Chapter 380: It Won’t Happen Again
Earlier On "Corrine..." Todd greeted her with a smile, gentle as always.
Wendy’s expression darkened when she saw Todd. However, Zen was next to her and Wendy tempered her emotions, forcing a smile onto her face. She replied, "I thought you wouldn’t pick me up this morning.
"That will not happen," answered Todd. "I woke up a little later than usual today and so was not in time to go up to your apartment."
"It’s okay, that was just a passing comment. You’re busy with work too. You don’t have to send me to work every morning. I can get there on my own," said Wendy.
"It’s precisely because there’s a lot of work that I’d come to see you everyday.
Seeing you makes me happy," Todd had a way with words, especially when he being flirtatious.
Wendy didn’t feel like bantering with Todd and glanced toward Zen, "What were you about to say earlier on? What happened yesterday?"
Zen flashed a quick look at Todd and saw him regarding her with a warning look in his eyes. She had already withdrawn whatever she had wanted to say after witnessing their earlier exchange.
Since their relationship was going well, Zen did not want to cause any rifts. It would save Wendy from feeling troubled after knowing about what Todd had done.
"It’s nothing," Zen forced a smile. She knew Wendy would suspect something was up with her if she did not provide a satisfactory answer.
After a brief hesitation, Zen continued, "I saw Mr. Lucas yesterday."
Zen pointed at Todd and said, "I didn’t want to say it since Mr. Lewis is here. It seemed rather inappropriate."
"Michael?" Wendy frowned and muttered to herself. "No wonder Michael was able to find me. I wondered how he knew where I was since I wasn’t at the office."
She knew now that Michael had found out about her whereabouts from Zen.
"You saw Mr. Lucas yesterday?"
Zen was afraid that Wendy would get angry so hurried to explain, "I’m sorry, I didn’t tell him you were at the supplier’s factory on purpose. He threatened me so I had no choice but to tell him."
Wendy sighed quietly. She smiled and replied, "It’s okay."
"I’m glad you’re not angry at me," said Zen with a relieved sigh. Zen glanced imperceptibly at Todd again. He had stopped staring at her.
Wendy’s home was not far from her office and they soon arrived.
Todd usually sent Wendy to her office before leaving for his own workplace. That day however, he wanted to explain to Wendy the reason for his behavior the day before. Instead of leaving like he usually did, he followed Wendy.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Wendy turned to see Todd following her. She asked, "Don’t you have a lot of work to do? Aren’t you attending your morning meeting? I’m sure there are many matters that require your attention, you should get going."
Wendy actually didn’t know if Todd had any meetings in the morning. She only said that to get him to leave of his own accord.
They were in the office after all, and there were people all around them. She could not tell him outright that she wanted him gone. The thing was, she really didn’t want Todd to follow her up to her office.
Todd obviously understood the hidden meeting in Wendy’s words. He reached out for her but withdrew his hand midway.
It was futile to try and explain things to her that day. He could wait. He would try again when she was in a better mood.
Anyway, before Christian was beaten, he and Wendy were still officially in a relationship and he would have many opportunities to be alone with her.
...
"Where have you been the past two days?" Yonina was furious. Slamming the table forcefully, she demanded, "Do you know the bidding is the day after tomorrow?"
Yonina had been unable to find Michael the past two days.
She called Mr. York, but he couldn’t contact Michael either.
Michael’s cellphone was on and they were able to call him. However, every single call from Yonina and Mr. York was rejected. Mr. York was at his wits’ end.
Yonina had instructed Mr. York to inform her the moment he had any news of Michael, or when he returned. So the moment Mr York called, Yonina rushed to MC.
The anger that had been simmering for the past two days boiled over and she shouted angrily at Michael, "What in the world are you up to? Are you hiding? How old are you, Michael? Can you please be more responsible toward yourself, Wendy, me and the company? Even if you had something to attend to, you could have at least informed me or Mr. York. You’re a grown man, act like one!"
Mr. York listened silently with his head lowered as Yonina berated Michael.
"Well? Michael, say something!" Stamping her feet furiously, Yonina continued, "I’m regretting working with you. I..." Before she could say more, Mr. York took one step toward her and reached out to hold her back as he shook his head. He was reminding her to control her temper.
Yonina composed herself a little with Mr. York’s reminder. She realized she had been a little too harsh. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Yonina suppressed her anger and spoke to Michael again. This time, her tone was more even. "Dear Mr. Lucas, can you please tell me, where have you been the past two days?"
"I went to look for Wendy," Michael replied dully, his head lowered.
"You went to look for Wendy?" Yonina’s anger vanished in an instant. She frowned and asked, "And?"
