Chapter 148 Cindy No Longer Works Here
"Sorry, Cindy. I shouldn't have—"
Before Zachary could finish, Quinley cut him off. Truth was, him standing up for her back there had stirred something in her chest she didn't want to examine too closely.
"You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who should apologize. I shouldn't have snapped at you in public."
Quinley stopped walking, meeting his eyes directly.
"No, no, you didn't do anything wrong." Zachary's hands waved frantically like windshield wipers. "You told me my situation is complicated. That I can't just say whatever pops into my head or I'll get myself in trouble—and drag you and Lucas down too. I got upset and forgot everything. Cindy, did I mess up again?"
He looked at her with anxious puppy-dog eyes, terrified he'd done something unforgivable.
Quinley stayed quiet for a beat. "I'll take you home."
She stepped toward the curb to flag down a cab, but Zachary blocked her path.
"I don't want to go home. That house is too big and empty. I'm scared by myself. I want to stay at your place."
His lower lip jutted out in a full-on pout, childish and pleading. Quinley's resolve crumbled. Kids hated being alone—it was hardwired into them. If she sent Zachary back to Maple Estate by himself and something happened, she'd never forgive herself.
"Fine. But you're sleeping on the couch."
Zachary didn't answer. Just kept pouting.
Back at the apartment, Quinley dug out a pillow and blanket. Suddenly he wasn't cooperating anymore.
"I don't want the couch. I want a bed."
His voice went small and stubborn. Quinley's expression hardened.
"This is my apartment. That's my bed. If you won't take the couch, I'm driving you home right now."
"I'm not going home."
Zachary grabbed the pillow in a huff and burrowed into the couch, his tall frame curling into a tight ball. He turned his back to her and shoved his head under the blanket like a sulking kid. Quinley ignored the display. She went through her nighttime routine and retreated to the bedroom.
She never bothered locking the door. Within minutes, exhaustion dragged her under.
The nightmare came rushing back—that day on the cliff. The van spinning out of control, tumbling down the mountainside in endless rotations. She'd clung desperately to the door handle while her body slammed against every surface.
"Mr. Jennings, save me!"
Before consciousness slipped away, she'd screamed his name. But he never came. Only darkness followed.
"Mr. Jennings—"
Quinley jolted awake, eyes flying open. Her heart nearly stopped. At some point during the night, Zachary had abandoned the couch and climbed into her bed. He was sprawled out like he owned the place while she was tucked against him like a nesting bird. Her head rested on one of his arms, the other wrapped firmly around her waist. They were fitted together like spoons, bodies pressed close.
For one disorienting moment, it felt like traveling back in time.
Quinley's pulse hammered. She turned her head slightly—Zachary's face filled her vision, all strong jawline and dark lashes resting against his cheeks. He was deeply asleep, breathing steady and warm against the back of her neck.
The spell lasted maybe a second. Then instinct kicked in and she shoved him away hard.
He startled awake, brows scrunching. "Cindy? What's wrong?"
"Who said you could get in my bed?"
Quinley was already on her feet, grabbing a throw blanket and wrapping it around herself like armor.
Zachary still looked half-asleep. "I had a nightmare. I was scared and cold, so I came in here. Sleeping with you is warm and safe. I want to sleep with you every night from now on."
Innocent words from a child's mind—but Quinley couldn't handle it. He might sleep soundly next to her, but she definitely couldn't. Not until she found Susan. Not until she knew the truth. She couldn't let things get intimate with Zachary again.
"Get up. I'm taking you home."
She pulled fresh clothes from her closet and headed for the bathroom. But when she emerged, Zachary had burrowed back under the covers, already asleep again.
"Zachary, if you want to sleep, go sleep at your own house."
She grabbed his ear and hauled him out from under the blanket. He groaned in protest, stubborn as a mule.
"No. I want to sleep in your bed."
He clutched the blanket and refused to budge. Quinley realized she was completely outmatched.
"You're really not getting up? Fine. I'm calling Lucas."
She actually dialed. Lucas answered on the second ring.
"Ms. Promise, I won't be back until this afternoon. Need you to keep looking after Mr. Jennings."
He hung up almost immediately. When Quinley tried calling back, the line went straight to voicemail. Zachary was creating chaos, and Lucas was conveniently unreachable. Frustration boiled over.
"Fine. Sleep then."
She grabbed her bag and bolted, leaving Zachary sprawled across her bed. She ran the whole way to work and still arrived one minute late.
That single minute earned her a brutal verbal beatdown.
"Cindy, what is your problem? Didn't we make this crystal clear yesterday? Seven-ten means seven-ten. Not seven-eleven. The entire department showed up on time except you. What, you think having Mr. Martin backing you means I won't discipline you?"
Janice, the lobby cleaning supervisor, looked down at Quinley like something stuck to her shoe.
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Quinley kept her head down.
"Next time? You've been at Apex Global Group for what, five minutes? Screwed up yesterday, screwed up today, and you have the nerve to promise next time? You think you own this company? Think you can waltz in whenever you feel like it? Do you understand what rules are?"
Quinley stayed silent. She'd messed up. Taking the heat was fair.
"I'm reporting this to Mr. Martin. Whether you keep this job is questionable at this point. Starting now, you handle all lobby floor maintenance alone. One more slip-up and you're done."
Janice strutted away, hips swaying with self-satisfaction. Quinley grabbed the cleaning bucket and got to work, bent double over the mop. At Janice's direction, the other cleaners had conveniently disappeared. The massive lobby was hers to handle solo.
Foot traffic was relentless. The only way to keep up was to work faster, never stopping. Her back screamed. Sweat dripped down her forehead in fat drops. She hadn't eaten since arriving. Hadn't had water. Could barely summon the energy to straighten up.
Suddenly, someone stepped directly into her path and planted their foot on her mop. She tried pulling it back. Didn't budge.
"Excuse me, sir. Could you please move?"
Her voice came out hoarse.
"Who told you to mop floors? You're coming with me."
Zachary's voice cut through the lobby noise. Quinley's head snapped up. He stood over her, expression thunderous. Before she could react, he yanked the mop from her hands and threw it to the floor, then grabbed her wrist and started dragging her away.
"Zachary, let go."
She tried pulling free. His grip only tightened.
"No. Not unless you come with me."
That childish stubbornness was back in full force. The CEO of Apex Global Group physically hauling a cleaning lady across the lobby—heads turned everywhere. Stares multiplied.
"Zachary, let go. Don't you remember what I told you?"
He seemed to have genuinely forgotten.
"Cindy, do you have no shame? You're not here to work—you're here to cause chaos. Pack your things and get out!"
Janice came storming over. She hadn't seen the man's face yet—just witnessed Quinley having some kind of altercation in the middle of the lobby. But the moment she got close enough to see who it was, all the color drained from her face.
"Mr. Jennings? What are you—"
"Why can't it be me?"
Zachary's handsome face was stormy, something dangerous flickering in his eyes. He kept pulling Quinley toward the exit, completely ignoring her resistance.
"Put out a notice. Effective immediately, Cindy no longer works here."