He Said My Money Stank, So I Let His Career Stink Without It Chapter 02

He Said My Money Stank, So I Let His Career Stink Without It Chapter 02

“I got where I am because of my own ability. Do you think I relied on favors? That kind of woman is exactly what I hate most. Compared with her, Lily is much simpler.”

“I used that OR on purpose. I wanted Evelyn to understand that the kind of woman worth making an exception for, the kind of woman I could actually like, is someone innocent and clean. Not someone who lives in money-and-status games.”

The hospital president sighed and said nothing more.

I leaned against the railing and looked out at the dark night sky, Nathaniel’s words echoing in my head.

Then a voice behind me interrupted my thoughts.

“Ms. Hart?”

I turned around.

Adrian stood just outside the balcony, his gaze intent and unexpectedly bright.

“I wanted to thank you.”

I could tell from his voice that he was nervous.

“Thank you for being willing to support me.”

That pulled a faint reaction from me.

“Thank me? You should know that if it weren’t for me, Nathaniel wouldn’t have been able to suppress you so badly these past five years. I didn’t do it myself, but I never stopped him either.”

He was caught off guard for a moment, then shook his head.

“I know what Dr. Blake is like. I’m not going to blame other people for his behavior.”

Then he met my eyes again, and the nervousness in them was gone.

“Besides, isn’t there an opportunity right in front of me now? One that lets me get justice for myself?”

This time, the amusement in me turned genuine.

I liked dealing with smart people.

“There’s an internal seminar after the gala. Come with me.”

He went still.

“I don’t have the seniority.”

“That doesn’t matter,” I cut in. “I happen to be announcing something. After that, no one will think you’re unqualified.”

He looked at me for a long moment, then smiled and raised his glass to me.

Adrian and I had just clinked glasses. Before the rim even touched my lips, the wine in my hand was knocked clean out of my hand.

I looked up and met Nathaniel’s furious eyes.

Behind him stood Lily, who had just caught up. The two of them stood side by side in coordinated formalwear.

My gaze landed on the brooch pinned to Lily’s dress, and my eyes narrowed.

Last month, Nathaniel had gone to France for a conference and bought that brooch at auction.

I had seen it in the catalog.

He had paid for it with the black card I had given him under the name of a research contingency fund.

But the truth was, we both knew that card had never really been for research.

Ever since he accepted it, he had used it to buy his parents a new house in his hometown and himself a new car. Not once had he bought anything related to his research.

When I learned that he had bought the brooch, I had always thought he was planning to give it to me.

I never imagined it would end up on another woman.

My gaze cooled.

Nathaniel still had my wrist in his grip, so he noticed my reaction immediately. Then he spoke as if he had suddenly figured everything out.

“You knew I gave the brooch to Lily, didn’t you? That’s why you deliberately approached Adrian to make me jealous.”

I was stunned for a second.

So he still did not know I had already shut down his projects?

Before I could think too much about it, he lowered his voice, anger pressing through every word.

“You promised me full control over staffing for my project team. I don’t care what your motive is. I will never let him join my team.”

“Evelyn, I know what you’re trying to do, but I’m warning you, don’t use this kind of tactic. It will only make me hate you more.”

Although we were standing some distance from the crowd, the commotion still drew a few eyes.

People began sneaking glances in our direction.

Then Lily suddenly raised her voice, her tone deliberately dramatic.

“Ms. Hart, even if you don’t understand medicine or care about research, you still can’t use research funding as a bargaining chip to chase a man, can you?”

“Dr. Blake has integrity. He refuses to bow to pressure, so you went to his rival instead and used your power to force him to accept someone he looks down on.”

“He only cares about academics. Why do you have to force him into a corner like this?”

Plenty of people had already been watching us. Once Lily made a scene, everyone instinctively gathered closer.

For the past few years, to protect Nathaniel’s pride, I had rarely appeared with him in public.