Dead at Heart

Ariel froze.

She pressed her pale lips together. "Is this Jayson's order?"

"Yes."

Colton had never liked Ariel. Sure, she was competent and dedicated to her work, but she had forced her way into marriage through underhanded means.

Women like her disgusted him.

"Mr. Larkin said you're not to leave until the situation is under control. Remember, Bluum Corp doesn't keep useless employees."

Ariel had always known that Jayson didn't care about her. But she hadn't expected that he'd pull something like this even on the brink of divorce.

He actually asked her, his rightful wife, to silence rumors about his mistress that were nothing but the truth.

A surge of anger stabbed deep into Ariel's chest. The pain in her stomach flared again, forcing her to grip the desk for support. Her gaze landed on the employee badge on her desk.

She picked it up and wrapped the lanyard around it.

"Bluum Corp may not keep useless employees, but I'm not the right person for this job." Her voice was calm as she placed the badge back on the table. "I resign."

She had submitted her resignation after she had printed out the divorce papers last night.

Maybe the paperwork hadn't reached Jayson yet. But Ariel wasn't going to handle this matter, not today, not ever.

"Don't come to me for anything regarding Nancy from now on. Please have Mr. Larkin assign someone else. Bluum Corp is big enough. I'm sure it can manage without me."

For a split second, Colton was stunned.

Ariel was resigning? Was she really willing to walk away from the only job that kept her close to Jayson? Or was this just another tactic to make him chase after her?

Colton turned and headed back to the top floor.

Jayson's schedule was packed. He was about to meet with Mason Fletcher, CEO of Stratos Technologies.

"Mr. Larkin, here's the Stratos contract for your review."

Jayson skimmed the document. "How's the PR department handling the Nancy situation?"

Colton hesitated. "Ms. Walker… she…"

"Speak."

"Ms. Walker said she can't handle this matter. She submitted her resignation. Said not to come to her with anything regarding Ms. Stanton from now on."

Jayson's hand paused mid-page as he flipped through the contract. He looked up, his deep eyes devoid of warmth.

"She came in today to submit it?"

"No, she was actually on leave today. I called her in. HR said she submitted her resignation yesterday."

"On leave?" Jayson didn't ask about the resignation, but he asked about the leave.

Colton had no idea what Jayson was thinking. "Must've been something important. She hasn't taken a single day off in three years."

Jayson knew that.

Ariel always seemed distant, like she kept people at arm's length. But when it came to work, she was meticulous, sharp, and relentless.

That was why she had climbed to the position of PR manager in less than two years.

If she had taken leave and was resigning, then something was definitely off.

Jayson lowered his gaze, lost in thought.

A moment later, his expression turned ice-cold, and he abruptly stood up.

"Approve her resignation after she takes care of the Nancy situation. If she can't handle it, let her consider the consequences when word gets out."

Colton was caught off guard.

Jayson should've been glad to see Ariel leave Bluum Corp. So why wasn't he letting her go?

It didn't make sense.

"By the way, Mr. Larkin, I have a file from Ms. Walker."

Jayson's phone rang. Without looking up, he waved a hand dismissively. "Handle it like the rest."

And that meant ignoring it.

Over the years, Ariel had sent plenty of things—clothes, ties, cufflinks, and handmade gifts. She had even handcrafted a drone model to match Bluum Corp's latest tech project.

But Jayson had never so much as glanced at any of it. They all sat untouched in one of his office cabinets, gathering dust.

Only when he was in a hurry and needed something did they ever get used.

Colton, unfazed, tossed the unopened file into the cabinet. He thought that all of Ariel's scheming was just a complete waste of effort.