A Life Debt Repaid

Chapter 8

on his desk intermittently.Cordy must be special to him, or he would not have risked his life to save her from the fire.However, John had always been distant toward women, but that somehow changed right after he returned to North City.Still, Randy would never dare to pry in his boss’s private affairs, and he simply stuck with the man’s preferences. “Should I try to smooth things out for her quietly, sir?”John was quiet for a movement. “She went in alone and managed to claim ownership over the entire company. That means she knows what she’s doing—that means we should trust her.”“Of course, sir,” Randy replied respectfully.He thought then that the woman his boss had his eyes on would certainly be no pushover.…Cordy had just gotten home from Starstream Group when her phone abruptly rang.She glanced at the caller ID but answered it anyway.“Why did you do that to Noel?” Kyle started complaining the instant she did. “What happened between us has nothing to do with her. If you have an issue, take it up with me. Don’t bother her.”In short, Noel already complained to Kyle.Still, Cordy was used to it—Noel had always been a specialist in playing the victim and causing rifts between everyone and Cordy.“You give yourself too much credit, Kyle Jessop. I’m just taking back what’s mine.”“Look, Cordy—you just have to tell me if you need money,” Kyle continued earnestly, ignoring her. “We may have broken up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work at Jessop Corp. I never said anything about dismissing you. You don’t have to hurt yourself like this! Just come to work as usual, and we’ll pay you what you’re due.”Cordy inhaled sharply in turn, knowing that there was no reasoning with him. “This is the last time I tell you this, Kyle! My mother left Starstream Group to me, and Noel has no stake in it at all. Even if I don’t want it, I’d rather liquidate it and donate the shares to charity than allow a mistress’ daughter to touch it! Also, I’ll no longer work at Jessop Corp. I’ll pack my things at the time, but you can have it thrown out if you don’t like it—there’s nothing worth keeping. Last but not least, don’t try to humiliate me with money. You’d just make a fool of yourself!”With that, she hung up on him without giving him a chance to retort.Kyle was left sitting and scowling in his car.Cordy had actually cut off his call and spat in his face despite his goodwill!What makes her so confident that she could treat him like this?!Indignant, he called her again, only to have Cordy hang up on him mercilessly!Eventually, he was left shaking with rage, his fingers clenching over his phone!…As the calls from Kyle kept coming in, Cordy eventually lost it and answered her phone without looking at the screen the next time it rang, yelling, “Stop calling me if you don’t want to embarrass yourself any further!”There was only silence from the other end, and Cordy soon noticed that something was different.She quickly glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the unfamiliar number.Before she could speak, a deep, alluring voice spoke from the other end. “Does that mean I should keep calling you if I want to be embarrassed?”Cordy felt her heart racing a little just then and she pursed her lips.She had never expected John Levine himself to call. She said in apology, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was you… and what I said wasn’t meant for you.” “So who was it for?” John raised a brow.Cordy was silent for moments before slowly saying, “I think you know, Mr. Levine.”John’s eyes narrowed, his fingers tapping his desk twice as his lips twitched. “Do you need help?”“No.” Cordy refused right then, intent on being distant. “Anyway, why did you call me, Mr. Levine?”“No reason in particular,” John replied.As Cordy frowned, he added, “I was just testing if the number Dicky gave me works.”“…I would never trick a kid,” Cordy said a little angrily.Moreover, he was the one who bought her this number. How would he not know?!“Are you free tonight?” John asked suddenly.The sudden change in subject left Cordy stunned.“Let’s have dinner together,” John said. “I’ll come to get you.”“I’m sorry, but…”“It’s to celebrate my first day at my new job.”Cordy decided then that she and John existed on different wavelengths, and that their conversation was utterly non-sequitur.“I’ll see you at six,” John finished and hung up.Cordy breathed a lengthy sigh then—there were times when John’s domineering nature could not be stopped at all.Musing to herself for a while, she eventually texted him.[I’m sorry, Mr. Levine, but I’m busy tonight and won’t be able to make it. That said, congratulations on your new job.]After she sent it, Cordy used to herself for a while and sent him an Amazon gift card as a way to congratulate him.She felt that this was a polite refusal to strangers that would not be insulting to them.On the other end, John was staring at the gift card for a while before bursting out in laughter.Beside him, Randy’s jaw dropped.Did he just live long enough to see his boss laugh?! And so eerily at that!“Randy,” John suddenly said.“Yes, sir?”   “Why do you think a woman would give a man money?”Randy’s eyes widened.Then, as John looked at him, his mind worked rapidly and he said uncertainly, “To be the man’s… sugar mommy?”John’s lips curled up even more visibly, while Randy’s cheeks were twitching.He was suddenly very curious—how much did Ms. Sachs give him that he would look so content?!That was when they heard a polite knock on the office door, with Debbie the secretary entering and asking respectfully, “Mr. Levine, Kyle Jessop—CEO of Jessop Corp—is asking to meet you. Would you like to see him?”Kyle Jessop?Randy flinched abruptly—Kyle was John’s rival for Cordy’s heart!“No.” John refused right away.“Well, when would you like to—”“Never,” John said icily.Debbie’s heart was sent pounding right then. “Alright, I will send him away.”John said nothing, but Debbie took it as a silent approval and left panickily.It was her first day being acquainted with her new superior and she simply could not get a read on his personality.“Wait,” John suddenly said.Debbie quickly turned around. “Yes, Mr. Levine?”“I’ll be attending a board meeting soon, but I may be free afterwards.”The secretary understood. “Yes, Mr. Levine. I’ll