Chapter 97: You are not qualified to work here.
At the Novacrest Global...
"And that concludes my presentation," Elena said, closing the final slide. "Thank you, everyone."
The executives around the conference table exchanged approving looks.
"This project looks very promising," one of the directors remarked. "I think we should approve it. What do you all think?"
He turned to the man beside him.
The man nodded. "I agree. The project has great potential."
"So do I," another executive chimed in. "The market analysis is solid. We should move forward as soon as possible."
A smile appeared on Elena’s face. Everything seemed to be going exactly as planned.
"Thank you," she said sincerely. "If the project is approved, I promise my team and I will give it our absolute best."
The directors exchanged another glance before the senior-most director spoke.
"Let’s hope for the best. We’ll inform you of our final decision soon."
The meeting came to an end.
One by one, the executives rose from their seats and left the conference room.
Elena gathered her documents and stepped into the corridor.
Just then, she spotted Noah and Tessa approaching from the opposite direction.
She paused.
"Elena!" Tessa smiled brightly as she walked toward her. "What are you doing here?"
A look of realization crossed her face. "Oh, are you here for an interview?" Her tone carried a hint of amusement.
Interview?
Elena frowned. Then she remembered the walk-in interview poster displayed near the entrance.
’So that’s what she thinks.’
She almost laughed.
"Oh, come on, Elena," Tessa said with a patronizing smile. "This is one of the top companies in the country. Getting a job here isn’t easy."
She crossed her arms. "Why don’t you come back to the Sinclair Group instead?"
Elena tilted her head. "You want me to work as your assistant?"
Tessa immediately put on an aggrieved expression. She turned to Noah.
"I was only trying to help her." Her voice sounded innocent. "She worked at the Sinclair Group for years. Now she is looking for a new job, so I wanted to give her an opportunity. Why is she so mean to me?"
She sighed dramatically. "If she doesn’t want to work with me, I can resign."
Elena rolled her eyes. She was already tired of Tessa’s act.
"I have no intention of going back," she said flatly. "I’m doing just fine."
Noah’s expression darkened.
Fine? How could she be fine without him?
He had once been the center of her world. Everything in her life had revolved around him. Yet now she acted as though he meant nothing.
The thought irritated him.
Without warning, he stepped forward and grabbed her arm.
"Stop making a scene here," he hissed. "Come with me."
He dragged her down the corridor.
"Let go of me." Elena yanked her arm free.
Noah glared at her.
Elena instinctively stepped back, clutching the file tightly against her chest.
"You’d rather humiliate yourself here than come back to me?" He shook his head. "Do you even understand what kind of company this is?"
His voice grew sharper. "This is one of the top companies in the country. They only hire highly qualified professionals."
His eyes swept over her. "You are just a graduate with a few years of experience. You are not qualified to work here."
Elena stared at him silently. Noah had not changed at all. He was as arrogant as before. And he still thought that she was not worthy, that she couldn’t do anything on her own.
"Come back to me," he continued. "Your position at the Sinclair Group is always waiting for you. You can have whatever role you want."
Elena let out a soft laugh. "You can’t give me the position I want, Mr. Sinclair. I resigned from your company. There is no chance I’ll ever return."
"Elena, what is wrong with you?" Frustration burst from Noah.
He shoved her against the wall. "You need a job, and I can give you one. Why are you being so difficult?"
"Really?" Elena pushed him away. "Can you not understand one simple thing?"
She stepped closer and met his gaze directly. "I don’t want anything from you."
The words hit Noah hard. The vein in his temple throbbed violently.
"All these years, I gave you everything," he snapped. "I protected you. I gave you a job when you had no experience. Do you know how difficult it is to get into the Sinclair Group?"
His voice rose. "But everything was handed to you because you were family. I helped build your career. And now you are telling me you don’t need me?"
He grabbed her shoulders. His fingers dug painfully into her skin.
"Elena, we’ve spent years together. How can you say you don’t need me anymore? Without me, you are nothing."
A dull ache spread through Elena’s chest. That was what he thought about her.
In his eyes, she was nothing but someone who lived at his mercy.
"Yes," she said quietly. "I needed you back then. I depended on you for almost everything."
Her voice remained calm, but every word carried weight. "Your family raised me. They gave me opportunities I never would have had as an orphan. And in return, I gave everything I had."
Her fingers clutched the file tightly. "My loyalty. My trust. My love. I devoted myself to you and your family."
Her voice turned heavy with emotion. "But you destroyed me."
Noah’s hands immediately fell away from her shoulders. An uneasy feeling settled in his chest.
"You almost killed me."
His face went pale. The memory struck him mercilessly. He instinctively stepped back.
"And yet you still expect me to be grateful?" Her eyes glistened. "You expect me to wag my tail like an obedient dog and follow you wherever you go? That Elena is already dead. You killed her with your own hands."
"No." Noah shook his head desperately. "Don’t say that."
He reached for her hands. "I know I was wrong. I admit it."
For the first time, genuine desperation appeared in his eyes. "Tell me what I can do to make things right."
His grip tightened. "Tell me what you want."
"Stay away from me," Elena answered without hesitation. "Don’t appear in front of me again."
Noah’s stomach dropped. Of all the things she could have asked for, this was the only thing he couldn’t give.
"No... I can’t do that. Ask for anything else."
His eyes pleaded with her. "If you want, I’d even sacrifice my life for you."
The words escaped him before he could stop them.
"Save it," Elena replied coldly. "I don’t need your sacrifice."
She pulled her hands free. "Just stay away from me."
She turned and walked away without looking back.
"Elena." Noah immediately started after her.
"Noah." Tessa quickly grabbed his arm. "Don’t go after her. We still have a meeting."
Noah clenched his fists. Every instinct urged him to chase after Elena.
Tessa ground her teeth when she saw his hesitation. Even though Elena no longer cared about him, he was still clinging to her. He wouldn’t stop wanting her back.
But Tessa wouldn’t let them reunite.
"The meeting is important," Tessa reminded him. "The contract has to be signed today. If we are late, we could lose the opportunity."
Her expression turned serious. "Are you really willing to throw away everything for her?"
Noah froze. The words struck a nerve. His father was already furious about losing the Zenith Core deal.
The company still hadn’t recovered from the financial setback. The Novacrest Global contract was critical. It could change everything.
He couldn’t afford another mistake. Slowly, he exhaled and forced himself to calm down.
Tessa smiled with satisfaction. ’Elena. You will never return to him. I won’t allow it.’