Chapter 79: Chapter 79

I’ve been directed to sit outside of the Director’s office.

Because I’m sitting here, I hear the scream.

“You must be joking,” Farah says angrily.

The Director’s voice is calm. ”Miss Steele, I don't want anyone to be hostile to my colleagues like this.

And what you’ve done by rallying other coworkers to isolate and bully another employee…it is harassment.”

“W-what?”

“Grace indeed served time in jail, but she has paid her price to society, as deemed by our judicial system and the judges and juries upholding it. You do not have the right to continue to judge her or to invade her privacy by airing her past for others, with the expressed intent of it causing unrest in the workplace.”

Farrah sputters.

“Furthermore,” the director says. “It doesn't mean that we should look at her with different eyes and not give her a chance to live. Since you feel that you can't work with Grace Cummins, I think you should quit your job now."

“Wha?! I am an established member of this staff! I’m up for promotion next month. And you’re trying to just dismiss me?! I’ve done nothing wrong! I only told the truth!”

“Truth is not the issue. And if I have to explain the aspects of harassment or workplace practices, then you are in no position for any promotion. Good leaders conduct themselves with equity and fairness.

They can’t allow biases or their personal opinions to prevail.”

Farah sputters.

As I sit here and listen, I’m shocked.

I didn’t expect the Director to abide by the employee guidelines. Yes, this is a government facility but that doesn’t mean that corruption doesn’t take root. There are bad people in every company.

“You’ll receive two weeks pay,” he goes on.

Farah screams again. She’s really coming apart in there.

I can’t say that I’m sorry.

She’s malicious.

I doubt I’m the first person she’s targeted.

A second later, Farah tears out of the office. She takes one look at me and I jump to my feet.

"It's you.” She sneers. “It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been dismissed by the director! You should be the one who is made to leave!"

The staff in this section of the building are watching. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has their cell phone out. This kind of meltdown is the fodder of viral videos.

I try to step around her.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me!” she screams.

What? Does she think I’m going to stand here and be yelled at?

“Good luck,” I tell her. “Maybe in your next job, you won’t be so mean.”

She gasps and then draws back her hand to slap me.

I duck instinctively. But the hit never comes.

Farah’s hand is caught—by Gus.

"Just stop already,” he tells her. “The director wants you to go. What does it have to do with Grace?

Can Grace control the director's decision? No.”

When the other people in the fleet see this, they shake their heads at Farah or disperse so as not to get caught up in the drama surrounding her.

The farce ended just like that. Farrah stalked off.

I stare at her back as she leaves.

“Are you okay?” Gus asks me.

He really is a nice guy. “I am. Thanks to you.”

He blushes. "It was nothing. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been targeted by Farah in the first place," Gus says with embarrassment.

Just as I’m was about to turn around and leave, Gus suddenly says, "Is your younger brother really your blood-related brother?"

I glance back at him in surprise.

Gus hesitates.”t’s just… I don't think... you're not like siblings.”

"He's not my sibling, but to me, he is my family.”

Gus shakes his head. “Does he think that way? Because I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Grace. And it’s not how one looks at their siblings…”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Babe, are you listening to me?" Lily raises her voice. Sean has been completely distracted the entire day. She must have asked him the same question three times now, but he’s acting as though he had not heard her at all.

The day after a run, he’s normally doting.

The massive feast that’s been laid out by the servants has been served to the pack and a special meal was prepared for them. She’d even gone to the trouble of specifying what dishes to make so all of Sean’s favorites would be available, but he hasn’t even noticed.

Sean suddenly comes to his senses. "What did you say?"

"What's wrong with you today?" Lily asks in annoyance. "If you're going to accompany me to try on my gown tomorrow in this state, I might as well find someone else to accompany me!"

"Lily, I’m so sorry. My mind’s on work, and I just remembered that I still have something to do!" Sean suddenly stands up and rushes out of their private dining room.

How the hell is she supposed to explain his abrupt departure to the pack? They’re supposed to head back into the main hall to finish dinner and have dessert with his packmates.

But before Lily can argue, Sean is out the door.

Lily frowns. What the hell is so urgent that he needed to leave her alone like this? That it couldn’t wait an hour until they finished dinner and made the rounds with the rest of his clan? He was totally different from his usual attentive self!

Sean drives away from his family’s lands and calls one of the private investigator’s he used amid Grace’s trial.

The call is answered quickly.

“Mr. Stevens, what can I do for you?”

“Get into the Sanitation Service Center’s records and check the address of Grace's place!”

“Grace…Cummins?”

“Yes.”

It doesn't take long for the PI to send the address to Sean's mobile phone.

Sean drove the car toward Grace's residence.