Vicki asserted firmly, âYou can escort her out.
We donât need Mr.
Schultz returning to find a disturbance.
â
The security guard remained stoic, refusing to acknowledge Vickiâs presence.
Frustration boiled within Vicki, prompting a sharp retort, âAre you deaf? Do you even want to keep your job?â
âWho doesnât want to keep their job?â A new voice intervened, breaking the tension.
âs BunnyBookery Vicki turned to find Jarrod, a sight that brought her a wave of relief.
âJarrod, Miss Lawrence wanted to see Austin.
However, Austin isnât feeling well today, so I declined her visit.
Then, Miss Lawrence caused a scene and even threatened me.
Iâve asked the security to escort Miss Lawrence off the premises,â she explained, her voice tinged with indignation.
Seeking solace, Vicki reached out to hold Jarrodâs arm, but he withdrew it, leaving her feeling rejected.
Vicki was stunned, a mix of hurt and anger flashing in her eyes.
Determination set in.
She vowed to teach Nicole a lesson.
âWhat? She threatened you?â Jarrodâs tone turned frosty.
Unaware of the unfolding tension, Vicki persisted in charade, âYes, she not only threatened me, but also insisted on seeing Austin whenever she pleased.
She even claimed you couldnât stop her, let alone me.
â
Jarrodâs attention shifted to the security guard, bypassing Nicole.
âDid you witness Nicole attempting to strike her?â he inquired.
Vicki was taken aback and then subtly signaled to the security guard.
She trusted that she was the future mistress of the household, and the guards wouldnât be foolish enough to contradict her, especially with Jarrod present.
After all, she had already ensured their loyalty by greasing palms.
âNo, we observed no such behavior.
It was Miss Hampton who prevented your wife from entering,â the guard responded, dispelling Vickiâs hopes of leveraging the situation.
Vickiâs mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation.
She thought the security guard had misspoken.
Surely, she should be addressed as Jarrodâs wife, not Miss Hampton.
Oblivious to Jarrodâs marriage with Nicole, Vicki reveled in her imagination.
The title of Jarrodâs wife delighted her nonetheless.
Deciding to overlook the guardâs error, Vicki coughed lightly and offered a gentle reminder, âPlease address Nicole correctly.
Her surname is Lawrence, not Hampton.
Perhaps the security captain forgot to brief you two.
â
The guards exchanged perplexed glances, treating Vicki as if she were speaking nonsense.
They had been dispatched here from the Schultz Group for just one day, with instructions to address Nicole as Jarrodâs wife.
Confused by Vickiâs insistence on a different name, they chose to ignore her and remained focused on their duty.
âJarrod⦠Vicki approached again, feigning generosity.
âMiss Lawrence probably just wants to see her child.
Donât blame herâ¦â
âLiar!â A childâs voice interrupted them.
Swiftly, Austin bolted out in his slippers, the nanny in futile pursuit.
âAustin, donât runâ¦â
But Austin didnât slow down.
His face flushed with exertion and determination as he sprinted toward Nicole, clearly distressed.