For six years 507
As everyone headed to the elevator to leave, Lauren shoved her way past Kate, nudging her back. “Ms. Ravelle, Mr. Snider, take your time.”
Her blatant brown–nosing disgusted Kate.
Rhea glanced at Lauren but said nothing. George held Rhea’s hand tightly as they stepped into the elevator with Damian and Seamus.
Kate moved to follow. After all, she had a connection to Sawyer. How could she be lumped in with the regular employees?
She didn’t flaunt it often because she was above that, but she believed that these people should be aware of the difference between them.
But just as she set one foot into the elevator, a sharp pain shot through her arm. Lauren gripped it tightly, smiling as she said, “You guys can go ahead first. You’re the bosses, after all. The rest of us will catch the next one. We won’t disturb you.‘
“Sounds good.” Damian nodded.
He and the other three stood there as if they belonged to the untouchable upper crust, while everyone else was just ordinary folk.
The elevator doors slid shut, and Kate’s lashes trembled with rage. She sucked in a deep breath and sneered at Lauren. “You suck up to her like that, and she doesn’t even spare you a glance. Are you having fun humiliating yourself?”
“More like I’m having fun pissing you off,” Lauren shot back, smiling brightly. “If I’m miserable, you’re not going to have a good time, either. You should’ve known that this was coming from the day you screwed me over. I’ve got nothing to lose. Do you think I’m scared of you?”
The project team members, who stood nearby, exchanged looks. They wondered if the things that were said during their fight the other day were actually true. Could Kate, who seemed so gentle and refined, really have done something that awful?
Noticing the shift in her colleagues‘ gazes, Kate quickly reined in her emotions. “Say whatever you want. You’ve always been like this, anyway. I’m done arguing.”
It was precisely this sort of “do–whatever–you–want” attitude that grated on Lauren the most. She cried, ” Don’t give me that! Come on, let’s hear your excuses. I’m dying to know what you’ve got to argue about!”
The elevator doors opened again. Kate tried to walk away, but Lauren wouldn’t let go.
Kate was finally consumed by rage. After the rest of their colleagues had piled into the elevator and headed down, she yanked her arm out of Lauren’s grasp with a fierce jerk, roaring, “I’ve had enough of you!”
Lauren hadn’t expected her to have that much strength. She was caught off guard and stumbled back, crashing into the sharp corner of the trash can behind her. A dull pain shot through her lower back.
Her face went pale, and she froze, clutching her waist.
Carter, who had yet to leave, noticed the look on her face and hurried over. “Are you okay?”
He had seen her body hit the trash can, but wasn’t sure where. “Did you hit your back?”
Pain coursed through Lauren, making her forehead break out in a cold sweat. She gathered every ounce of strength and screamed, “Call the cops! She tried to murder me!”
Carter was stunned, and Kate’s face drained of color. She hadn’t meant for this to happen. It was just bad luck that Lauren hit her lower back.
The wooden trash can had sharp edges. Carter lifted the hem of Lauren’s shirt and saw the bloody gash on her lower back. The skin was torn open, and the area around it was red and had started to bruise.
It looked
gruesome, and worse, there could be internal damage.
Lauren couldn’t move at all. The scream was enough to leave her wincing in agony.
“I…” Kate’s lips quivered. “You were the one who grabbed me and refused to let go. I-”
Carter cut her off sharply. “What’s the point of bringing that up now? Call an ambulance to take her to the hospital!”
The look in his eyes was intimidating, and Kate was startled. She swallowed her anger and called for help.
X
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.