Forbidden Passion
Chapter 526 Who Do You Think You Are

Phoebe was in a daze when she suddenly heard a dull thud from outside, like the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. She woke up with a start.

There were faint sounds of an argument outside. Phoebe quickly sat up, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. The room wasn't cold, but she shivered instinctively. She put on her shoes, grabbed the suit hanging on the coat rack, and quickly walked to the door.

Phoebe didn't open the door to go out but instead pressed her ear against it to eavesdrop on the commotion outside. She seemed to hear Donovan's voice.

Donovan yelled, "Theodore, you said you wanted me to manage a company, but you just made me a figurehead with no real power. When something goes wrong, you push the blame onto me and make me take responsibility." Hearing this, Phoebe's heart sank. She yanked the door open and rushed out.

She walked up to Donovan in a few steps and asked, "Donovan, what happened with the subsidiary?"

Seeing Phoebe come out of the lounge, Donovan guessed she had overheard their conversation. He didn't bother to hide his anger. "Ask him; his intent in assigning me to manage that company was entirely malevolent." Theodore didn't defend himself. He quietly watched Phoebe, curious to see how she would handle the situation.

Phoebe frowned. "Donovan, explain yourself clearly. You're making baseless accusations. How can I believe you?"

Donovan replied, "Fine. The company Theodore gave me was a mess. I was appointed as the general manager position, eager to make significant changes, but no one listened to me. To them, I was just someone with a connection to Theodore, or worse, a fool being sidelined. Now the company is being audited, and they've found nearly a hundred million dollars in tax discrepancies."

"A hundred million dollars in discrepancies?" Phoebe was stunned, her mind going blank.

"Yes. Now I have to make up for it within half a month, or they'll throw me in jail. I just confronted Theodore, but he denied everything." Donovan's eyes were burning with anger.

Donovan felt both furious and wronged. He had wanted to achieve something significant and live a respectable life, but things had gone awry.

How ridiculous it was!

He actually believed Theodore would help him.

Phoebe turned to Theodore, asking in disbelief, "Mr. Reynolds, is what Donovan said true?"

Theodore replied, "The company was still profitable when I handed it over to Donovan. As for why there's a hundred million dollar discrepancy after three months of his management, Donovan knows best." "You're slandering me!" Donovan was furious, ready to roll up his sleeves and punch Theodore.

Theodore remained unmoved, his deep eyes fixed on Donovan, not giving him a chance to speak further. He pressed a button on the phone and instructed Carol, "Send the security up."

The security guards arrived quickly, all tall and burly. As soon as they entered, they forcefully pushed Donovan's back, ready to throw him out.

"Mr. Reynolds!" Phoebe exclaimed in shock.

Theodore sat coldly in his executive chair, not stopping the security guards' rough actions.

Donovan was held down by the security guards. Unable to break free, his anger flared up. He turned and punched one of the guards in the face.

The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed, startling the guards. They had never seen anyone dare to act out in front of Theodore. It took them few minutes to react before they all rushed at Donovan.

Donovan was immediately surrounded by seven or eight guards. Using his brute strength, he managed to knock down several of them.

Phoebe watched the chaos, wanting to help Donovan, but Theodore grabbed her arm tightly, preventing her from moving.

Phoebe demanded, "Theodore, make them stop."

Seeing Donovan being pinned to the ground by a group of security guards, his face down and his hands twisted behind his back, Phoebe felt a chill in her heart.

"Theodore, you bastard," Donovan cursed viciously.

Theodore narrowed his eyes, a hint of impatience on his handsome face. "Donovan, either make up for the discrepancy or go to jail. Your choice."

Phoebe looked at Theodore in disbelief, her heart growing cold.

Donovan was truly desperate, he lost his sense of proportion and spoke recklessly, "Why don't you just kill me?"

Theodore looked at Donovan without speaking.

Phoebe stared at Theodore's stern face, unsure of what he was thinking, but her heart grew colder. "Theodore, Donovan has been working tirelessly, sometimes even staying at the company. He deserves some credit for his hard work." Theodore spoke, "Phoebe, that's my private asset. I could've let it slide, but I have to give an explanation to all the employees in the company." Phoebe replied, "But..."

Theodore interrupted, "Donovan is very driven in his work, but he tends to focus on immediate goals without considering the long-term consequences. I'm giving him a lesson. If he can't solve this problem, he'll have to go to jail." Hearing Theodore speak so lightly, Phoebe felt utterly hopeless.

Donovan, hearing Theodore's resolute tone, turned to Phoebe and said, "Phoebe, stay out of this. Theodore, I have no money, but give me a project. I'll build the team and find the connections myself. If I can't make enough to cover the discrepancy, I'll go to jail without a word."

"You're showing some responsibility." Theodore's expression finally softened. He signaled the security guards with his eyes. "Let him go."

Donovan got up from the ground, straightened his wrinkled clothes, and stood tall again. "Give me a project."

Theodore smiled, picked up a document from his desk, and threw it in front of Donovan. "This is the proposal with Milton. Take it and negotiate. Whatever profit you make is yours."

Donovan flipped through a few pages of the document and immediately saw the potential of the project. He was overjoyed but didn't show it. "Give me a month, but you have to cover the company's discrepancy first."

"Half a month. If you negotiate the deal, I'll cover the discrepancy. If not, you'll have to cover it yourself," Theodore said calmly.

Donovan was stunned. Even with his confidence, Theodore's demand was a bit unrealistic.

Reluctantly, he agreed, "Fine, I'll do it."

Theodore's smile deepened. "Donovan, I'll be waiting for your good news."

Donovan glared at Theodore, took the proposal, and walked out. His arrogant voice echoed from afar, "If you weren't a Reynolds, you'd be nothing. Don't let me catch you."

The employees inside and outside the office were so shocked by Donovan's words that they wished they were deaf.