Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon)

Simon clenched his fists. "Tell me what exactly did I do to offend Zedrick? Why are you two so determined to ruin my life?"

"Don't you know Amelia?"

Amelia?

So, that bitch really was connected to them.

"Did she cheat on Zedrick or something?" Simon's mind momentarily stalled.

Louis stared at him as though he were an idiot. "I'm trying to show restraint, but you're making it impossible. Sometimes, I wonder if Refined Threads Co. was ever truly your success. There are rumors that Janice was the real force behind the company's rise. And given what I see now... Those rumors might just be right."

"Don't believe all the praise Janice gets online! What does she even know? She buys crochet pieces from other people and passes them off as her own! The only reason she landed those contracts was because of her looks! I was the one making all the real decisions. You and I are both chairmen, so you know better than anyone how hard this business is!"

Simon struggled to maintain what little dignity he had left.

Louis nodded slowly. "Oh, I know."

"Exactly! Janice is just="

Louis interrupted, saying, "But the difference is, I'm not as shameless as you."

Simon's face hardened.

Louis let out an exasperated sigh. "Alright, enough talk. My terms are clear-bring me Shirley or Janice, and I'll give Legacy Twine a real chance at survival. If you can't, then this conversation ends here. See him out."

As the secretary stepped forward to escort Simon out, he gripped the edge of the desk, refusing to budge.

"Mr. Jovarek, don't let Zedrick be fooled by Amelia! She's a walking disease! You can't just take a woman's word at face value. You and I should be working together, not against each other!"

Just then, Louis grabbed a book and flung it at Simon, making him stumble back in humiliation. With no other option, Simon spun on his heel and stormed out.

The moment he stepped out of Onley Group's doors, the last light inside the building flickered off.

Across the street, Amelia and Adam sat in a parked car, observing as Simon was tossed out.

Amelia unbuckled her seatbelt. "I'm going to have a word with him."

Adam didn't take his eyes off Simon. He was on high alert, wary that the man might lose control.

The spring night air was cold and biting, cutting deep to the bone. Utterly dejected, Simon trudged down the steps, only to see Amelia stepping out of a car.

"Amelia!" he snapped, his voice laced with frustration.

Amelia wrapped her coat tighter around herself, standing her ground.

Simon stormed up to her, jabbing a finger in her face. "Did you cheat on me when we were together? Was it with that abusive scumbag?"

To Simon, Zedrick was nothing more than a violent man. After all, what kind of person resorted to force so easily?

"Cheated on you?"

Amelia's eyes, flickered with confusion. "Didn't you once say we were never really together? That you were just being generous by offering me food and shelter? If that's true, then who I'm with and what do shouldn't concern you, right?"

"You're twisting my words!" Simon roared, his anger flaring as he lifted a hand, ready to strike.

In his mind, Amelia had indeed

betrayed him. She and Zedrick must

have gotten involved behind his back. The thought was unbearable, and his pride refused to accept that he was the one being discarded.

But just as his hand was about to strike, Amelia's steady voice cut through the tension. "Simon, we've slept together before. Or have you conveniently forgotten that matter?" noveldrama

His hand froze in mid-air.

The spring rain started to fall, its chill seeping into the bones.

Amelia's face was pale, her smile carrying a trace of fatigue. Seeing the stunned look in Simon's eyes, she let out a knowing laugh.