The Cherished Wife

Chapter 86

“Really?” Charles stood abruptly, yanking a paper from the pile behind him. “I didn’t come here to listen to your excuses. You seem to be in the dark on how I operate. Since I’ve brought you in, it’s clear–you’re out of the Collosus Group.”

“Mr. Hoffman!” Jenson’s legs turned to jelly, and he nearly dropped to his knees, “Mr. Hoffman, I admit it, I messed up! I was backed into a corner, you know? I’ve got my aging parents and my kids to look after, and sure, being the finance chief sounds like a sweet gig, but… it takes guts to do this job! I was desperate. My mom’s sick in the hospital with heart disease, she needs a transplant, and I was out of options.”

Charles gave Mr. Lowry an icy stare. “I gave you a chance to come clean, and you wasted it!” With that, Charles hit the intercom button, and Ronald was in the room in a flash. “Mr. Hoffman, Joey’s spilled the beans. A bunch of those phony accounts never reached you, so things were smooth sailing until now.”

A smirk played on Charles’s lips. “So, you’ve been pulling this off under the radar for quite a while, huh?”

“Mr. Hoffman, I’m sorry!” Jenson hit the floor on his knees. “I lost my way, but, but it was all Mr. Harris’s idea. He told me that if I didn’t participate, not only would my mom’s treatment go south, but I’d be out of a job too. My hands were tied.”

Charles just waved him off. Ronald stepped right up next to Jenson. “Mr. Hoffman, I’ve called the cops, and they should be here any minute!”

Jenson’s world crumbled. His face was the color of concrete. “It’s all over! All of it!”

“Not yet,” Ronald chimed in. Jenson’s head shot up, hope flickering in his eyes. “You’ve got a plan?”

Ronald squinted. “Mr. Lowry’s a clever guy. He’s gotta have a backup plan, right?”

“Of course, I do! I’ve always been worried that my secret would come out, so…” Mr. Lowry wasn’t dumb, He had had an ace up his sleeve from the start, just in case his secret was revealed. “If you can forgive me, I’m ready to give up what I’ve got!”

Charles’s eyes were like icy daggers as he glared at Jenson. “I really hate being pushed into a corner. It’s a really bad feeling,” he said coldly. “Too bad for you that you’ve just hit my biggest nerve!”

“Mr. Hoffman…”

him away. He needs some time

Mr. Hoffman!” Ronald gave Jenson a

game. Charles was the one who called the shots, not the other way around. He figured Jenson must have lost his marbles

the very thing that could topple Mr. Harris. Are you sure

not the one setting the terms,” Charles said, his stare cold and merciless, as he

Charles, his eyes filled

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+15 BONUS

Chapter 87

just come back when he spotted Charles gazing out the towering window, lost in thought. Clearing his

a brief look at Ronald, who snapped to attention. “The guy’s been taken care of, but Mr. Hoffman, are we good

over to his desk, picked up a cigarette, and rolled it between his fingers without lighting it. “It’s high time

liked to get things done in one fell swoop since it was less hassle that way. “He’s so fond of making moves, so let’s give him a grand one to think

could not quite catch Charles’s drift. “You

curled into a sly smile. “I’m feeling good today. Don’t bother trying to guess what

than to try and read Charles’s mind. After all, figuring out what Charles was planning was a puzzle no one could

thinks he’s invincible with Robert

now?” Ronald could not help but think of Noelle again. He

and even though he was caught up in the Hoffman family drama, his wild side was usually kept under

honest with himself, he was not too thrilled about it. In his

say?” Charles’s eyes

sir!” Ronald was quick to deny it. “Frotconn has been pushing it, hiding behind

an eye on Mr. Lowry, and as for Joey…” Charles paused. “You’re

Ronald nodded. “And