The Storm Came Before You

After the weekend, Yara went to the office on Monday as usual.

She took care of her work and went to inform Marcus that a meeting was about to start.

When she reached his office, she saw Quiana through the slightly open door.

Quiana was sitting in Marcus’s lap and feeding him a cookie she had eaten half of.

The normally germophobic man smiled as he took a bite. He kissed her fingers gently and said in a soft voice, “You said yesterday you wanted to try this place’s desserts. I waited in line for three hours this morning to get them. How is it?”

“They taste great, just like before. They’re just as sweet, but not too rich. You used to run all over town to get these for me. Now that you’re the CEO of the company, why do you still do it yourself? You could have a secretary handle it.”

Marcus rubbed her ankle lightly. His eyes were full of affection. “When it comes to you, I want to do everything myself. I don’t want anyone else involved.”

Quiana smiled happily. She hugged him and kissed him.

He held her in return and deepened the kiss. He was completely absorbed.

Yara felt her breath catch. A sharp ache spread through her chest.

She clenched her hands tightly. Her knuckles turned white, and her palms burned.

Time passed slowly. The meeting was about to start.

Yara calmed herself and knocked on the door.

“Mr. Quinn, the meeting is about to start.”

Marcus paused when he heard her voice. He was about to stand up, but Quiana pulled him back.

“I don’t want you to leave. Stay with me a little longer.”

Seeing her act so sweetly, Marcus’s heart melted.

“Postpone the meeting for two hours.”

This meeting involved a project with several of Jadewood’s largest corporations. It was crucial for the company’s future.

Yara knew how important it was, so she reminded him.

“The CEOs from Lane Corp, Gaber Corp, and Smith Corp are already waiting in the conference room.”

“Oh, Marcus, your secretary is so annoying. She really has no sense!”

Hearing Quiana complain, Marcus’s face turned cold.

“I said postpone it for two hours! Nothing is more important than Quiana!”

Yara felt a heavy weight in her chest, and she struggled to breathe.

In the end, she closed the door and turned away.

Everyone in their circle knew Marcus was a workaholic.

No matter how busy his personal life was, even after surgery, he always finished his work.

It was the first time he had risked offending business partners just to indulge a little coaxing and postpone such an important meeting.

Did he really like Quiana that much?

Yara lowered her sad eyes and forced herself to calm down. She walked into the conference room to apologize to the board.

The Quinn family was powerful. The CEOs had complaints but dared not confront Marcus. They took out their anger on her instead.

She did not argue. She kept her head down and endured the scolding.

Two hours later, Marcus finally arrived.

Yara dragged her sore, numb legs out of the conference room. Quiana stopped her.

“So, you’re Yara Summers? Marcus says you make great coffee. Everyone in the office looks tired. Go make a cup for each of them. Mine with ice, no sugar.”

Yara knew Quiana was only giving orders because Marcus indulged her. She did not dare turn down her request. She went to the break room.

It took her two hours to make over four hundred cups of coffee. She carried them out one by one.

Quiana barely took a sip before her expression changed. She lifted her cup and smashed it at Yara.

The hard mug hit Yara’s forehead and cut a deep gash.

She groaned softly, and her face scrunched up in pain. She held her wound and fell to the floor.

Quiana was not finished. She grabbed more cups and threw them at Yara over and over.

Yara’s body was covered in bruises. Broken ceramic cut her in many places.

Brown coffee soaked her completely and mixed with her blood as it dripped onto the floor.

It hurt her, but she could only curl up to protect her head and chest.

The office was silent. No one dared step forward. Everyone stayed far away and watched Quiana throw her tantrum.

The noise soon drew Marcus out.

He saw the messy scene and Yara lying on the floor, battered and bleeding. His brow tightened.

“What happened?”

Seeing him, Quiana immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Marcus, I asked your secretary to make me a coffee. I was not feeling well, and she put ice in it. My stomach hurts so much.”

Marcus’s face darkened as he looked at her teary eyes.

“You’ve worked with me for four years and can’t even do this right? Or are you deliberately making things difficult for Quiana because you don’t like her?”

Yara lifted her pale, battered face. She wanted to explain herself, but he did not give her a chance. He called his assistant.

“Yara has broken company rules. Deduct this month’s salary and quarterly bonus. Announce it to the entire company. She will be reviewed at next week’s meeting.”

After saying that, Marcus took off his coat, picked up Quiana, and left.