Chapter 13 Desparate to Leave
The truth was finally revealed.
Though Quinley felt a jolt of realization, her expression remained calm.
She gave a cold laugh. "Why are you telling me this, Mr. Martin? Surely you know what kind of people Mr. Jennings despises most?"
Peter had offered his bargaining chip, expecting Quinley to seize it. Her response caught him completely off guard.
Zachary despised disloyalty above all else—and Peter had committed this cardinal sin.
No executive at Apex Global Group dared violate company principles. Yet Peter, a veteran employee, had become the first to break Zachary's most important rule. Once exposed, severe consequences would follow.
He stood frozen before Quinley, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
Quinley gave him a dispassionate glance, then pulled her chair closer to her desk. "If there's nothing else, Mr. Martin, I need to get back to work."
She lowered her head and immediately refocused on her tasks.
Peter remained in place, panicked and confused.
He'd had limited interactions with Quinley and didn't understand how she operated.
When she had been Zachary's chief secretary, he had dismissed her as merely a messenger, barely worth his attention.
Now, however, she held devastating leverage over him—That recording could destroy everything he had built.
Accustomed to a life of success and privilege, he couldn't bear becoming an outcast.
"Ms. Elikin," Peter pleaded, his voice trembling.
Quinley didn't look up, acting as though she hadn't heard him.
Peter dropped to his knees before her.
"Ms. Elikin, I was wrong—terribly wrong. I made a terrible mistake that cost Lily her life. I failed her."
His words dissolved into muffled sobs.
"My wife was diagnosed with cancer last month. My daughter is only a sophomore in college. Lily wanted marriage, but I couldn't abandon my family to be with her..."
"So you convinced her to terminate the pregnancy, then broke up with her?" Quinley interrupted sharply.
Peter had been crying dramatically, but her words left him suddenly speechless.
Quinley stared at him with emotionless eyes.
In that moment, she made her decision.
"Mr. Martin, given what's happened, how do you intend to make amends for Lily?"
Quinley leaned back in her chair. The soft light above cast gentle shadows across her face, making her appear compassionate, though her gaze remained as sharp as a blade.
"I... I'll take care of her family. Lily has a younger brother who just started college. I'll support his education completely and help with his future employment. Her parents both have health issues—I'll arrange for the best doctors to treat them.
"Ms. Elikin, I promise I'll do everything possible to make up for my mistakes."
He raised his right hand in a solemn vow, appearing sincere.
Quinley wasn't a judge. She had no authority to determine Peter's guilt.
Nor could she condemn him from a moral high ground.
The dead were gone forever, but the living continued their struggles. This was likely all she could do for Lily now.
"Remember what you've just promised," she said firmly.
Peter understood immediately, nodding repeatedly.
"You have a copy of the contract, don't you?" she asked.
"Yes, I'll get it for you right away."
Peter rushed out and returned just as quickly.
"Ms. Elikin, here's the original contract and the copy."
Breathlessly, he placed both documents before her, his expression eager to please.
"This is all I need." Quinley took the copy and returned the original.
Peter accepted the original with both hands, bowing deeply. "Thank you for giving me this chance."
His desperate need for reassurance only intensified her disgust.
"What chance? Did I say anything about it?" she replied coldly.
Peter's face turned ashen. The relief he had just felt vanished instantly.
His fate rested entirely in Quinley's hands.
"Ms. Elikin, I swear, if I don't fulfill my promises, may I be struck dead the moment I step outside!"
His voice quavered with desperation.
Quinley casually flipped through the contract, furrowing her brow. "Whether I give you a chance depends entirely on your actions, doesn't it? Perform well, and you earn your opportunity. Fail, and no opportunity will come your way. Wouldn't you agree?"
Though young, Quinley had mastered the art of logical persuasion.
Peter nodded vigorously. "You're absolutely right, Ms. Elikin. I'll prove myself worthy."
---
After Peter left, the reception room fell quiet.
Quinley stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Her heart felt heavy, though she couldn't determine whether she grieved for Lily or herself.
In the vastness of Rosewood City, they were like ants, desperately climbing upward. Yet no matter how high they climbed, they couldn't escape their fundamental vulnerability.
Lily's fate could easily have been her own.
The contract copy was sufficient to prove Quinley's innocence, but she didn't rush to confront Zachary. She wasn't impulsive.
If he had deliberately created this problem, he had his reasons.
She might clear herself this time, but what about the next?
At their core, Quinley and Zachary were similar types of people. Once they recognized each other's intentions, they wouldn't act hastily.
They would wait patiently for the perfect moment to make a decisive move.
Two days later, Quinley completed her assigned task.
Meticulous as always, she had organized the projects chronologically, highlighted key issues, and added detailed notes about matters requiring special attention.
When she presented this comprehensive report to Zachary, he studied her intently.
She had been working late nights, and it showed. Her eyes were sunken, her frame thinner, her skin pale and dull.
"Leave it there," he said flatly.
"Yes, Mr. Jennings." Quinley placed the report on his desk.
Despite her exhaustion, she managed a smile. "May I go now, Mr. Jennings?"
Zachary's expression immediately darkened.
She was trying to slip away again, like a slippery eel he couldn't quite grasp.
"Have you resolved the contract issue?" he asked, his thin lips curving slightly upward.
He was certain she hadn't. After all, he had designed this trap himself. Without his permission, she couldn't possibly escape it.
But the student had surpassed the master—Quinley had come prepared.
She placed the contract copy on his desk. "This proves my innocence, Mr. Jennings."
The copy showed the correct financial figures.
Moreover, in the bottom right corner of the penultimate page, Quinley had made a subtle mark.
It was nearly invisible unless one knew where to look.
She had many such clever habits that Zachary didn't know about.
He was unaware that Quinley secretly marked every document, contract, and form she handled to prevent forgery.
Zachary's expression grew stormy. "You're that desperate to leave?"
Quinley didn't answer directly. With a gentle smile, she simply said, "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Jennings. Until we meet again."
She walked away briskly, seeming eager to put distance between them.
Zachary remained seated in his executive chair, yanking at his tie in frustration before throwing it aside.
"Get Peter in here NOW!" he shouted into the phone at Adela.
But his anger changed nothing.
Stepping out of the Apex Global Group Building, Quinley felt an immense burden lift from her shoulders.
Standing on the steps, she tilted her face upward and took a deep breath.
It was the taste of freedom.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm.