Jilted Ex-wife Billionaire Heiress

Chapter 57 Just A Crush

The first drop of rain fell just as Darya climbed into the backseat of the midnight blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Avery got in after her and gestured for the chauffeur to raise the privacy shield.

He examined his sister, who was admiring the rain outside.

Timothy's romantically interested in you.' Avery said it as a statement, not a question.

Darya turned her head and scooted closer to her brother. 'Come on. You know the way he is. It's at most a crush. It'll soon pass.'noveldrama

While other guys his age collected cars or rare wines, Timothy collected

girlfriends.

He was never pushy about it-his looks plus his wallet were often enough to draw women towards him.

But his affection never lasted for long

When Timothy asked her to be his girlfriend, Darya was more amused than flattered.

To her, he was an old friend, a kid brother.

But not a potential romantic partner.

'So, you are not interested in him,' Avery said.

'Nope.' Darya smiled. 'Dating him would be like dating you.'

Avery shivered. 'Okay, point taken.'

He added after a while, 'You know you can always count on me, right? And Dad. And Brion and Callan. We've got your back.'

Darya looked at her big brother.

She understood what he was trying to say, and his concern touched her.

She rested her head on his shoulder. 'Don't worry. I'm fine.'

The next time she fell in love-which she suspected was not going to happen for a long, long time-she would not make the same mistake of running away from her family.

Boyfriends and girlfriends could come and go, but family was for life.

The drizzle at night had washed the streets clean.

Darya inhaled a lungful of fresh air and felt her morning was off to a good start.

Glen Chasey, the ever-efficient executive assistant, had laid out the day's work on her desk, in order of

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descending priority.

The most important item on the agenda was the meeting at three o'clock.

Darya waited for Glen to distribute the latest copy of the project proposal. 'As I'm sure you are all aware, Mr Reece Cooke, Solaro's CEO, has agreed to work with

us.'

She paused a beat. 'Zenith is also coming on board. Details of the project's timeline are included in the file you have on hand. Phase One is set to begin tomorrow.'

The conference room was filled with silence as the meeting participants scanned the proposal.

'Any questions?' Darya asked.

'Yes, I would like to clarify clause twenty,' the CFO spoke up. 'It concerns the restrictions on share transfers...'

Darya listened patiently as more people tossed out their questions.

She answered most of them without consulting the notes prepared by Glen.

Her in-depth understanding of the project and her confidence impressed the participants, most of whom had reservations when she was appointed as Paragon's Vice President.

Now it seemed like she didn't get the job purely because of her (rumoured) relationship with Avery.

By the time the meeting drew to a close at five o'clock, everyone had a newfound respect for the project

manager.

Well, almost everyone.

Darya remained in her seat as the meeting participants filed out of the conference

room.

Soon, only one other person was left.

Sharon Hoyles approached.

'Don't you have work to do?' Darya kept her eyes on the tablet screen.

At the meeting, Sharon was demoted from assistant project manager to a mere team member.

How long she could keep that position depended on what she planned to do next.

Sharon forced a smile. 'Miss Miller, I would like to ask why."

'Why I demoted you?' Darya spared her a glance.

Sharon nodded.

She had more experience than the new assistant PM.

She spent more time than anyone else on the proposal.

She deserved better!

Darya saw the woman's resentment.

She leaned back in the leather chair and tapped a finger on the armrest. 'I thought you'd be smart enough not to ask that question."

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Chapter 57 Just A Crush

Sharon's body stiffened. 'If it's about what happened last time with Howard Banks, I have already apologised. I thought we have moved past that. Besides, we are no longer working with Kemp Industries. I don't think it's fair to keep punishing me for a one-time mistake.'

'You are still part of the project. If I'm punishing you, I'd kick you off the team." Sharon refused to give up. 'But my past performance proves I'm more than capable of being the assistant PM. If you'd only give me another chance, I will-‘ "The decision to remove you as assistant PM is made jointly by all the participants, as you yourself have seen during the meeting.' Darya pushed back her chair and stood up. 'You should have raised your objection back then.'

"But you are the overall in charge. Surely,

you

'I'm the overall-in-charge,' Darya cut her off. 'But I'm not a dictator. If you want to

be reinstated as the assistant PM, you'll have to raise it at the next meeting."

'So you are not going to help me?'

Darya spread out both hands. 'It's not my decision to make.'

Sharon's shoulders sagged. 'I see. Thank you, anyway.'

The moment the door closed behind her, Sharon cursed under her breath. 'If you won't help me, someone else

will.'

She ducked into the nearest bathroom and made a call.

Darya was packing up for the day when Glen knocked on the door and came into

her office. 'Miss Miller, Director Kay would like to speak with you.'

'Douglas Kay? What does he want?'

'He didn't say. Just said he's waiting for you in his office.' Glen checked the time

on his wristwatch. 'I could turn him down if you want.'

Darya mentally flipped through her file on Paragon's board of directors.

Douglas Kay was one of the conservative old-schoolers who were long past their prime.

He clung to the prestigious position as Paragon's director purely out of pride and

was dead set against any kind of progressive change.

Avery often complained about the old man in private.

Darya shut down her computer. 'I'll go meet him.'

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