LEONARD'S POV
"Listen, Catherine, you know I can't accomplish anything without you," I said, my voice strained as I searched for the right words to diffuse the tension between us.
"Yes, I understand that you claim to be a Hearthstone too, but you need to trust me. I genuinely can't downplay how much you've contributed to the company's growth," I continued, struggling to maintain the pretense.
In reality, I wanted nothing more to do with her. The moment I discovered she had been lying all along, I knew I had to play it carefully. I'm only keeping her around because I can't afford to have her disrupt my plans. Her constant pestering about how she 'helped me climb the ladder' is beyond irritating. It's downright infuriating.
"So, after she hands over her designs, are you planning to return her investment?" she asked, her voice dripping with a sultry tone as she toyed with my tie.