Chapter 235 Apology
Chapter 235 Apology
"Alright, you can go now." Lorna pulled her sleeve free from Rose's grip. "I'll do what I can to talk to him. But whether Thomas listens or not, I can't guarantee."
In Matilda's office.
Matilda stared at the proposal on her computer screen, her finger scrolling the mouse wheel endlessly, yet the document remained stuck on the first page.
Her mind was completely flooded with images from that hotel room.
The disheveled bed. Scattered clothing.
The way Thomas had stood by the bed that day, his shirt half-unbuttoned.
A wave of nausea churned violently in her stomach.
Logic told her that last night's message had been sent by Rose using Thomas's phone.
But so what?
The fact that Thomas had kept Rose in his room in the middle of the night was disgusting enough on its own.
Just then, her phone screen on the desk lit up with a notification.
It was a message from Thomas.
Matilda didn't even feel like opening it. She pressed and held the power button until the screen went dark.
Completely black.
She pulled open her drawer, tossed the phone inside, and finally, the world was quiet.
She forced herself to concentrate entirely on work.
She had no idea that during the few hours her phone was off, Harmony City's business world had turned upside down.
The Gray Family's entire portfolio had collapsed. Their capital chain had broken. Several major projects had been halted. Creditors were practically breaking down the doors of the Gray Family's mansion.
Ascend Global Holdings, top-floor executive office.
Thomas's phone on the desk began to vibrate.
Lorna's name flashed across the screen.
Thomas let it vibrate for more than ten seconds before finally pressing the answer button and switching to speakerphone.
Two seconds of silence on the other end.
Lorna spoke first, her temper barely contained.
"Thomas, enough is enough with the Gray Family situation."
Thomas didn't stop what he was doing.
"What, did they send you to talk me down again?"
"What kind of way is that to talk!" Lorna's volume shot up. "The Gray Family and our family go back decades. Mr. Gray's so stressed he's in the hospital. Are you really planning to bankrupt them?"
Thomas paused his movements.
"Why not?"
"Just because of Matilda?" Lorna's voice rose with exasperation. "You're going to destroy them over a woman? Don't you care about your grandfather's reputation at all?"
Thomas pulled out a cigarette and stuck it between his lips without lighting it.
"Not entirely. What I hate most is being played. If Rose had the guts to scheme against me, she'd better be ready to face the consequences."
Lorna was momentarily speechless. Her tone softened.
"Listen to me. Let's end this here. Rose was definitely out of line—I'll have her apologize to you in person. How about that?"
Thomas removed the cigarette from his mouth and tossed it on the desk.
"Apologize?"
"Yes, she'll apologize to you face-to-face. Ethan too." Lorna was clearly intimidated by Thomas, her voice taking on a pleading quality. "And then we put this whole thing behind us. Deal?"
Thomas tapped his fingers on the desk twice.
"Fine."
Hearing that response, Lorna was obviously stunned.
She'd expected to have to argue much longer. She hadn't anticipated Thomas agreeing so readily.
"Three days from now. The Stuart Family estate." Thomas straightened in his seat. "Have the whole family show up and explain everything in front of everyone. As long as they admit their mistake, I'll stop everything I'm doing to the Gray Family immediately."
"Okay, I'll tell them right away." Lorna was afraid he'd change his mind and quickly hung up.
Thomas tossed his phone aside and loosened his tie.
Three days from now.
He was going to settle every single account, right in front of Matilda.
He picked up his phone and dialed Matilda's number.
A cold, mechanical female voice came through the receiver.
Thomas's brow furrowed tightly.
He tried three times in a row. All went to voicemail.
He grabbed his car keys and strode out of the office.
"Brent, bring the car around."
The Gray Family mansion.
Rose clutched her phone, listening to the voice message Lorna had sent. Her whole body surged with excitement.
"Ethan! Did you hear that! Mrs. Stuart said Thomas agreed to back off!"
Rose's cheeks flushed red with excitement as she grabbed Ethan's arm.
"I knew it! Thomas still has feelings for me! He was just mad for a minute, trying to scare us. The second Mrs. Stuart stepped in, he caved!"
Ethan's face was stormy. He shook her hand off roughly.
"Are you stupid? You think that's him caving? He wants our entire family to go to the Stuart Family estate and grovel!"
Ethan paced back and forth across the living room, agitated.
"He wants me to apologize to Thomas? What about my pride?"
"Ethan, at a time like this you're worried about pride?!" Rose stamped her foot in frustration. "The company accounts are frozen, Dad's lying in a hospital bed. If all it takes is an apology to fix this, why are you being so stubborn?"
Ethan punched the wall.
"Fine. We'll go. I want to see exactly what kind of game Thomas is playing in three days!"
Night fell.
The Maybach stopped in front of Matilda's building.
Thomas pushed open the car door and took the stairs two at a time.
When he reached her door, he raised his hand and pounded on it.
The door rattled under his fist.
No response from inside.
Thomas hit it harder.
"Matilda, open the door!"
After a full thirty seconds, the lock clicked.
Matilda stood behind the door, her hair slightly disheveled, wearing loose loungewear.
The moment she saw who was outside, she instinctively moved to close the door.
Thomas was faster. He jammed his foot in the doorway and braced his palm against the door.
"What are you doing?" Matilda's face was cold as she pushed against the door.
Thomas didn't budge. He forced the door open and squeezed into the entryway.
"Why did you turn off your phone?"
Matilda let go of the door and stepped back, putting distance between them.
"Battery died. What's so urgent that you're pounding on my door in the middle of the night?"
Her tone was ice-cold.
Thomas looked at her distant expression, frustration rising in his chest.
"I sent you messages. Didn't you see them?"
"No." Matilda pointed toward the door. "If there's nothing else, please leave. I need to rest."
Thomas didn't retreat. He stepped closer instead.
"About what happened at the hotel—I told you I didn't touch her. If you don't believe me, I can prove it to you."
Matilda's lips curved into a mocking smile.
"Mr. Stuart, I'll say this one more time: your private life has nothing to do with me. Whether you touched her or not, you don't need to prove anything to me."
Thomas's hands clenched into fists at his sides, veins standing out on the backs of his hands.
He forced down the churning emotions.
"Three days from now. The Stuart Family estate."
Thomas locked his eyes on her face, his voice low.
"Come. I'll give you an explanation."
Matilda's brow furrowed.
"I'm not going."
"About Daniel's leg. About what happened in Skyview City." Thomas's voice was perfectly calm as he watched her. He was certain Matilda would come. "You've always wanted to know, haven't you? I'll give you an explanation."
Matilda froze.
"Three days from now, I'll send Brent to pick you up." Thomas didn't give her a chance to refuse.