Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 14 Summary
In Chapter 14 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” the tension between Marina and Shawna escalates during a meeting at the Ross Group. Marina’s icy demeanor is evident as she criticizes Shawna for a minor mistake of spilling coffee, suggesting that they should fire her. Shawna, visibly shaken and on the verge of tears, tries to apologize while desperately picking up the broken pieces of the cup, symbolizing her fragility and vulnerability. Lavern, caught in the middle, hesitates to support Marina’s harsh stance, reminding her of the welcoming environment they aimed to create at the company.
As the confrontation intensifies, Lavern confronts Marina about her cruelty, emphasizing that Shawna’s mistake should not warrant such a severe consequence. Marina, however, remains unfazed, even mocking Lavern’s concern for Shawna and threatening to expose her embarrassing behavior during a meeting. Shawna’s emotional plea for mercy reveals the weight of her struggles, as she shares her financial burdens and begs to keep her job. This moment highlights the stark contrast between Shawna’s desperation and Marina’s cold indifference.
Despite Lavern’s attempts to offer comfort to Shawna, Marina’s dismissive attitude prevails, leading to a moment where Lavern, feeling the pressure, suggests they should let Shawna go. Shawna’s shock and despair are palpable, and as she realizes the gravity of her situation, the tension in the room thickens. Marina’s continued mockery only deepens the emotional turmoil, leaving Lavern feeling guilty and conflicted about the harsh decisions being made.
The chapter culminates in a chaotic scene where Marina, overwhelmed by her emotions, takes out her frustration on the office, swinging a golf club and creating disarray. This destructive act serves as a release for her pent-up feelings but also alienates Lavern, who watches helplessly. As the dust settles, Lavern confronts Marina about her self-destructive behavior, revealing the complexity of their relationship, where love, frustration, and guilt intertwine. The chapter ends with a sense of unresolved tension, as both characters grapple with their emotions and the consequences of their actions.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 14**
Marina’s icy stare swept across Shawna’s sharp, aggrieved little face, her voice dripping with a languid sarcasm. “You managed to mess up something as simple as pouring coffee. At this rate, we might as well just let her go, don’t you think?”
In an instant, Shawna’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears, her vulnerability threatening to spill over.
Lavern’s brow furrowed, a momentary hesitation holding him back from immediately siding with Marina.
Marina’s lips curled into a slight smirk, her frosty gaze sliding sideways to Lavern, who sat beside her. “What’s the matter? Can’t bear the thought of losing her?”
Frustration simmered just beneath the surface of Lavern’s composed demeanor, his voice deep and flat, revealing none of the emotions roiling within him.
“Marina,” he said, his tone steady yet firm, “remember how you envisioned the Ross Group as a welcoming and supportive environment? If we start firing people over a minor mistake like this, the entire team will be tiptoeing around, paranoid about every little thing they do.”
He was tossing her own words back at her, a deliberate challenge.
Marina locked her gaze onto his, her expression completely detached, as if she were an observer in this unfolding drama. “Didn’t you just say you’d cut her loose at the first sign of my unhappiness? Well, consider me very unhappy.”
Silence enveloped them, Lavern’s brows knitted tightly together as he stared back at her, annoyance flickering in his eyes, a storm brewing behind his calm exterior.
Marina maintained her gaze, a sly smile dancing in her eyes, her resolve unyielding.
The conference room was thick with tension, the air heavy and oppressive.
Shawna’s soft sniffles shattered the silence as she murmured, “I’m so sorry, Marina. I messed up. I’ll clean this up right away. Please, don’t fire me.”
As she spoke, she crouched down, desperately trying to gather the shards of the broken coffee cup. A sharp piece grazed her finger, drawing a bead of blood that glistened like a tiny, painful gem.
She didn’t dare look to Lavern for support, her head bowed as she continued to pick up the pieces with her injured hand, letting out occasional whimpers, much like a fragile flower battered by a relentless storm, struggling to hold on.
Marina’s attention shifted to Lavern, who sat beside her, his eyes a tempest of barely contained anger and control.
“Marina! Do you really have to be so cruel? She didn’t commit a capital offense, and you’re ready to toss her aside without a second thought? This is Ross Group, not some playground; I won’t let you throw a tantrum and turn everything upside down!”
Marina regarded his outburst with a subtle smirk, her eyes devoid of rage, as if she were merely an amused spectator at a captivating performance.
“Do you want me to remind you about the cameras in this room? Should I cue up the footage and show everyone what she was doing under the table during a serious meeting?”
Lavern’s expression faltered, his resolve crumbling in an instant.
Shawna clutched the jagged pieces of the cup, her tears abruptly ceasing, replaced by a chilling silence.
Marina let out a light chuckle, laced with mockery. “Or does Mr. Ross secretly thrive on that kind of thrill?”
Shawna’s face flushed a deep crimson as she scrambled to take full responsibility. “Marina, it’s all my fault; I got carried away. I just…”
Lavern, likely feeling the weight of the moment, squeezed his eyes shut for a brief second and interjected, “I think it’s best to let her go now.”
Shawna’s face fell, her expression a mix of shock and despair, tears pooling rapidly in her eyes.
Lavern avoided her gaze, his own filled with turmoil. “So, you’re good now? Not angry anymore?”
Marina, feeling a wave of boredom wash over her, was about to leave when Shawna’s desperate voice reached her ears.
“Marina, please don’t fire me. My family is struggling; they burn through medications every month. And I have student loans looming over me, the repayments take a huge chunk out of my budget every time.”
