Chapter: 404

“Mr. Bates..."

"You too." Jonathan's tone was firm and final.

Incompetence had no place in Bates Group.

With those words, Jonathan strode into the elevator. Upon reaching his office floor, he noticed his assistant intercepting someone.

It was unmistakably Maddie from the back.

“Mr. Bates," his assistant greeted, bowing his head deferentially.

At the sound of his name, Maddie spun around, her high heels clicking against the polished floor as she strode towards Jonathan.

“What's the meaning of this? Your father summoned me back to help Bates Group, yet you haven't even prepared an office for me?"

"You'll need to go through proper channels—the personnel department. Once approved, you'll be assigned a position," Jonathan replied, not breaking his stride as he headed towards his office.

Maddie's words tumbled out in a rush, desperation tingeing her voice.

“Jonathan, it was your father who specifically asked for my return to assist you. Call him if you need confirmation."

“I don't have time for this," Jonathan replied, his tone clipped.

Maddie hadn't anticipated being shut out multiple times upon her return. Nikolas hadn't answered her calls, and now Jonathan was stonewalling her attempts to rejoin the company.

Seeing Jonathan about to enter his office, she quickly blocked the door with her arm.

“Wait! Jonathan, we've known each other since we were kids. When did you become so heartless?" They hadn't seen each other since Bethany left; Maddie had accompanied Jonathan's parents abroad and had never contacted Jonathan privately. As soon as she came back, his demeanor remained icy.

Finally, Jonathan glanced up at her, his gaze cold and unyielding.

"Move aside."

Panic fluttered in Maddie's chest. This reunion was turning into a nightmare. “It was Bethany who wanted the divorce. How can you blame me for that?"

At the mention of Bethany's name, Jonathan's brow furrowed, but only for a heartbeat before his mask of indifference slipped back into place.

“Move," he repeated, his patience wearing thin.

"Jonathan, you're getting married, aren't you? Look, I'm not here to interfere. I genuinely want to help Bates Group. I have no ulterior motives. Your father told me about the legal department's recent blunders-contracts with glaring loopholes, costing the company dearly. I built that department from the ground up. I can't stand by and watch it crumble under incompetent hands!"

In terms of business acumen, Maddie was unparalleled.

Under her leadership, the legal department had been a fortress, a fact Jonathan begrudgingly acknowledged.

But that didn't mean he welcomed her sudden reappearance in his life.