Chapter 36
Anathea’s phone screen lit up again with a text from Evangeline inviting her to the team–building event on Friday that also doubled as a welcoming party for Anathea.
Anathea stared at the screen blankly until it dimmed and blacked out entirely. Only then did she pick up her phone, brace her weight on her knees as she stood, and reply to Evangeline. “I’ve got plans on Friday. Go ahead without me.”
She sent the same text to the male colleague who had messaged her earlier.
In truth, Anathea had never been a fan of social gatherings like team–building events. Besides, she wanted to maximize her time to make as much money as she could.
with
Fiona’s surgery bills.
William had told her that he’d wire the three million dollars to her account the next day to help her v Anathea was grateful to him, and she knew she could count on him to support them in times of need.
However, Anathea spent the better part of the next day waiting to hear from William about the money but to no avail.
“What’s going on?” Baffled by the delay, she was about to call William when he called her first.
“I’ve got some bad news, Nat,” William began gravely. “One of the big projects that the company previously secured had its funding pulled, and the company’s cash flow took a hit.”
Anathea froze. She recalled Gregory’s warning from the night before. So this was what he’d meant when he said he’d make her
pay for pushing his buttons. She should have known he’d strike the Jacobson family to get back at her.
She clenched her fist and asked worriedly, “H–How’s the company doing now?”
“We managed to do some damage control, but we still sustained considerable losses. I’m afraid I can’t help you with the three million dollars, Nat,” William confessed apologetically, sighing. “The money will be injected into our company to help us tide
over operational and labor costs…”
If not, the company might just shut down for good.
Anathea understood William was in dire straits.
When Adam had been prosecuted, William stepped up and ran the company, taking on the burdens of the Jacobson family. William had spent the last few years managing the family, and while the Jacobsons had seen better days, at least everyone was provided for.
In any case, Anathea was grateful for all that William had done for the family. She knew he’d done everything in his power to help. “It’s all right, Uncle William. I’ll figure something out.”
“Perhaps… you could speak to Mr. Sinclair about this,” William suggested hesitantly after some thought. “After all, he is your husband, and three million dollars is nothing to him.”
Anathea lowered her gaze and made no reply. She couldn’t bring herself to tell William that the company’s recent crisis was
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Gregory’s doing or that she and Gregory were headed toward a divorce.
Besides, she doubted Gregory would help her even if they weren’t in the middle of getting a divorce.
When Anathea didn’t respond, William prompted tentatively, “Nat?”
Only then did she snap out of her daze. She replied mildly, “It’s all right, Uncle William. I’ll find a way to take care of this.”
William paused. He sensed that something was wrong between Anathea and Gregory, but he wouldn’t pry unless she decided to
bring it up. As such, he said, “Very well.”
After hanging up, Anathea felt like she’d been hollowed out. She dropped her arm, her phone still in hand. Now that William couldn’t help her with the three million dollars, she’d have to think of another plan.
Thankfully, she could still count on the floral arrangement jobs at Eden Studio to keep her savings afloat. If she just worked at little harder, she would gradually come up with the money for Fiona’s surgery.
Unfortunately, Anathea underestimated Gregory’s vengefulness and methods. She’d only just arrived at work when she saw Evangeline and the others sulking. It was as if a storm cloud hovered over the entire studio.
