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“I don’t need a card, Mr. Kingsley.” she said quickly.
“Take it,” Dante insisted, holding it out. His tone turned softer, almost gentle. “If you have money, you won’t be distracted by other worries.”
“It’s alright, Mr. Kingsley. I really don’t need it.” She smiled and lightly pushed his hand back.
Dante studied her for a moment, then raised a brow. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.” She nodded, and he finally pulled his hand back, picking up his coffee for a sip.
Then Anya suddenly pulled out her phone and placed it in front of him.
“I don’t need a card,” she muttered nonchalantly, showing him a QR code on the screen. “Just transfer the money directly. Cards are too much trouble.”
Dante choked on his coffee, coughing a little.
She handed him some tissues immediately. “Here.”
He took the tissue, eyeing her with disbelief and something close to amusement.
Ashley stood frozen, her eyes darting between the two. She couldn’t form a single word.
Dante wiped his mouth, glanced at Anya, then slowly picked up his phone. He scanned the QR code she held up and transferred a few thousand dollars to her.
Anya’s phone chimed. She looked at the notification and beamed.
“Thank you for the money. I’ll pay you back once I get my salary.”
Dante’s lips twitched with a rare smile at the corner of his mouth. He pocketed his phone and sank back into his chair.
“Don’t make mistakes like this again at work.”
“Of course.” Anya nodded quickly, then turned her sharp, direct gaze to Ashley.
“I’ll make sure to double-check every document before I bring it in, so no one gets to blame me for their mess.”
Dante noticed the flicker in Anya’s eyes. He raised the back of his hand to his mouth, hiding the smile threatening to break through, though a frown had already crept into his brows. Clearing his throat to mask the chuckle, he watched as Anya picked up the file and walked out of his office.
Ashley watched her leave, her nails digging into her palms. ‘He didn’t believe her, did he?’ her heart pounded in her chest, nerves flaring.
"What are you still doing here?" Dante's voice cut sharply through the air, colder and far more impatient than the tone he'd used with Anya. "Leave. Get back to work."
Ashley’s face flushed with humiliation. The stark contrast between how he treated her and how he spoke to Anya made her stomach twist. Her jaw clenched, but she said nothing—just turned on her heel and left the room without a word.
The day passed quickly, and as evening crept in, Anya packed her bag, ready to head home.
The girls seated near Ashley glanced up and watched her. One of them sneered, her voice sweet but laced with mockery. “Not even pretending to work overtime on your first day, Anya? Mr. Kingsley’s still in his office. Shouldn’t you at least try to impress him?”
Anya looked at her, unbothered, and shrugged. “My work’s done. I’m here to do a job, not babysit anyone.”
Their jaws dropped in disbelief. Ashley glared, while the others exchanged stunned glances. But Anya didn’t care. She turned and strutted away with calm indifference.
As she neared Dante’s office to let him know she was leaving, she overheard his voice through the slightly ajar door. He was on the phone, the loudspeaker on.
“I won’t be able to make it. Swamped with work,” Dante muttered, his hand scribbling notes on a file with sharp strokes.
Music blared faintly in the background from the caller’s side. “Come on, it’s been ages. Just come for a bit. Rough week, man.”
Dante exhaled slowly, his broad chest rising with restraint. “Fine. I’ll come by later.”