I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Meredith had irreversibly offended Joy Chaucer, and she was well aware that staying meant facing the inevitable backlash. However, Bianca, who held her in high regard, had treated her well, and Meredith did not want to disappoint her gratitude. She chose to stay.

Listening to Joy Chaucer's mocking jeers, Meredith thought about how she had married Terrence Sterling, the very man Joy coveted. If Joy found out, she would probably explode with rage.

With a smooth response, Meredith said, "Miss Chaucer, thank you for the compliment," choosing to ignore the sarcasm in Joy's words and feigning ignorance.

Seeing Meredith so composed, Joy's anger flared. "Meredith, you're bold. I fired you, and here you are back again. Aren't you afraid I'll destroy you?"

Meredith replied with a light smile, "Miss Chaucer, we live in a society governed by law. I believe as long as I do nothing wrong, it won't be easy for you to 'destroy' me. And considering your prestigious position as the heir to Falconer Holdings, it wouldn't be wise to risk your reputation just to get back at me, don't you think?"

Joy sneered, "Well then, Meredith, you better be on your guard. If I find any mistake, I'll make sure you regret crossing me."

Meredith nodded slightly, "Thank you for the warning, Miss Chaucer. I'll keep that in mind."

Joy, sitting in her wheelchair, commanded arrogantly, "Tonight, you are to dine with Mr. Gould from Oakleaf and secure the contract for the Regent's Square project. I want to see that contract on my desk first thing tomorrow morning." Kendrick Gould of Oakleaf Enterprises was notoriously lecherous, known for harassing anything that moved, even a female mosquito flying by. Meredith understood Joy's malicious intent-clearly a ploy to set her up.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll get on with my work," Meredith replied, preparing herself for the evening.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how you handle tonight," Joy said meaningfully.

"Rest assured, Miss Chaucer, you won't be disappointed," Meredith responded with a smile, then turned and left the office.

As soon as Meredith exited, Joy made a phone call: "Prepare the strongest drug for me; I'll need it tonight..."

Back at her desk, Meredith pondered how to handle the upcoming dinner. Overhearing a conversation about Crimson Copse from two colleagues behind her, she remembered Justin mentioning his biological parents were from a village in the south named Crimson Copse.

Turning her chair, Meredith smiled and asked her colleague, "Reese, you're from Crimson Copse in the south, right?"

Reese, a single man in his thirties who had been with Falconer Holdings for nearly a decade, was known for his frugality and dedication to supporting his family back home. His ordinary appearance and the financial burden he carried made most men steer clear of him.

Meredith, curious, had never known where Reese was from. He nodded, "Yes, Meredith, how do you know about that village? Are you from there too?"

"No, I'm not," Meredith replied cheerfully, trying to build rapport. "Reese, I'm looking to find out about someone from your village. Is there a Thatcher family there?"

"There are a few Thatcher families; it's a big village. Who are you looking for?" Reese inquired.

"Quentin Thatcher. Do you know him?" Meredith asked, thinking about the age difference between Reese and Mr. Thatcher. "Or maybe your family knows him? Mr. Thatcher is over sixty, has a paralyzed eldest son who became disabled a few years ago, and his wife ran off. Does that sound familiar?"

Meredith wanted to learn more about Mr. Thatcher's background, especially since several of his children had reportedly died under mysterious circumstances.

Reese thought for a moment, then recognition dawned. "I know who you're talking about. His house is just behind the hill from mine. We don't interact much, but I've heard my father mention that they used to be well-off in the village. Yes, his eldest son was paralyzed in an accident, and his wife did run off. Meredith, why are you asking about these things? What's your connection to them?"

Meredith smiled, "I'm just asking for a friend. Reese, do you know anything about Mr. Thatcher's children having accidents and dying?"