The Cherished Wife



Fury bubbling up inside her, J drew back her leg and delivered a solid kick to the door. The kick set off the anti-theft alarm, and within moments, the shrill sound filled the floor. Security guards were on her in an instant, their expressions wary as they recognized her. "Ms. Baker, what are you doing at Mr. Hoffman's office?"

"I... I..." J's words faltered as panic set in. The alarm's blare had already sent her heartbeat into overdrive, and now her feet felt like they were encased in concrete, refusing to move.

"It wasn't me, Charles sent me up here for a document, he..."

"Ms. Baker, you're saying Mr. Hoffman sent you for a document? Where is Mr. Hoffman now?" The guards were on high alert, their last encounter with Charles' warnings still fresh in their minds. "If Mr. Hoffman sent you, would you mind giving him a call?"

"You, you... Charles really did tell me to get the documents. If you don't believe me, just call Charles!"

"Look, we don't have the big boss's number. Since you're his sister, shouldn't you have it?" The security guard stood his ground, unyielding.

J might have been used to getting her way, but the sight of the two towering guards made her heart race with fear. With no other option, she tried calling Charles. However, it was like he had psychic powers or something-his phone was off, and J could not reach him.

Panic surged through J, and when the automated voice said, "Sorry, the number you're trying to reach is turned off," she felt like she had turned to stone.

The guards looked at each other, then back at her. "Sorry, Ms. Baker, but you'll need to come with us."

"No way! Where are you taking me? I'm not going anywhere! I have to find Charles. He'll hear about this, and when he does, you're both toast!" J's voice rose to a shriek, but the guards were like statues, not budging an inch. "Sorry, Ms. Baker, but we've got to do our job. You say you're here on the president's word, but without a way to confirm it, we've got to take you to the station."

"You wouldn't dare! I'm a VIP with the Hoffmans. I'm Charles's sister! You can't just push me around!"

J shoved past the guards and frantically dialed her aunt Clarisse. "Help me! Aunt, I need you!"

J's meltdown was epic, reaching Clarisse before ricocheting straight to Mateo. Clarisse emotionally blackmailed Mateo, saying he was out to get J, just to get under her skin.

Mateo was not in the mood for a shouting match with Clarisse, but she was like a dog with a bone. In the end, it took James to rescue J from the office. When she was brought back by James, her face was a tear-streaked mess, her mascara running wild, making her look fierce, like a warrior princess after a battle. This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

"Aunt Clary!" J wailed, throwing herself at Clarisse's mercy. "You've gotta take my side here. Those security guys, you just have to fire them. They were so mean to me!"

"Shh, shh, they're gone," Clarisse soothed, all fierce protectiveness. "Nobody gets away with messing with you on my watch. I'm going to fire them." "Clary," Mateo groaned, massaging his temples. "This is business, not personal. You're not on the payroll, you can't just—"

"Can't I?" Clarisse cut in, her voice

sharp as ice. Did you even see what they did to J? Just a couple of guards, and they think they can push around J?" She was not having any of Mateo's excuses. "Spilt it, Mateo. This was you, wasn't it? You set this up!"