“Go ahead,” Reba said.
Alexander said, “Don’t think I won’t do it.”
Reba challenged, “If you’re really that brave, what’s stopping you?”
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Alexander ground his mrs. If Jeffrey hadn’tid down thew–that nobody is allowed to breathe a word about his thing with Reba to anyone at Primey Technologies without his personal green light- Alexander would’ve tattled ages ago.
Alexander seethed inwardly, ‘She still drives me crazy, just like she did back in the day!’
Reba continued, “You breathe a word, and Jessica’s fist willnd right on your face.” She guessed that Alexander must have been warned not to spill her rtionship with Jeffrey.
She thought, ‘Otherwise, with Alexander’s usual attitude, he’d be calling me Mrs. Hanson with that signature sarcasm of his, just to get under my skin.
Alexander snapped, “Don’t take it too far. Jessica isn’t around now. Even if I mess with you, she won’t be there to bail you out.”
“True, can’t argue with that,” Reba replied.
Alexander got even more pissed, grinding his teeth in frustration. But he couldn’t do a damn thing to Reba. Sure, Jeffrey wasn’t backing her up anymore, but she still had Jessica and Ian in her corner. Those two were no pushovers.
Just then, Derek showed up with a bunch of people, carrying top–shelf booze, coffee, and juice. He said, “Not sure what you’re into, Mr. Kendall, so I brought a bit of everything. Anything else I can do for you?”
Reba frowned slightly.
Alexander straightened his clothes, trying to look like he’d cooled off. He decided to change his approach to retaliation. As long as he wasn’t up against Jeffrey, he was willing to go all out against the others.
He asked, “You said she is your team member, right?”
Derek replied, “That’s right.”
Alexander said, “Seriously, what’s her problem? One minute she’s calling me filthy rich and clueless about real life, the next she’s taking shots at my looks and outfit.”
Reba raised an eyebrow questioningly..
Alexander continued, “And when I asked for an apology, she just looked totally annoyed.”
Derek said, “She’s new, doesn’t know any better. I’ll apologize on her behalf. I’ll give her a good talking–toter. Don’t let it ruin your day.”
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Alexander said, “I want her to apologize right now. If she doesn’t, this isn’t over, and your anniversary bash might not go as smoothly as you’d like.”
Alexander was determined to make Reba eat her words. He’d been on the receiving end of her and Jessica’s teasing since they were kids.
Derek’s heart skipped a beat. He shot Reba a meaningful look and said quietly, “Go apologize to Mr. Kendall.”
“I didn’t say any of that,” Reba replied firmly, refusing to confess to something she hadn’t done.
Derek leaned in and whispered, “It doesn’t matter if you didn’t. What matters is that Mr. Kendall says you did. If this blows up and wrecks the anniversary event, it’d be way beyond what you or anyone else here could fix.”
Reba bit down hard, swallowing her anger. “An apology, is it?” She asked, her mind already spinning with ideas for payback.
Alexander,pletely oblivious to the storm brewing, nodded.
Meanwhile, in the presidential suite on the 28th floor of the hotel, Jeffrey and Stanley were lounging on the couch, watching the whole scene unfold on aptop screen hooked up to the hotel’s security cameras.
Stanley hadn’t nned on tagging along at first. But after thinking it over, he figured he didn’t have much going on anyway, so he mighte and see what the drama was all about.
As Alexander made his demands, Stanley caught the sudden chilling off Jeffrey and reminded him, “Weren’t you the one who said Reba needed to know what it’s like without you watching her back?”
“That’s Reba,” Jeffrey replied, barely moving his lips.
Stanley said, “Yeah, I know.”
Jeffrey said, “She shouldn’t have to bow her head and say sorry to anyone.”
From the very first moment he’d met her, Reba looked like she was all sweetness and softness–but deep down, she was unbreakable.
Jeffrey thought, ‘Let her apologize? As if he even qualifies.‘
Stanley was really baffled by Jeffrey’s twisted take on love. He said, “Don’t you think you’re being totally contradictory? First, you want her to struggle without you, now you can’t stand watching her get pushed
around.”
Jeffrey’s gaze grew colder as he watched the surveince screen.
Stanley continued, “Either let Reba handle her life without you–no matter what goes down, even if she’s dying, just stay out of it. Or keep her under your wing, and don’t let anyoney a finger on her.”
Jeffrey stayed silent, his eyes staring intently at the monitor, his phone in hand with the hotel manager’s contact already pulled up.
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Seeing this, Stanley could only fall silent. He knew his words just weren’t getting through to Jeffrey.
Meanwhile, Reba and Alexander werepletely oblivious to the fact that they were being watched.
Reba locked eyes with Alexander and said, “Alright then, I’ll apologize. Just now, I brought up that infamous thing you did when you were eighteen, and I was about to give you—”
“Shut up!” Alexander shouted, standing up so fast he nearly knocked over his chair.
Reba had to cut herself off.
Alexander clenched his fists, his nerves on edge. He was freaking out that she’d spill the beans about what went down back in the day. He blurted out, “Fire her. Someone like her shouldn’t be allowed to stay.”
Derek replied, “That’s kinda tough. Our department reports to Mr. Hanson. For anyone to be let go, you gotta get his approval first.”
Alexander paused, remembering all the whispers he’d heard floating aroundtely, unease creasing his brow. He thought, ‘Did Jeffrey really go out of his way for Reba just to take charge of this barely–listedpany?‘
Derek asked, “Should I let Mr. Hanson know what
you want?<b>” </b>
“No need,” Alexander spat. He was certain that if he did that, he might not even know what hit him.
Alexander thought, ‘Jeffrey has said he won’t have Reba’s back like before, but the fact that he showed up for her at this tinypany means there has to be something more going on.
‘Getting on Jeffrey’s nerves over something so trivial? No way that’s worth it.’
“I’ll let it slide this time, but next time it won’t be so easy,” Alexander said, gritting his teeth at Reba as he stalked out.
Derek quickly followed after him. He asked, “Mr. Kendall, where are you going?<b>” </b>
Alexander said, “Just need some air, got worked up. See you at the party tonight.”
Derek let out a relieved breath. After sending Alexander off, he circled back to Reba and said, “Seriously, why go out of your way to tick off Mr. Kendall? This kind of mess–just don’t do it again.”
Reba shot him a skeptical look, her suspicion quietly growing. She thought, ‘Given how things have yed out before, Derek should have jumped at the chance to criticize me, maybe got all passive–aggressive and lectured me,
‘So why is he being almost courteous now?‘
Derek said, “What are you standing around for? Go get yourself ready for tonight’s event. Didn’t you hear Mr. Kendall say he’ll be backter?”
Reba just said “okay” and left.
Derek watched her leave, a calcting look flickering in his eyes. He pondered, ‘Mr. Kendall actually called
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her Ms. Jensen–so they’ve clearly got history. And she dared to go toe–to–toe with him.
“There is no way Reba is <b>as </b>simple as she lets on. Gotta keep an eye on her.
Meanwhile, Alexander hopped into his car, nced back at the hotel, and pulled out his phone.
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He fired off a quick message in a private group chat: [Heads up–it’s official, Reba’s on her own now. Go ahead and stir things up.]
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