I had no energy to argue with her and tried to walk past.
“Hannah Jefferson!”
She called after me. “You’re turning thirty next year, right? Stop being childish. LD venture capital firm still hasn’t approved our funding, and Nathan’s really stressed about it. If you can’t help him, at least don’t distract him at such a crucial time.”
I frowned slightly, looking at her calmly. “Nina Smith, I co-founded this company with Nathan. If he can keep you here, I can make you leave.”
“You…”
She hadn’t expected my firmness. She froze, then spoke tearfully: “I was just trying to help. If you don’t want to hear it, fine, but why are you threatening to fire me…”
“Who dares to fire her?”
Nathan came out, his tone cold. “Hannah, Nina’s young and she’s just finding her feet in a new city. Can’t you be more understanding if she says something wrong?”
Young.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Nina was only three months younger than me.
Fighting back tears, I took a deep breath. “Nathan, I’m giving you a choice. Either she goes, or I go.”
“Hannah Jefferson, stop being unreasonable.”
I froze.
Dazed.
I couldn’t remember the last time he’d called me using my full name.
“Hannah, you must be misunderstanding my relationship with Nathan. We’re just childhood friends who grew up together.”
Nina’s eyes welled up as she looked pitifully at Nathan. “Nathan, I heard Hannah comes from a good family. She must be used to getting her way. Please don’t fight with her because of me.
“I-I’m used to dealing with people’s moods. It’s fine if I work at another company. If it makes Hannah happy, I can even leave Brookshire…”
“Nina!”
Nathan couldn’t hide the concern in his eyes.
I forced a smile and left.
All these years, my family had indulged me.
After college graduation, my father wanted me to return to Eastbrook to gain experience before taking over the family business.
But I was lovesick then. For Nathan’s sake, I had a huge fight with my father, insisting on staying in Brookshire.
Just because my father said: “What can a poor boy like him give you?”
I stayed up countless nights with Nathan building the business, often working until dawn to secure contracts.
Who knew it wouldn’t earn Nathan’s loyalty and devotion.
All it earned me was a stomach that needed medicine to heal.
My mother sighed. “So when are you coming back?”
“In two weeks.”
After hanging up, I looked back at the towering building, my smile bitter.
Nathan.
I gave you a choice.
You didn’t take it.
So now, I’m letting you go.
