Chapter 10

Briar looked at me with undisguised satisfaction, though she quickly put on an expression of generosity.

"Oh, forget it, Callum. As long as Maren doesn't make things difficult for me at work from now on, that's enough. We're all colleagues. There's no need to make things awkward."

Callum looked at her approvingly.

"Briar, you're just too kind. People take advantage of that. You're always so willing to let things go, and one day someone's going to hurt you because of it."

Then he turned his attention back to me.

"Maren, Briar may be too kind to hold a grudge, but you still owe her an apology."

He paused, his expression stern.

"After what you did to her with that food, her face is still hurting. Physical violence is where I draw the line."

I glanced at Briar's perfectly unmarked face.

I almost laughed.

Callum really had no problem lying straight to my face.

Once upon a time, he'd stood up for me the same way.

Whenever someone tried to bully me, he'd step in without hesitation. He'd always been the first to defend me, even when it meant making enemies.

Now he still stood there with his arms spread protectively.

Only this time, Briar was the one behind him.

When I didn't move, his expression darkened.

"What are you waiting for? Apologize! Do you still want your job back or not?"

I looked at the two of them standing together.

Their little performance was getting ridiculous.

"Who said I wanted to apologize? And why would I need to come back to your company? Could you two please stop blocking my way?"

Callum's face turned red.

"Maren, enough! I've already agreed to let you come back. What more do you want?"

He looked at me as though I'd disappointed him beyond words.

Briar, meanwhile, seemed to have figured out exactly what she wanted everyone to believe.

"Oh, I get it." She tilted her head, pretending to understand.

"You're upset because I took over your projects and your position. You feel like I've taken something that belonged to you."

She glanced at Callum before continuing.

"But Callum, Maren walked away from the company herself. Someone had to take responsibility for those projects."

Then she lowered her eyes.

"I don't want her to feel uncomfortable because of me. Maybe I should just give the position back to her. I'm sure she'd be much better suited for it anyway."

She made a show of looking troubled.

Before she could finish, Callum immediately interrupted.

"Briar, don't sell yourself short. You deserve that position. You've earned it."

He turned toward me, his eyes filled with even more contempt.

It was as if refusing to accept his offer was somehow an insult to both of them.

I honestly couldn't understand where Briar got her confidence.

She had barely managed to handle her previous responsibilities, yet now she was so certain she could take over my position and every project I'd left behind.

And Callum was encouraging her.

Was he not worried she'd eventually make a mess of everything?

Then again, it wasn't my problem anymore.

I'd left the company. I'd ended my relationship with Callum. Whatever happened to Voss & Co. had nothing to do with me.

When the consequences finally caught up with them, I wondered whether Callum would still be smiling.

I shook my head and turned to leave.

"Maren!"

Callum's voice rose behind me.

"I'm talking to you! Why are you pretending you can't hear me? Get back here!"

I kept walking.

Just then, his phone rang.

The sudden ringtone interrupted his shouting.

Callum frowned, pulled out his phone, and answered.

I couldn't hear the caller clearly, but I could tell from the urgency in the voice that something was wrong.

"Mr. Voss! We've got a serious problem!"

It was his assistant.

"What's going on?" Callum demanded.

"Mr. Voss, the proposal we submitted yesterday has a major error. It's caused the client enormous financial losses, and they're threatening to sue the company!"

Callum's expression turned cold.

"What?"

He straightened immediately.

"Which project are you talking about? Who was responsible for it?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

When his assistant finally answered, his voice was trembling.

"That project... the person in charge was..."

He hesitated.

"Briar Kessler!"