Oops I Banged the CEO novel Chapter 38

“I have nothing to do with Mr. Hamilton,” Yvonne said, easily picking up on Linda’s mix of guilt and veiled threats. “Besides, this project was your responsibility from the start.”

“Fine,” Linda shot back, “then you can handle the consequences. Honestly, you do look just like Mr. Hamilton’s first love. It’s no wonder he mistook you and ended up in your bed.” With that, Linda slid a university graduation photo across the table.

Marico, barely past twenty, looked striking in the picture, his features sharp and deep-set, exuding a quiet confidence that made him stand out in any crowd.

Next to him was a girl, tilting her head toward Marico with a bright, sweet smile—she really did look a bit like Yvonne.

But Yvonne hardly spared the girl a glance. Instead, her eyes lingered on Marico’s face.

He’d always been this handsome, and women had surely fallen for him by the dozen. That was normal.

But as for her and Marico? Theirs was just a mutually beneficial arrangement. She’d never dared hope for anything more. Men like him didn’t fall for women like her.

Fairy-tale romances didn’t happen in real life—not for people like them. Yvonne never let herself forget that.

Linda, mistaking Yvonne’s indifference for bravado, pressed on, twisting the knife. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. This project is one of our department’s biggest. If you mess it up, nobody’s getting bonuses. Can you handle that kind of responsibility?”

Swallowing her irritation, Yvonne replied evenly, “If we can’t get the deal done, it’s management who’ll be held accountable. We’re just employees.”

Linda’s sharp eyes flashed with annoyance, her tone turning even harsher. “Then you and your team better be ready to pack your things, because this company doesn’t keep dead weight. Yvonne, did you really think I was asking for your opinion?”

Yvonne’s face hardened.

Clearly, Linda was setting her up as the scapegoat.

“Either you attend tonight’s dinner, or you can clean out your desk. Your choice.” Linda dropped all pretense, cornering her.

Yvonne clenched her fists. She didn’t want to go, but if the deal fell through, her whole team would suffer.

“What happened?” Nydia asked gently. “Did Linda give you a hard time?”

Yvonne shook her head.

Grace looped an arm through hers and led her to her desk. “Yvonne, this isn’t all on you. If Linda tries to pin it on you, just go to Mr. Hamilton. He’s fair. He’ll hear you out.”

“I’m fine,” Yvonne managed a small smile, trying not to let it get to her. “We just have to find another way to fix this. Once it’s sorted, it’ll be okay.”

“Right. For a company like the Hamilton Group, finding new investors shouldn’t be that hard,” Grace said.

“But Linda’s competitive; she’ll want our department to outperform the other two, and underbid them if she can. She and Mr. Hamilton went to university together—she’s always trying to prove herself,” Grace added, drawing on her years of experience.

Yvonne nodded. “I’ll meet with the potential partners tonight, see what we can do.”