Chapter 12 It Was Mr. Jennings
Zachary stepped out of his Maybach, immaculate in his tailored suit, exuding wealth and authority.
"Good morning, Mr. Jennings," Quinley greeted him politely.
He stared straight ahead as if he hadn't heard her. His chiseled profile carried the coldness of ancient frost—a chill Quinley could feel even from a distance.
Recognizing the situation, she stepped back, giving him space to pass.
Zachary strode purposefully into the Apex Global Group lobby, heading toward the executive entrance.
Before entering the elevator, he seemed to say something to security.
The guard glanced at Quinley, then hurried toward her.
"I'm sorry, but Mr. Jennings has ordered that anyone improperly dressed be denied entry."
Quinley was waiting in the employee line when the guard made this announcement. Though his voice wasn't loud, everyone heard.
All eyes turned to her.
When she had been Zachary's secretary, these same people had admired her, envied her, sought her favor. Now that she had left her position, she had become fair game for their contempt.
"Isn't that Ms. Elikin? Must have been 'entertaining' all night! Such dedication!" The deputy manager from Business Development sneered, giving her a mocking thumbs-up.
"Ms. Gomez is Mr. Jennings' secretary now. What place does she have here anymore?" someone else drawled, deliberately loud.
Standing amid the crowd, Quinley kept her posture straight, her expression calm, her gaze steady.
With a slight smile, she stepped out of the line.
She maintained her composure, seemingly impervious to the cutting remarks around her.
She went home, changed clothes, and returned to the Apex Global Group Building.
In the reception room, a towering stack of files awaited her.
Adela arrived to relay Zachary's instructions.
"Mr. Jennings wants you to review all projects you've handled. You have three days."
During her three years at the company, Quinley had overseen hundreds of projects involving hundreds of billions in assets.
Whatever Zachary's motives, she had no reason to refuse.
"Understood," she replied, taking a seat and beginning immediately.
Immersed in work, she completely forgot her promise to visit Percy after hours.
Unable to reach her, Percy contacted Alicia instead.
While Quinley was deep in concentration, a video call from Alicia interrupted her.
"Ms. Elikin, what's happened with Percy? He says you're the reason he's hospitalized and is demanding to see you. Perhaps you should visit him."
Alicia's tone was courteous.
Quinley turned her camera to show the mountain of paperwork on her desk. "Ms. Davis, I genuinely can't spare the time right now. Would you mind explaining the situation to Mr. Thomas? Mr. Jennings has assigned urgent work that I must complete. I'll visit him as soon as I'm finished."
"I see!"
Since the matter involved Zachary, Alicia wouldn't interfere with his priorities.
"Why has Zach given you so much work?" she asked sympathetically. "Don't worry about Percy. I'll explain your situation. He's just being childish, wanting your attention."
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Ms. Davis. I'll make it up to him once I'm done here."
Quinley played along with Alicia's interpretation.
"Carry on, then," Alicia said, ending the call.
By ten that evening, most employees had left for the day.
Quinley planned to work through the night. Having skipped meals all day, she was famished.
She went downstairs to buy bread and instant noodles from the convenience store, then quickly returned.
After preparing her noodles in the break room, she was about to leave when she heard crying from the women's restroom.
In the quiet building, the soft sobs were unmistakable.
"Mr. Martin, you can't do this to me. You promised that if I terminated the pregnancy, you would divorce your wife and marry me."
It was Lily's voice.
Whatever response came through the phone only intensified her distress.
"Didn't you say your marriage was just a facade? That what we had was love at first sight? How can you say such things now? Mr. Martin, please... I don't want money, I only want you..."
Unable to listen further, Quinley hurried away with her noodles.
Meddling wasn't her style.
Apex Global Group explicitly prohibited workplace relationships. If discovered, at least one party would be terminated.
Given his high position, if Peter and Lily's affair became public, both would lose their jobs.
As she ate, Quinley felt sorry for Lily.
A recent graduate from a prestigious university, Lily could have dated anyone. Why entangle herself with a married older man like Peter?
After finishing her meal, Quinley resumed working.
Suddenly, security personnel rushed upstairs, followed by police, all heading toward the women's restroom.
Someone burst into the reception room. "Did you hear? Someone jumped from the women's restroom. Do you know anything about it?"
Quinley shook her head numbly, but her hand trembled around her pen.
Could it be Lily?
She rose on unsteady legs and walked toward the restroom, feeling as though she were treading on cotton.
When she tried to enter, she was blocked.
"How is she?" Quinley asked, her voice shaking.
After falling from the nineteenth floor, what condition could anyone expect?
No one answered her. Everyone was busy with their respective duties.
The police collected evidence, retrieved surveillance footage, and departed quickly.
Security cleaned the area, restoring everything to normal.
In the early hours, the Apex Global Group Building fell silent once more.
Quinley had lost all desire to continue working.
Taking only her phone, she returned home.
After showering, she curled up in bed like a hedgehog.
Sleep eluded her. Lily's desperate pleas echoed in her mind:
"Please, don't do this to me. I don't want money, I only want you..."
---
During the night, Quinley developed a fever, her body burning hot.
Early the next morning, she dragged herself back to the Apex Global Group Building despite her illness.
The employee entrance operated with its usual efficiency.
Lily's workstation already had a new occupant. All her belongings had been removed.
Lily was dead, as if she had never existed.
After a moment of disbelief, Quinley returned to the reception room and resumed working.
At lunch, she encountered Adela in the cafeteria.
"I heard you were there last night?" Adela asked in a hushed voice.
Quinley, feeling lightheaded, nodded slightly.
"Do you know why she jumped?" Adela continued.
Quinley shook her head.
Adela didn't press further, only sighing deeply. "Such a waste. She was only twenty-two."
The same age Quinley had been when she joined Apex Global Group.
"What did Mr. Jennings say about it?" Quinley asked.
Adela lowered her voice further. "Mr. Jennings doesn't handle such matters. Legal took care of everything. I heard they paid $1.2 million to the family, who have already signed the settlement."
Quinley felt a wave of disgust. Lily's life valued at such a paltry sum.
"Mr. Martin's annual salary is about $1.5 million, isn't it?"
Across the cafeteria, Peter was surrounded by colleagues, laughing as if nothing had happened.
Lily was dead, conveniently solving his problem. His former lover was gone, and he showed no sign of grief.
Adela followed Quinley's gaze. "More than that. He was making that much five years ago. It's at least $2 million now."
He earned $2 million a year, yet had destroyed a life settled for $1.2 million.
Heaven knew. Earth knew. Yet he pretended ignorance.
During the afternoon break, Quinley confronted Peter in the lounge.
"Quinley, today is the second day. If you can't clear yourself by tomorrow, you know what will happen," he said, casually blowing across his fresh cup of tea.
Quinley's head throbbed. She rubbed her temples. "Don't threaten me, Mr. Martin."
Peter snorted dismissively and turned to leave. "Your fate is in your own hands."
Quinley opened her phone. Suddenly, Lily's voice played clearly:
"Mr. Martin, please, don't do this. I don't want money, I only want you..."
Peter's face turned ashen.
His hand holding the teacup trembled violently. Hot liquid spilled over, but he didn't seem to notice the burn.
He stared at Quinley in horror. "You—"
Quinley's eyes were cold fire. Without another word, she walked out of the lounge.
She had barely returned to the reception room when Peter burst in after her.
He was completely unraveled, his pupils dilated with panic.
"It was Mr. Jennings! He ordered me to make trouble for you!"