?Chapter 829:


    Her voice stayed even—firm but polite. Not a hint of hostility, but no softness, either. Nearby employees had begun stealing nces their way, picking up on the tension in the air.


    Feeling the heat of their attention, Greta quietly returned to her seat.


    Frustration gnawed at her. She couldn’t focus on anything. Her mind ran in circles; she was desperate to figure out how she’d get close to Ethan next time he was here.


    After Ethan’s departure, Lorna slipped back into Brenna’s office to clear away the coffee and orange juice. She was relieved that Brenna hadn’tmented on the situation, but she made a mental note that she wouldn’t let Greta pull a stunt like that again.


    In the break room, Lorna was about to pour the coffee out of the cup. Just then, Tommy walked in, refilling his water bottle, and caught sight of the heart-shaped foam.


    He was disgusted by it. He believed Greta was shameless for doing something like that. He sighed in defeat. He could keep Greta in line when it came to reports and project deadlines, but when it came to these kinds of things, he had already tried to stop her and failed.


    “Lorna, don’t forget—refreshments are your job. Don’t let anyone else jump in like that again,” said Tommy.


    Lorna lowered her gaze, sounding genuinely remorseful. “I’m sorry. I was clearing Thiago’s cup and didn’t know Mr. Mitchell had arrived. I wouldn’t have let Greta serve him coffee if I’d seen him.”


    Tommy didn’t ease up. “That’s not good enough. Did Ms. Harper say anything to you about it?”


    Lorna gave a slight shake of her head. “No.”


    Tommy’s face tightened further. “Brenna isn’t the type to scold her employees over every little thing, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t notice. If this kind of thing keeps happening, she’s going to start questioning your abilities. Don’t let Greta’s behavior affect your job and jeopardize your future here. If you can’t handle something as simple as this, do you think you’re still suited for this job?”


    g?lnσν????s﹒??????, the heart of fiction


    “Screw up badly enough, it’s not just on you. I’ll be catching heat, too.”


    “I understand,” said Lorna, her voice steady. “It won’t happen again.”


    With a short nod, Tommy said, “I’ll keep an eye out for you, but you’ve got to be sharper. Don’t give Greta any more chances to do something like this again.”


    “I won’t,” Lorna replied, more resolute now. “You can count on that.”


    After filling his water bottle, Tommy turned and left the room without another word.


    Alone in the break room, Lorna simmered in silence, her frustration refusing to fade.


    When Brenna got home, Julia handed her a cream-colored envelope, her expression hesitant. “Your parents said they won’t be attending. But if you’d like to go, here’s the invitation.”


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