I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra and Steven) novel Chapter 239

“Zephyra.”

I lifted my eyelids and looked up at Jonas, then set my phone aside and tore open a pack of crackers.

“Weren’t you just trying to draw a line between us, Jonas? Why are you coming over to talk to me now?”

He remained standing in front of me, a troubled expression on his face. “What I said back there… I’m sure it hurt you, and I’m sorry. But Zephyra, I really, really need a break. Before I graduated, it was fine to be unsuccessful. I was just a student with little experience, and my parents supported me. But now I’m out of school, and my family is expecting me to earn a living.”

He continued, his voice strained, “I haven’t had any luck. My parents say I’m just not cut out for this field and that I should become a delivery driver or a security guard. I’m an honors graduate—how can I be a security guard? The pay wouldn’t even cover my monthly expenses. So… I’m sorry.”

I listened without expression, crunching on a cracker. “It’s fine. Everyone has their own path. It’s perfectly normal for you to want to suck up to Linda. I won’t get in your way.”

Jonas’s eyes darkened slightly. “I heard from her that you’re not having a great time at the company. That you’re ostracized by your colleagues and that your skills have gotten rusty, yet you still act so high and mighty. She said you even lost your invitation to the competition today—completely unprofessional—and had to rely on a colleague to get you in. Linda really can’t stand you.”

Damn that woman and her pack of lies.

“And it sounds like you believe I’m that incompetent,” I said, fighting the urge to swear. I narrowed my eyes. “Fine. What do you want to say?”

Jonas didn’t hold back. His tone was sharp. “I’m saying you’ve been out of the game. You don’t understand the industry anymore. You probably don’t even know what colors are trending, let alone how to design on the spot. Everyone competing here is a top talent. The only thing you’ll accomplish by going up there is embarrassing yourself.”

A laugh escaped my lips as I bit down hard on my cracker. “We haven’t seen each other in years. You have no idea what I’m capable of now. Maybe I won’t be the one getting embarrassed.”

Jonas’s face tensed. “Why aren’t you getting it? Do I have to spell it out for you?” he snapped. “I know you’re good, but there are people better than you. Linda is the person Mr. Taylor wanted as his final protégé years ago. Her skills are undeniable. She just told me she’s determined to secure that spot today. With that in the mix, none of us stand a chance of winning against her.”

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