Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 36

For Camila Davis, Jordan Smith’s accusations came out of nowhere—a total blindside.

She stared at him, baffled.

The Smith Group losing clients? Wasn’t that a management problem? How was that her fault?

The fact that he’d come around to pin this on her was honestly just ridiculous.

Camila wasn’t about to sit there and take the blame. She got to her feet, her voice icy and steady. “Jordan, you were right there during the handover, remember? Watching every move I made. If I’d tried to pull something shady, you’d have seen it. You know I didn’t.

The issues started after I walked away. So how does any of this fall on me? You show up after all this time, pointing fingers like I’m some sort of scapegoat? That’s absurd.

Clients left after I’d quit. I’ve been home, looking after my kid, minding my own business. And you think you can just pin this on me?”

She paused, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Weren’t you the one who said, ‘If something goes wrong on your watch, you’re responsible, no matter who made the mistake’? Did you forget your own words that fast? Or is this one of those double standard moments?”

Just earlier this year, there’d been a near-disaster with a software project in R&D. One of the team members messed up, almost tanking the whole system.

Camila had caught the mistake just in time and fixed it—saving the project from going under.

When word reached Jordan, he’d chewed her out in front of the whole team.

She remembered his words like they were burned into her brain:

“You’re the team lead, Camila. Doesn’t matter who screwed up—the responsibility is on you.”

Even when the actual culprit owned up and apologized, Jordan didn’t let her off the hook. He docked her bonus for three months to make a point.

And now? Barely any time had passed, and here they were again.

“I’m going to say this one more time,” she shot back. “I’ve already quit. Whatever happens in that company now has nothing to do with me, and I’m not getting involved. As for apologizing—why should I apologize for something I didn’t do? If you’re so eager to cover for Sandra, why don’t you go clean up the mess yourself? Trust me, I won’t stop you.”

Jordan’s jaw clenched, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Camila saw it, her tone turning sharp and mocking. “What, are you going to drag me back to the office by force? Did you forget, Jordan? You’re the one who kicked me out in the first place!

I did my job, and I did it well. Why should I be the one cleaning up after everyone else? Do you think I’m your lapdog—here whenever you snap your fingers?”

Jordan’s frown just deepened.

He answered coldly, “Camila, this isn’t personal. I’m talking business. I told you why you had to leave—Sandra is more capable than you. The R&D team needed a change.

Besides, focusing on Lillian at home is what’s best for you, isn’t it? You were always distracted by her needs. How could you possibly manage your department like that?”