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Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Maxine’s fingers clenched around her bag. “And who exactly made you the judge of what’s appropriate?”
Kathleen raised her eyebrows in mock concern, then smiled as if she’d just remembered something. “Oh, right–you two haven’t signed the papers yet. My mistake. I’ll make sure to remind Sebastian that the receptionist should tighten things up around here.”
“After all, I’d prefer it if Sebastian didn’t keep running into his ex–wife. It’s not good for anyone,” Kathleen said with a smile, hitting the elevator button before Maxine could respond. >
Maxine watched her walk away for a long moment, then said coldly, “Kathleen, I don’t care whether you’re with Sebastian or not. I just hope you have some basic decency. Brian really likes you–don’t let him down.”
Kathleen acted like she didn’t hear. She stepped into the elevator, turned around, and gave Maxine a bright smile as the doors closed.
Maxine closed her eyes for a second and let out a long breath.
After a pause, she walked to the CEO’s office, pushing down her frustration, and knocked on the door.
Charles opened it. “Mrs. Mason,” he greeted with a smile. “Mr. Mason’s expecting you.”
Maxine didn’t respond. She brushed past him without a word.
Charles stood there, a little stunned and hurt. Even when she’d argued with Sebastian in the past, Maxine had never been this cold toward Charles. He couldn’t help but wonder what had changed.
As soon as Maxine walked in, she caught a faint scent of lemonade in the air.
Her eyes landed on the glass sitting on Sebastian’s desk–lemonade, placed neatly on the left side.
A flicker of sarcasm crossed her face. Ignoring the tight knot in her chest, she sat down across from Sebastian without waiting for him to say anything.
Getting straight to the point, she asked, “Did you tell Patrick to go on leave?”
Sebastian narrowed his eyes and set down his pen. “What’s this about?”
“I went to the firm today to hand in my resignation. Patrick was gone, and Rayden wouldn’t process the paperwork. From the way he talked, it sounds like they’re trying to fire me without paying me what I’m owed,” Maxine said.
She shook her head, the whole thing still sounding ridiculous to her. “Sebastian, I just want to know–did you tell them to pull this stunt?”
Sebastian laced his fingers together and looked at her. “It’s true–I don’t want you to quit. But I’m not trying to have you either.”
fired
Maxine took a deep breath, trying to hold back her anger. “Why are you stopping me from leaving? Haven’t I been treated unfairly enough at that firm?”
“Unfair?” Sebastian’s eyes sharpened. “Maxine, do you even hear yourself?”
Maxine raised an eyebrow and let out a bitter laugh. “Who’s the one not seeing things clearly? Sebastian, weren’t you the one who kept reassigning my cases?”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “I did it for your own good. Just like now–if you walk away from the firm, you know—”
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Chapter 72
He suddenly cut himself off. Looking away, he added coldly, “I don’t want to argue with you. Just know this–you’re not resigning right now. That’s final. You should go now. I’ve got work to do and no time to go in circles about this.”
Sebastian’s dismissive tone hit Maxine like a slap. The frustration, the helplessness–it all boiled over into a deep, quiet humiliation.
She stood up slowly, her voice like ice. “Sebastian, if you keep blocking my resignation, I’ll take legal action. Don’t forget- I’ve worked at that firm for years.
“I probably know more about its shady side–and Mason Group’s–than you do. Don’t push me to the point where we both lose.”
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