Chapter 29 Getting into Trouble
After Zachary left, Quinley didn't waste time—she immediately called 911 and had John taken to the hospital. He was an important partner of the Davis Group, and no matter what kind of person he was, she couldn't afford to offend him.
"Mr. Cortez, I'm truly sorry. I'll cover your medical expenses. About the venture capital project—could you please reconsider?"
Quinley put on a smile while her mind was still calculating work matters.
John had suffered a major loss today—someone had told him to mess with Quinley but hadn't warned him that messing with her meant crossing Zachary. Moving in underground circles, he naturally knew Zachary's reputation. He hadn't gotten the woman and had instead landed himself in trouble. Crossing Zachary meant he was in real trouble now.
"Get lost. Don't let me see your face," John waved dismissively, driving Quinley out of the hospital room.
The moment she left, John called Harold. "Mr. Davis, you set me up!"
John spat bloody saliva onto the floor. Harold was in the gym doing bench presses, sweat sliding down his neck from his forehead, his chest muscles like two hard stones under the lights.
"Tell me about it."
"You told me to screw Quinley—why didn't you mention she was Zachary's woman?"
John was blunt, though he didn't mention getting beaten up—after all, it wasn't exactly dignified.
Harold didn't stop his workout. "She used to be. Not anymore."
"He still seems pretty protective of her. You've really gotten me into trouble this time. Mr. Davis, we're in this together—if something happens to me, you might..."
Having been wronged, John wasn't willing to let it go and wanted Harold to pay the price.
"Did you get photos?" Harold asked.
John pulled out his phone. In the encrypted chat app, he'd already received dozens of photos from different angles. He selected the most explosive ones and forwarded them to Harold.
The photos didn't show John's face clearly, but they captured Quinley being passionately kissed in perfect detail.
"Not bad. Don't worry—when I eat meat, you get soup." Harold immediately transferred a million dollars to John through the bank.
"Alright then. From now on, your business is my business. We're friends now."
Harold was generous with money, and John was satisfied.
Night shrouded the city—calm on the surface, but undercurrents were stirring.
Three in the morning. Someone hacked into Apex Global Group's internal chat system and uploaded a large number of inappropriate photos. Most were blurry, but one was particularly clear—Quinley passionately kissing a strange man on the street.
The man's face wasn't visible, but from his silhouette, he looked like some nouveau riche. The two appeared intimate, seemingly passionate.
People arriving at work in the morning quickly saw these photos.
"I knew it! Ms. Elikin was doing so well, then suddenly resigned—turns out she hooked up with a sugar daddy!" someone gossiped shamelessly in the break room.
"You can't judge a book by its cover. Ms. Elikin looked so quiet and refined, but who knew she was so open about... that!"
"Exactly! Haven't you heard? After leaving Apex Global Group, she went to some small PR company, specifically to wine and dine clients... some activities, well, you know what I mean."
Adela had been touching up her makeup at the sink and felt sick hearing these comments. She walked into the break room with a stern expression and said coldly, "Don't you all have work to do?"
Everyone was startled and immediately dispersed. When she returned to her desk, people in the secretarial department were also whispering, but they fell silent when they saw her return.
The IT department had already handled the photo situation, but it was too late—what could spread had already spread.
Adela went to get Zachary's signature on a document. He was leaning back in his leather chair, brow furrowed, eyes half-closed.
"Mr. Jennings, this document needs your signature." She reminded him softly, passing the document over.
A shadow of gloom flashed across Zachary's face before being replaced by familiar coldness. Since Quinley left, he hadn't smiled once—his expression had grown darker, his eyes deeper.
He grabbed the pen, signed quickly, and threw it heavily onto the desk.
"Mr. Jennings, Ms. Elikin isn't that kind of person." Adela usually never spoke out of turn, but this time she couldn't help herself.
She'd been by Zachary's side longer than Quinley and was extremely sensitive to his emotional changes.
"What kind of person is she?" Zachary suddenly asked back.
Adela smiled faintly. "She has principles. She knows what should and shouldn't be done."
Hearing this, Zachary's lips curved into a cold smile. Once upon a time, he'd thought the same thing. But the Quinley of now—he barely recognized her anymore.
At Sylvia's villa, Alicia came as usual to massage Sylvia's head to relieve her migraines.
"Alicia, thank you for all your trouble," Sylvia patted her hand with a gentle smile.
"Ms. Parker, it's no trouble at all. You've worked hard for Zach your whole life—it's only right that I contribute what little I can."
In front of Sylvia, she already considered herself the future daughter-in-law. Sylvia thought highly of Alicia and pulled her to sit beside her.
"Alicia, I'm sorry you have to go through this." Sylvia felt guilty—she'd always hoped Alicia could marry Zachary, but Zachary just wouldn't agree.
Alicia smiled sweetly. "With your care, I don't feel wronged at all."
She knew her boundaries and when to advance or retreat—such women often had the best fate and were more likely to win the affection of elders.
"Have you tried on the wedding dress? Do you like it? If not, I'll have them redesign it."
Alicia and Zachary's marriage wasn't even confirmed, but Sylvia had already begun preparing the wedding.
"I love it—you have such good taste. I took some photos for you to see." She pulled out her phone, opened her photo album, and swiped through one by one.
Sylvia squinted as she looked, growing more satisfied with each image. "Beautiful, truly beautiful," she praised.
Alicia took the opportunity to swipe to the next photo, but suddenly a familiar face appeared—Quinley. Sylvia froze. Not only was it Quinley, but she could see her passionately kissing a strange man.
Sylvia was conservative in her thinking and couldn't accept such a shock all at once.
"Is this Quinley?" Sylvia gasped.
Alicia pretended to apologize and quickly swiped to other photos. "Ms. Parker, I'm sorry."
But it was too late. Sylvia grabbed her phone, swiped back to that photo, fury blazing in her eyes.
In her impression, Quinley had always been well-behaved and proper—she would never do such things. But the photo was right there in front of her, and she had to believe it.
"She's already left Apex Global Group. People have different aspirations. She's a young woman who wants a good life—it's understandable that she'd do things that go against convention."
Alicia's "explanation" silently confirmed the image of Quinley as promiscuous.
Sylvia pondered for a moment, her anger unabated. She slammed the sofa armrest and ordered, "Mary, call Zach and tell him to come home for dinner tonight."