He Paid Half My Mother’s Surgery, Now I Own Half His Company Chapter 03
Antony grabbed my wrist. “I encouraged you to become more independent, not to use your job as some childish act of defiance. If you truly want to grow up, take a page out of Selena’s book.”
“I accompanied her home, and she made sure to clarify to every relative that I’m only her boss. She’s honest. She knows her boundaries.”
I stayed silent and didn’t bother calling him out.
If Selena truly feared misinterpretation, she would never have brought him home in the first place.
She let everyone jump to conclusions, then clarified things only after the fact. All it accomplished was fueling even more salacious gossip.
But I had no energy left to dwell on that drama. “I have to go.”
Antony glanced out at the blazing midday sun. “I’ll drive you.”
Knowing I’d have to make five transfers to get from the hospital to the office, I agreed.
Down in the parking garage, I opened the passenger door. Selena was already sitting there, holding Antony’s phone and setting up navigation.
When she saw me, she gave an apologetic little smile. “Jessie, I got terribly carsick on those mountain roads yesterday and threw up the whole way. Would you mind riding in the back?”
I said nothing, shut the passenger door, and slid into the rear seat.
As we pulled out of the hospital lot, Selena unlocked Antony’s phone. She tapped in six digits, and the screen unlocked instantly.
She giggled softly. “Mr. Fleming, why haven’t you changed the passcode back?”
Antony shot a quick glance at me through the rear-view mirror and answered coolly. “Slipped my mind.”
Selena twisted around toward me, eyes sparkling. “We changed it during that business trip. Mr. Fleming was driving and asked me to pull up directions, but the phone kept locking itself. I couldn’t remember your wedding anniversary to save my life, and I didn’t want to keep distracting him, so I suggested changing the passcode to my birthday.”
A faint blush rose on her cheeks. “I can’t believe he’s kept it ever since.”
Antony let out a soft, dry chuckle. “What else was I supposed to do? Couldn’t have you fussing with it the whole drive.”
They bantered back and forth, leaving zero room for me to interject.
There was a time when I would have demanded to get out of the car right then.
I recalled one time I’d sobbed for two full hours at a highway rest stop. Antony never comforted me. He’d just sat in the car answering work emails.
Eventually I’d opened the car door and mumbled, “I’m sorry. Let’s go home.”
Now, sitting in the backseat, I opened our team channel on my phone.
Linda messaged me:
[The client showed up early. I’ve already set up the materials you prepared.]
[Don’t rush. Take your time getting here.]
Antony watched me through the rear-view mirror. “Aren’t you going to ask about the phone passcode?”
“No.”
His brow furrowed.
Selena glanced back with a sweet smile. “Jessie, you’ve gotten so mature and understanding lately. Oh, by the way, Mr. Fleming and I are heading over to Aventis Innovations for a site visit this afternoon. Why don’t you come in with us?”
My fingers tightened around my phone.
Aventis Innovations was a subsidiary of the Fleming Group. Everyone at Aventis Innovations was convinced Selena and Antony were a couple. Which meant I was cast as the other woman trying to steal him away.