The Bride He Took For Granted novel Chapter 26

<The Bride He Took for Granted

Chapter 26

Every eye in the room turned to Elise,

Some looked sorry for her. Others were clearly waiting for the drama.

Elise calmly gathered her papers and walked out of the conference room.

But to her coworkers, that calm was obviously an act,

“I heard her too. That was definitely a woman.”

“Ms. White’s acting like she doesn’t care, but she has to be furious.”

“Of course she is. She didn’t even stop for water all morning. Just sat there working on those translations like a machine. All that just to impress Mr. Carter.”

Bang!

Everyone flinched and slowly turned toward the sound.

Jason was usually quiet and easygoing, but now his expression was ice-cold.

*ffis is your first and only warning, I hear any more gossip,

Jou

Chapter 26

lose your bonuses. Keep it up, and you’re fired. Got it?”

The coworkers who had been gossiping about Elise nodded quickly and scattered.

But once they were out of earshot, they started whispering again.

“What got into Mr. Clark?”

“He usually ignores us when we gossip. I thought nothing ever got to him.”

“Yeah. He was scarier than Mr. Carter just now.”

******

Elise had no idea what had happened in the conference room.

Harold still hadn’t given her an answer about the meeting she’d requested. But they were having dinner that night. If the moment felt right, she planned to bring it up.

At the end of the workday, Elise changed in her office.

Since Laurel would be joining them, she didn’t want to show up looking like she’d come straight from a business meeting.

She had brought a simple black dress that fell to her ankles. She4

Chapter 26

pulled half her hair back with a black bow and put on a matching pearl necklace and earrings.

Just as she left her office, she got a call from Mosaic Fusion

Bistro.

“Ms. White, we’re very sorry, but the light above your table is broken, and we won’t be able to repair it tonight. Would table A08 in the main dining area work instead?”

Table A08 was farther inside, near the private rooms. It would be much busier and noisier than the table she had reserved.

Elise held her bag in one hand as she walked toward the elevators.

“Do you have anything quieter?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. White. There aren’t any other tables available in the main dining room. We do have a small private room. Would

that work?”

A private room?

She barely knew Harold or Laurel. Put the three of them in a small room, and they’d probably end up staring at one another in awkward silence.

fneither option works, we can cancel the reservation and 19:54

Chapter 26

refund twice your deposit.”

But she had already told Harold they were meeting at Mosaic Fusion Bistro. Changing restaurants at the last minute would be

rude.

Elise gave in. “All right. A08 works.”

As she spoke, she sent Harold the updated reservation details.

Elise saw the elevator doors starting to close and quickened her

pace.

Jason spotted her and pressed the button to hold them open.

She stepped inside with a smile. “Thanks.”

Jason glanced at her, then quickly looked away. He swallowed.

“Got a date?”

Elise thought for a moment. “Sort of. I’m taking someone out to dinner to thank him for helping me.”

Jason nodded.

The elevator fell quiet until it reached the first floor.

Elige was about to step out when Jason spoke again. ■

1

19:54

Chapter 26

“My car’s in the garage. I can give you a ride.”

Elise smiled. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I can get a cab.”

Jason’s smile didn’t falter. “All right. See you.”

“See you.”

It wasn’t until Elise left the building that something occurred to

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