the coordination."
"Get in here," Timothy barked, face grim, before turning back to his desk.
Abigail followed with the contract, shutting the door.
As Leon craned his neck to spy, he heard a colleague behind him sneer, "Look at the new girl grinding away using every trick in the book. Even with Celestial Group riding her ass, she locked it down. Color me impressed."
"Know what netizens call dudes like you?" Leon spun around, smirk fixed.
"What?" the guy asked.
"Rumor Bros. Your hobby’s trashing women. I think netizens hit the nail on the head. Don’t you?" Leon chuckled to himself.
Meanwhile, Timothy sat at his desk, smoking a cigarette as he leafed through the contract. When he finished, he said, "The contract’s solid, but why didn't you mention what happened?"
"I was just focused on fixing things. Even if I told you, there'd be other crap down the line. I've always known about hidden games in the workplace and prepped for them," Abigail kept her gaze down, answering calmly.
Timothy's sharp eyes scanned her face. Though seething, he spoke evenly, "Knowing that doesn't matter. If this leaks, it'll look like three big companies forced a young woman to work with a creep for a project.
"Once the press gets hold of it, all three firms get dragged into the mess."
Abigail didn't reply.
"Your medical costs, emotional distress pay, and bonus are all sorted. Finance will deposit everything in your account in the next few days." Timothy couldn't bring himself to keep lecturing her, the one who'd suffered.
"Thanks, Mr. Newman." Abigail turned to go.
But Timothy added, "You're a Halden Group employee, my subordinate. If someone screws with you, you have to tell me. I'd dump the partnership before letting some asshole get away with this!"
Abigail stopped at the door. The crap she’d taken from Gabriel suddenly didn’t feel so heavy because of his words. "Got it."
That night, when she returned home, Bianca was waiting in the foyer the moment she walked in. Abigail brushed past her and started changing her shoes.
"Abby, your dad's livid. He's in the shower, and Stevie told me to wait here. Go straight to your room and don't open the door when he knocks. Just ride it out till he cools off," Bianca sighed, finally filling her in.
"Got it." Abigail had braced for a fight ever since leaving the office that afternoon. Stephen's sudden shift, though, threw her off.
Abigail didn't hesitate and headed straight to her room. Less than half an hour later, Gabriel was already knocking at her door. She ignored him and started rummaging through her closet for clothes to take a shower.
Arguing voices between Stephen and Gabriel suddenly came from outside the door.
"Halden Group's already got the project. What's the point of dragging her out to hit or yell at her?" Stephen snapped.
"She screwed me over! Why the hell are you sticking up for her? Tell her to get the hell out of this house now. I don't want a selfish daughter like her!" Gabriel thundered.
"You're the one who screwed her over! Quentin's a total piece of…"
Stephen didn't finish. Abigail heard the sharp crack of a slap, followed by Gabriel's furious roar. "Since when do you think you can talk back to me? If you're so dead set on protecting her, then get out together. I don't have ungrateful kids like you two!"