She was worried about the two of them.
"Then she, like you, thought I was childish and immature," Michael looked up as he said this. He was smiling, but hurt swirled in his eyes.
"Oh..." Yonina felt bad for Michael when she saw the emotional anguish he was in. It was obvious that his trip to Rheinsville City had not been a happy or fruitful one.
"Did you and Wendy..." Yonina hesitated, but still asked the question in the end, "make up?"
Michael shook his head forlornly. "She and Todd are together. She looked... happy."
The word "happy" sounded forlorn coming from Michael.
Michael was obviously miserable and Yonina simply could not bring herself to be angry at him.
"You should have at least told us you were going to Rheinsville City," scolded Yonina gently. "Mr. York and I were worried sick. If not for the fact that we could still get through to your cellphone, we would have thought that Christian had killed you. If you hadn’t appeared when you did, we would have gone to the police."
"I’m sorry," muttered Michael. He sounded sincere.
Smiling wryly with his head down, Michael said, "Wendy was right. I am being immature and childish. I did not think about how my sudden disappearance would affect you. All I thought of was myself and my need to see Wendy in person so I could have a heart to heart talk with her. It’s understandable that Wendy would not like me the way I am now."
"Michael..." Yonina chewed on her lip as she thought of what to say to console him. "Pull yourself together. I did advise you to go talk to Wendy previously as both of you are in different cities now and don’t get to meet. There’s a higher chance of misunderstandings developing. It will be easier to work things out face to face.
However, you should have told us before disappearing. This is a crucial period after all."
"It won’t happen again," Michael took a deep breath and continued, "Since there won’t be a chance for it to happen."
Yonina contemplated Michael’s despondent visage as she chewed on her lip. She really hoped that Michael could make up with Wendy. Other matters notwithstanding, they had a pair of beautiful twins who needed their parents.
It was best if Wendy could return to Lake City with the two children after Christian was dealt with.
"What happened between you and Wendy this time?" Yonina asked, "Was there another misunderstanding?"
"There will not be any more misunderstandings," Michael said as he twirled a pen around his fingers with his head lowered.
He was about to say more when the pen dropped. Bending over to pick the pen up, Michael’s eyes flashed in understanding. Resigned, he said, "Perhaps I was overconfident and thought Wendy would love me as much as she did in the past. I overlooked the fact that at a time when she needed support, Todd was the one who had been by her side the past six years in Rheinsville City."
"Did she tell you that she was in a relationship with Todd now?" Yonina persisted.
Yonina’s words brought a frown to Michael’s brows. He had almost nodded but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that Wendy had in fact not said anything like that.
Much to Yonina’s relief, he shook his head. "Since Wendy did not say it outright, why are you here being all depressed?"
"But I saw them get off work together and go on a date. Todd even sent Wendy home after that and put his coat over her to keep her warm. They interacted so intimately." Recalling the details he had witnessed, Michael felt his chest clench painfully.
"Well..." Yonina analyzed, "They are supposed to be pretending to be a couple, so it’s natural that they behave intimately in public."
"Wendy might not have said they were together but neither did she deny it. She did not say anything about that video either," Michael looked up at Yonina as if hoping that she could convince him his worries were misplaced. Hope flared in his eyes.
He hoped Yonina could make excuses for Wendy’s behavior. However, Yonina did not know the intent or specifics of Wendy’s actions and could not really comment on them.
The hope in his eyes dimmed slowly as Yonina remained silent.
After a long pause, Michael smiled wanly and said, "Don’t worry, I will act according to the plan tomorrow."
"Okay," Yonina said. "I will attend the bidding as the representative of Collins Group.
We should keep in contact in case anything unexpected crops up."
She had wanted to add, "Make sure you answer your calls," but swallowed the words before she spoke them aloud. It seemed unlikely Michael would disappear again.
"Okay," replied Michael quietly.
Yonina did not linger and left soon after she had spoken to Michael, and after making sure that he was okay. She was relieved that Michael was finally back.
After she left, Mr. York passed Michael a sheaf of papers and said tentatively, "Mr. Lucas, this is the amended proposal for the bidding. Would you like to go through it?"
Mr. York was not as daring as Yonina, He dared be as forthright to Michael.
"Okay," Michael reached for the papers and skimmed through the proposal. "It looks fine. Thank you for your hard work."
"In that case I will act according to this proposal," replied Mr. York.
"Okay."
Just as Mr. York was about to leave the room, he heard Michael call out after him softly, "Wait."
His heart skipped a beat. Was Michael going to take his anger out on his poor little assistant after all?
