bChapter /bb281 /b

    The elevator reached the third floor, where some people were already trickling into the conference room.

    Maxine took a steadying breath and slipped into a discreet corner to wait for Dawn.

    There was still no reply from Vivian, but Lisa sent her a selfie of her and Jessica.

    Lisa: [We’re out of the museum now. We’re nning to check out the film studio park around noon.

    Don’t worry,

    we’re all good.]

    Maxine replied: [Stay safe.]

    Honestly, Maxine had no mind for these messages right now. Her thoughts werepletely consumed by the uing meeting,

    A minuteter, Lisa sent a voice message. When Maxine yed it, she heard Jessica’s excited voice. “Maxine,e join us when you’re done! We just asked the staff here, and they said there’ll be a fireworks disy tonight!”

    Perhaps it was Jessica’sforting tone that eased the weight in Maxine’s heart. A small smile touched her lips as she replied, “Okay.”

    Maxine waited by the door for about ten minutes. As the crowd thinned out and the meeting inside began, there was still no sign of Dawn.

    This wasn’t quite what they had just agreed on. Maxine thought, ‘I’m not worried that Dawn will back out. After all, even if Urban isn’t physically in the office, he’s still the CEO here. No one would dare mess with his secretary.

    ‘But what if those people catch wind of something and start pulling some shady moves behind our backs?‘

    With this in mind, Maxine called Dawn to see if something unexpected hade up.

    But Dawn’s phone went unanswered.

    Maxine stared at her phone, her brow tightly furrowed with worry. She thought, ‘We were just talking fine a minute ago. How could she suddenly go silent?‘

    A sinking feeling gripped Maxine’s chest. She turned on her heel and headed straight for Dawn’s office.

    The office, packed to the brim this morning, now stood nearly empty. Days of grueling work had left everyone exhausted, some stood up to stretch, while two or three sat together, whispering about the recent upheavals in thepany.

    One of the employeesined, “Honestly, ever since Mr. Soto’s been out of the country, this ce has gonepletely off the rails.”

    Another employee chimed in, “Tell me about it. And Mr. Kaden…”

    Before she could finish, another colleague cut in. “Come on, let’s not poke our noses intopany affairs. We’re just small fries, what happens bat /bbthe top /bis way above our pay grade.”

    An older woman nodded. “He is right. With Mr. Soto away, even if Dawn bis /brunning herself ragged for him, I doubt it’ll make much differenceb…/bb” /bbShe /bpaused, ncing around before lowering her voice. “Do you know what all these documents we’ve been preparing are really for?”

    The others shook their heads.

    The woman sighed and lowered her voice, “Peak Technology wants to partner with us, but Mr. Soto has no idea… bMr. /bKaden opportunity ito /isideline him.”

    nning bto /buse bthis /b

    bThe /bothers gasped in surprise but didn’t dare ask how she knew.

    bMaxine /bpressed her lips together and hesitated for a moment, then finally raised her hand and knocked on the office door. The employees inside looked up, noticing an unfamiliar face. One of them asked, “Hello, who are you looking for?”

    12:05 Frib, /bb11 /bbJül /bGOO

    b+/bb36/b%D

    Maxine looked around the office and, after making sure Dawn wasn’t there, asked the others politely, “Excuse me, I’m looking for Dawn. Do bany /bbof /bbyou /bknow where she is?b” /b

    G