Chapter 48 I Demand Quality
Just a simple thank you from you?”
Zane raised an eyebrow, his gaze icy as he looked at her.
Rachel met his gaze, calm and direct. “I’ll finish the project ten days ahead of the two–month deadline. Consider it my way of repaying you.”
Zane narrowed his eyes. “So you could’ve done it in fifty days this whole time, but you told me sixty?”
Rachel’s brow twitched. “Ever think I might be planning to work overtime to speed things up?”
That shut him up–briefly.
A second later, he stepped in close, blocking her path. “What I want is quality. Don’t hand me something rushed and half–baked—I don’t take well to disappointment.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen.”
“Who’s the client here, you or me?”
Rachel arched her brow, her voice calm. “Mr. Jenkins, have you forgotten the terms of our agreement? There’s no client or contractor between us.”
Zane’s expression shifted.
“If I say I can do it, then I have the confidence to deliver,” Rachel said firmly. Then she met his eyes and added, “And one more thing–I don’t like owing favors.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Zane’s tone turned cold.
“Why did you go to the hospital seven years ago?”
The abrupt shift caught her off guard. Rachel froze for a split second, not expecting the question to come out of nowhere. But when she spoke, her voice was steady. “That’s outside the scope
of work,” she said evenly. “Sorry–I can’t answer that.”
Zane stepped closer, pressing her, “Don’t make me repeat my question.”
“Am I not allowed to get sick and see a doctor?”
“What kind of illness takes you to the gynecology department?”
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Chapter 48 I Demand Quality
Rachel’s pupils narrowed sharply. How did he know? Harry had told her the investigation from seven years ago had turned up nothing about her gynecology visit. So, how did Zane find out?
Still, she kept her composure. “Am I not allowed to see a doctor for irregular periods?”
Zane narrowed his cycs.
“Are you going to ask about the car accident next, Mr. Jenkins?”
Rachel turned the tables, but Zane only stared back, his gaze growing colder, more unreadable.
“Finishing early is how I repay the favor,” she said lightly, steering the conversation back on track. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.”
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there in silence.
Zane called after her coldly, “Don’t forget you still have to see Grandpa.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Rachel finally let out a small sigh of relief leaving the office, though her brow was still furrowed. Zane knew she’d gone to gynecology all those years ago, but not why. Even Harry couldn’t find that out, yet Zane knew.
Rachel clenched her fists. It couldn’t just be a coincidence–Zane was trying to get her to slip
- up.
Night fell, and Rachel left the research institute to find Harry already waiting for her.
“Are they trying to squeeze you dry? You’re injured and they’re still making you work overtime?”
Rachel took the helmet he handed her and eyed his motorcycle with a hint of longing. “Is this new?”
Harry patted his beloved bike. “What do
you
think?”
“It suits you.”
“When your hand heals, I’ll let you take it for a spin. For now, hop on. Sarah is already waiting. for us.”
Rachel put on the helmet and climbed onto the back seat, and the motorcycle roared off in the night.
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Chapter 48 1 Demand Quality
45 Free Coms
Neither of them noticed Zané parked a little way down the road, just close enough to see everything that had just happened.
He had no idea why he’d come all the way out here. But he hadn’t expected to witness a scene like that.
Jordan wasn’t enough–there was another man, too.
He had really underestimated Rachel.
Just then, his phone rang. Janice’s voice came through, urging him, “Zane, are you here yet? Everyone’s waiting for you.”
