Love, Lies, and Mermaids

Chapter 7 Fall Out With Eric

At the crack of dawn, Lizzy's internal clock woke her up.

After getting cleaned up and slipping into her business suit, she reached for the door handle. Just then, she remembered she'd been fired by Eric just days ago.

Glancing at the wall clock, she found it was 5:35 AM.

That was way too early. Her body was accustomed to the rhythm of her secretary days—rising at dawn, meticulously organizing Eric's schedule down to the minute, and always keeping pace with him.

Now, with nothing on her plate, Lizzy thought of her sister's old hoodie, the cuffs frayed from nearly a decade of wear.

She drove to the city's biggest mall, aimlessly wandering the glitzy stores, splurging without a second glance at price tags—a far cry from her usual penny-pinching self.

Just then, a big group marched through the mall doors.

Eric was at the helm, looking every inch the boss in his tailored suit. His presence screamed authority and power.

"Lisa, notify all department heads at the mall about the emergency meeting on the acquisition at 9 AM."

"Got it."

"And the letter accusing Locke of unfair competition, did it reach Senator Coulson?"

"Sorry, Mr. Austen. I missed it in yesterday's rush."

"I don't want excuses, I want results. Can't cut it, then get out."

A stunning woman linked arms with him, whispering something that smoothed his stern expression.

That was Emilie, exuding a unique elegance in her high-neck black silk blouse and sleek high-waisted pants.

Lizzy glanced down at her own outfit—a faded T-shirt under a baseball cap and worn-out jeans. She felt even more out of place next to their radiance.

"Just my luck," Lizzy complained.

She remembered this mall was owned by Austen Group. She thought about hiding to avoid being spotted by Eric, but then she snapped out of it.

'Why should I hide? That'd just show weakness to Eric.'

She wasn't the old Lizzy anymore. She couldn't let him dictate her life like her internal clock.

"Look who's here? A shameless b***h! A scam artist who tried to fleece Mr. Austen still got the nerve to show up?"

The shrill accusation came from Lisa, her sharp, aging cheekbones making her look all the more spiteful.

Lizzy shot Lisa a disdainful glance and said, "If you have issues with my departure, take it to court. But if you're slandering me, I'll hold you personally accountable."

"You!" Lisa raised her hand to slap Lizzy, but Lizzy caught her wrist with lightning reflexes and jerked it away.

Then, a loud slap caught Eric's attention.

Turning around, Eric caught Lizzy's gaze and arched his eyebrows, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

Ignoring the others, he strode over to Lizzy, his piercing blue eyes locked on hers.

He reached out and tilted her chin up to face him.

"Are you stalking me? Running low on cash and hoping to crawl back, isn't it?"

From behind, Emilie's voice cut through. "Eric, this is a public place." Her tone was crisp and poised, stopping him in his tracks.

Annoyance flashed across Eric's face, and he let go of Lizzy's chin and dismissively tossed her aside. He declared in a haughty tone, "Too bad, Lizzy. I never recycle trash."

Lizzy clenched her fists and faced him with her chest out.

She retorted, "Mr. Austen, I have no taste for second-hand men either. What a delight to find we agree on something."

The smile on Eric's face vanished as he surveyed Lizzy with a sneer. He then pulled a stack of cash from his wallet and flung it at her.

Watching the bills fluttered around her like snowflakes, Eric taunted, "Same rule; pick it up, and it's yours."

Lizzy sneered back while pulling out her own wallet and slapping a hundred-dollar bill on Eric's chest.

"Eric, I bet the tabloids would love to know the size of Austen Group's CEO. After all, you can't just drop your pants in public to prove how big you are, right?"

In an instant, Eric's face twisted in rage.

"You're threatening me, huh?"

"That's just a friendly reminder," she retorted with a challenging smile.

Eric lunged forward, seized her wrist, and pulled her close, his voice a menacing growl. "Listen, I have countless ways to make you disappear without a trace."

Lizzy defiantly lifted her chin to meet his fierce gaze. "Go ahead then, great Mr. Austen. Why not make your move now? Are you scared without your dad's orders?"

Her words ignited Eric completely. His veins bulged on his hand as anger nearly roared through his teeth. "You're just a money-grubbing w***e with no morals! You've no right to talk big in front of me."

"Eric, why do you think women get close to you? Without money, who'd endure being at your beck and call 24/7 and your beastly desires? It's been eight years; I've had enough of everything about you, including those ridiculously stupid pink underwear!"

"Liar! You clearly..." Eric twisted Lizzy's hand and was about to argue with her when a delicate hand grasped his wrist and pulled him back. Emilie gently straightened his disheveled tie and softly advised, "Eric, always maintain your gentlemanly demeanor. Let's go; the meeting is starting."

Emilie's soothing touch restored Eric's usual composure, and he shot Lizzy a glare before silently turning away.

Yet his retreating figure hinted at fleeing.

Emilie sized up Lizzy with a knowing smile. "Lizzy, let's have coffee sometime." With that, she gracefully departed, retaining her noble elegance.

Meanwhile, Lisa glared hatefully at Lizzy. Her cheek was burning from the slap, and her boss' ambiguous attitude left her unwilling to confront Lizzy again. She could only turn and follow her boss' strides.

Lizzy watched their backs and took a heavy sigh of relief.

This time, she had truly fallen out with Eric, and now she'd brace to endure his storm of retaliation! Just relying on scandals and dirt on Eric wasn't enough to take on his power. She wasn't arrogant enough to think she could bring down him on her own.

In the past, she was an ant living in Achilles' shadow. Now, she aimed to be the queen, to organize an army of ants and nip at Achilles' heel.

Who would be her first ally?

A figure floated into Lizzy's mind.