The two of them stood there, shoulder to shoulder.
Kayla Fox had flushed all the way to the tips of her ears.
John Henson looked perfectly at ease.
He glanced at her.
Then picked up the cake knife. "Do you like sweet better, or savory?"
Kayla mumbled, "Whatever you cut for me, Mr. Henson, I'll like it…"
"Aww~"
The teasing started up at once, knowing and suggestive.
Lesley Henson couldn't help but laugh. "Just look at these two lovebirds."
John cut Kayla a slice with his own hands. "Don't you love grapes? I saved this piece just for you."
As he said it, his gaze flicked toward me.
I turned my head away.
And walked back to the conference room without looking back.
I was sorting through the documents when Kayla pushed the door open, humming a little tune.
The moment she saw me, her smile froze on her face.
"Marj… Marjorie."
I said nothing.
I gathered up the folders and stood.
"Marjorie, don't go!"
She grabbed at me in a panic. "I never thought things would turn out like this!
"I got pushed into it too. There was no way for me to say no!
"I… I'll give the bracelet back to you right now!"
With that, she started tugging hard at the bracelet.
But the band of it was clearly wider than her wrist.
She pulled at it several times.
And no matter what she did, it wouldn't come off.
"Stop the act," I said flatly. "You keep it."
"Marjorie!"
She caught hold of me again. "I really didn't mean any of this. Just wait, I'll have it off in a second!"
"What's going on? What's all this fuss in here?"
Lesley pushed the door open and came in.
She saw me and Kayla tangled together, pulling at each other.
Her brow knit in an instant. "So you must be that director with the bad temper, the one who's always picking on Kayla. Director Walker, isn't it?"
I went still.
Lesley… was that how she saw me?
I looked at Kayla.
She quickly dodged my eyes.
Now I knew exactly who had been doing the talking.
"I've heard about you, Marjorie Walker." Lesley's eyes were cold on me. "Quite the ruthless operator, aren't you. You've got everyone under you whipped into line.
"What, do you think the Hensons belong to you? Or have you decided you're already the future daughter-in-law of this family?"
My breath caught.
This was the first time Kayla had ever met Lesley.
So where had Lesley heard all of this?
Could it be…
I clenched my fists.
No…
Could it really have been John?
The door opened.
John appeared in the doorway. "What's the matter?"
Lesley turned to her son. "You really need to get the people in your company in line.
"This girl actually had the nerve to snatch what I gave to Kayla."
John looked at me.
I gritted my teeth. "I did no such thing!"
It was at that moment that Kayla finally slipped the bracelet off.
She pulled my wrist toward her and put it on me. "Don't be upset, Marjorie. I'm giving the bracelet back to you."
Lesley let out a gasp. "You foolish child! How could you give something like that away!"
Kayla's eyes reddened. "But… Marjorie has loved Mr. Henson for so long, after all."
"And just because she loves him she can help herself to your things? Bullying you the rest of the time is one thing, but how could you give in at a moment like this!"
Lesley swept Kayla into her arms. "Don't you worry. This time, John and I have your back!"
"But… I'm only an intern. How could I ever wear a bracelet like that…"
"Who says you can't wear it?"
John's hand closed around my wrist.
He slipped the jade bracelet off me with no effort at all and handed it to Kayla. "If I say you can wear it, then you can wear it."
