Free Web NovelChapter 5: Chapter 5
Quinn stepped out in a tailored haute couture business suit, her slim figure poised and confident. Her long, cool-brown wavy hair fell over her shoulders, and her sharp heels clicked lightly against the floor as she walked with effortless composure. Tilting her head slightly, she spoke to the young assistant behind her, her tone calm yet authoritative—the very image of a powerful career woman.
Now, Quinn truly had everything it took to captivate a man.
Just as she finished speaking, she turned her head, and her gaze collided directly with Elise, who stood at the entrance.
She froze for a split second, a faint crease forming between her brows. She hadn’t expected Elise to come straight to the company. Or rather—she hadn’t expected her to move this quickly.
But the moment passed. Quinn quickly regained her composure.
After all, in the past five years, Elise had been consumed by grief, abandoning the company entirely. DEL Jewelry no longer had any place for her.
With that thought, Quinn stepped forward toward the entrance.
The two security guards immediately broke into flattering smiles when they saw her, bowing slightly. "President Foster!"
Quinn glanced at them coolly. "What’s going on?"
One of the guards chuckled awkwardly. "President Foster, this lady is trying to enter the company. We’re just verifying her identity."
Quinn said nothing. Instead, she cast a brief glance at her assistant, Naomi Clarke.
Naomi understood instantly.
Stepping forward, she looked Elise up and down with blatant disdain. "You don’t look like someone from the industry," she said mockingly. "Miss, this is one of the top jewelry companies in the country. Are you sure you’re not in the wrong place?"
Elise met her gaze coldly.
Did Quinn really think something like this could shake her?
Ignoring Naomi completely, Elise fixed her eyes on Quinn and let out a faint, mocking smile.
"Quinn," she said evenly, "when a dog bites its owner, it pays the price."
Quinn’s expression stiffened.
At that moment, two luxury cars pulled up outside the building. The doors opened—and three of the company’s other shareholders stepped out.
The color drained from Quinn’s face at once.
Elise watched that change with quiet precision, her voice calm and unwavering.
"As the company’s largest shareholder and founder, I am calling an emergency board meeting."
Her gaze locked onto the young woman before her. "This meeting... is for you."
Before Quinn or anyone else could react, Elise had already turned and walked straight toward the executive elevator—with the three shareholders following behind her.
The two security guards stood there, stunned.
The group behind Quinn was equally shaken, all eyes turning to her for direction.
Quinn let out a cold laugh. Then she tilted her head slightly and spoke in a low voice to Naomi beside her.
"Call Assistant Grant. Tell him Elise has brought people here to cause trouble."
Naomi nodded and smiled. "Yes, I’ll call right away."
...
As the largest shareholder, Elise—together with the other three shareholders—should have had every right to remove Quinn from the company.
But she had underestimated just how far Dylan’s favoritism toward that woman went. He had transferred ten percent of his shares to her in secret.
Five years ago.
Not only had Quinn become a shareholder, but over the past five years, backed by Dylan’s support, she had systematically pushed out every talent Elise had personally selected and nurtured.
The jewelry company Elise had built with her own hands... Had become Quinn’s playground.
Elise’s fingers tightened around the shareholding documents, the tips turning pale. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
The conference room fell into complete silence.
The air was thick—heavy, almost suffocating.
The three shareholders sat in silence, exchanging uncertain glances. None of them fully understood how things had escalated to this point.
Quinn rose to her feet, carrying herself like a victor as she looked at Elise.
"Elise, I know you’re upset that Dylan transferred his shares to me," she said smoothly. "But he only did that because the people you left behind refused to accept me. He didn’t want me to be wronged. I hold those shares so I can manage the company properly.
You’ve spent the past five years at home, cared for by him—you can’t possibly understand how hard it is for a woman in the workplace. But you don’t have the authority to remove me. And Dylan would never allow you to cause trouble like this."
Every word dripped with mockery and provocation. freёweɓnovel.com
Elise looked at her coldly. Then, without warning, she set the documents down, stood up, and walked straight toward Quinn.
Before anyone could react, she raised her hand—
Slap!
The sharp, resounding crack echoed through the entire conference room.
Everyone froze.
Quinn staggered back, caught completely off guard. She clutched her cheek, glaring at Elise, but in the next instant, she forced her expression to change. Her brows drew together, and tears welled up instantly.
"Elise... if hitting me helps you calm down, I’ll accept it," she said softly. "But this is the company. Causing a scene like this in front of the shareholders... if Dylan finds out, he’ll be upset again..."
"Miss Foster," Elise cut her off, her voice like ice, "knowingly being the third party is no different from bigamy. Don’t think that just because Dylan protects you, I can’t touch you."
Quinn’s expression darkened. She stared at Elise, her gaze sharp and unyielding.
At the side, Oliver Grant stepped forward, his expression conflicted. "Madam... please calm down. About this matter, Mr. Bennett—"
"Tell Dylan," Elise interrupted, turning to him with unwavering resolve, "whatever shares he gave away—he can take them back the same way."
Her tone hardened. "And if he insists on protecting Miss Foster, I don’t mind dragging this into the open—even if it destroys everything."
Oliver stiffened, opening his mouth as if to speak again, but Elise gave him no chance.
She turned and walked out of the conference room.
Just like that, the emergency board meeting ended in chaos.
***
After leaving the company, Oliver immediately called Dylan.
"Mr. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett saw the share transfer documents—she was furious... Miss Foster? She was slapped... I tried to explain things for you, but Madam didn’t give me the chance. She just left..."
***
Elise went straight home.
The moment she arrived, she returned to her room and dialed a familiar number.
"It’s me," she said quietly. "Make the necessary arrangements. I need you to come back and help me..."
...
By the time night fell, Mrs. Lander had prepared dinner and went upstairs to call Elise.
Elise came down, looking absolutely normal.
The moment she stepped into the dining room, she saw him.
Dylan sat at the table, his expression still.
He wore a simple black shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong, pale forearms. In one hand, he held a bowl; in the other, a spoon, calmly ladling fish soup.
Above him, the crystal chandelier cast a warm amber glow, outlining the sharp planes of his face.
Five years had left no mark on him. He was still strikingly handsome—only now, there was a deeper, heavier edge to his features.
Hearing her footsteps, he looked up.
His gaze swept over her, dark and unreadable. His voice was low.
"Mrs. Lander made your favorite chicken soup. Drink it while it’s hot."
Elise stopped in her tracks.
His calm, almost casual tone made something inside her snap, and she let out a sharp, incredulous laugh.
"Dylan... do you really think we can sit down and eat like nothing’s happened?"
Dylan set the bowl of soup in front of her place, then picked up a cloth and wiped his hands.
Only then did he lift his eyes again, his posture still composed.
"Elise," he said evenly, "eat first. We’ll talk after dinner."
