Chapter 73
Chapter 73:
“Look, Solomon, my hands are tied,” Gavin said, throwing his hands up. “It’s either you in the basement or half the department’s budget goes up in smoke. Unless you want to quit? That would solve everyone’s problem p>
Eliza understood exactly what this was. Anson couldn’t stop her from getting the job, so he was trying to bury her instead — keep her hidden, miserable, and breaking. And Gavin Ross was a coward caught in the middle.
Fear clawed at her throat, but something else rose up to meet it. Anger. And the memory of Dallas’s voice in the car. Silence them with excellence.
“I won’t quit,” Eliza said. “And I will speak to the Director about my assignment if it deviates from my contract p>
Gavin slammed his hand on the desk. “I am HR. You listen to me p>
Eliza didn’t flinch. She looked at him — really looked at him. A small man in a cheap suit, bullying a twenty-year-old girl because a richer man had told him to.
“I listen to my contract,” Eliza countered, “which I’m sure Ms. Koch signed off on personally. I’ll be sure to mention this potential reassignment in my weekly progress report to her. I imagine she’ll find it very interesting how her directives are being interpreted p>
She turned to leave. Her hand closed around the cold metal of the door handle.
“Watch your back, Solomon,” Gavin called after her, his voice dropping to a hiss. “The Hyde family has deep pockets p>
Eliza stopped. She looked back over her shoulder.
𝗗𝗂𝘀𝖼𝗈𝘷𝖾r hid𝘥еn 𝗀e𝘮𝘴 𝗼𝗇 𝗀а𝗹ոо𝘷е𝗅𝘴.cо𝘮
“You should check who signs your paycheck, Gavin,” she said, her voice carrying the cool detachment she had learned from Dallas. “It isn’t Hyde p>
She opened the door and walked out.
Her hands were shaking as she moved down the corridor, but her head was high. She had drawn blood.
The breakroom at S&D was a sterile white box with a vending machine that hummed too loudly.
Eliza sat alone at a small round table, eating a sandwich she had packed herself. The other junior associates had scattered the moment she walked in, having clearly received the memo that she was social poison.
A chair scraped loudly against the floor opposite her.
Eliza looked up. A woman with short, choppy hair streaked with neon pink dropped into the seat. She wore a leather jacket over her office blouse and had a small nose ring.
“Nice takedown on Gavin,” the woman said. She tore open a bag of chips with a violent pop. “I heard him yelling all the way down the hall p>
Eliza was cautious. She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “News travels fast p>
“In this office? Faster than light.” The woman grinned and extended a hand. “I’m Bella. Bella Rose. Graphic Design p>
Eliza shook it. Bella’s grip was firm. “Eliza p>
“So,” Bella crunched a chip, “the rumor is you’re Dallas Koch’s new secret. Augustina’s nephew. People are saying you traded favors for the position p>
Eliza choked on her water. She coughed violently, pressing a hand to her chest. “What p>
“The CEO himself,” Bella clarified, raising an eyebrow. “People are saying you’re his — well. You know p>
“That is disgusting,” Eliza said, her face burning. “And false p>