“Please, let me keep my position at Ross Group. I promise, I’ll never slip up like this again.”
Her tears flowed freely now, a stark contrast to the confident provocateur she had been just days ago.
Out of the corner of her eye, Marina noticed Lavern’s hand clenching into a fist at his side. His expression was impassive, but she could sense the turmoil within him, the ache he felt for Shawna’s plight.
Realizing she was being scrutinized, Lavern attempted to maintain his composure, reaching out to offer her comfort. “Let me take you home?”
Marina shook her head, her voice firm. “No, thank you.”
She brushed his hand away and strode out of the conference room, leaving Shawna behind.
Shawna called after her, “Marina…”
Marina paused, a smile creeping onto her lips. “Ms. Thornton, that little performance was a bit over the top. With your body clearly not up for work, why not lean into being a pampered little bird in its cage?”
Her sharp words made Lavern stiffen beside her.
Shawna immediately lowered her gaze, silence enveloping her.
Lavern’s expression froze, guilt flickering across his features. “Marina…”
“Marina…” He couldn’t help but call out again, desperation creeping into his voice.
Marina smiled, her eyes drifting to the back of Shawna’s hand, now red from the burn. “Look, your hand is bright red. It’s only going to get worse; what work could you possibly handle right now?”
Her softer tone seemed to ease some of Lavern’s tension. He instinctively moved closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and murmuring, “I’ll cancel everything today, just to be with you.”
Marina didn’t respond. She glanced back and saw Shawna slumped on the floor, her face ashen, shooting her a resentful glare.
Lavern tightened his grip on her waist slightly, concerned that she might lash out at Shawna again.
Marina brushed his hand off and marched straight toward her office door, pausing at the entrance to signal for him to open it.
Lavern sighed deeply, a resigned look crossing his face as he swung the door open for her.
Marina stood in the doorway, her striking eyes cooling the atmosphere around her.
The office layout remained mostly unchanged. Their photo together still occupied a spot on the bookshelf, now cluttered with personal items that weren’t hers.
She stepped inside and snatched a golf club from behind the door, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Lavern frowned, instinctively moving to block her path. “Marina…”
“Marina,” he called out again, unable to contain himself.
Without missing a beat, Marina swung the club at him, then unleashed her fury on the entire office.
Lavern didn’t intervene this time. He pressed an ice pack from Robert to his face, watching from the sidelines with a cold, handsome scowl.
Only when the office lay in complete disarray did Marina casually toss aside the bent golf club, her effortless motion feeling like a release, as if she were finally letting go of something heavy. Lavern’s chest tightened, a sudden, wrenching sensation coursing through him; it felt like she was done with him for good.
With furrowed brows, he asked, “Feel better?” He kept his distance, merely observing her.
Marina took her time smoothing a loose strand of hair from her forehead, then flashed him a bright smile. “Yeah, much better. Free and unbridled.”
Lavern remained silent, his brows still knitted together in concern.
Marina strode out of the office, her confidence radiating.
Lavern followed at a measured pace, his gaze catching the gash on her palm. He reached out, catching her hand gently. “Your hand is injured.”
The adrenaline coursing through Marina had dulled her awareness of the pain.
Lavern began to lead her toward his office, but she yanked her hand away, repulsed by his touch. “It’s just a small cut. No big deal.”
A heavy lump settled in Lavern’s chest, stifling him. His expression darkened as he moved closer, irritation boiling in his eyes.
“You’ve screamed, you’ve wrecked the place: I let you do it all. But don’t hurt yourself to get under my skin or make me feel guilty. Is that your plan? To walk out injured so I’ll drown in remorse?”
Marina met his gaze with cold indifference, her mind swirling with bitter mockery, refusing to respond.
Lavern wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest and holding her tightly. “Marina, don’t be like this. It already hurts.”
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the chaos, the emotional storm that raged within the conference room slowly began to settle. Shawna, once a figure of vulnerability, now sat in the shadows of her despair, the shards of her broken confidence reflecting the turmoil of her circumstances. Marina’s cruel taunts and Lavern’s reluctant acceptance of the harsh reality had stripped Shawna of her dignity, leaving her to grapple with the weight of her failures. Yet, amidst the wreckage, there was an unspoken understanding between Lavern and Shawna; he felt her pain, and though he was unable to shield her from Marina’s wrath, the flicker of empathy in his eyes hinted at a deeper connection, one that transcended the superficial judgments of the workplace.
As Marina strode out of the office, her façade of confidence was tinged with an unsettling emptiness. The destruction she had unleashed was not merely a release of pent-up frustration but a manifestation of her own internal struggles. Lavern’s concern for her injury revealed the complexity of their relationship, a tug-of-war between love and resentment, care and cruelty. In the end, Marina’s laughter, bright yet hollow, echoed in the silence left behind, a reminder that even in moments of triumph, the scars of emotional turmoil lingered. Lavern, caught between his desire to protect and his frustration with her recklessness, was left to confront the painful truth: that sometimes, the winds of change carry not just lost promises but also the remnants of broken souls, desperately seeking solace amidst the chaos.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
As the storm of emotions continues to swirl within the Ross Group, the aftermath of Marina’s explosive confrontation looms large. In the next chapter, readers can expect to delve deeper into the psychological turmoil that both Marina and Lavern are grappling with. With tensions running high, will Lavern finally confront Marina about her cruel antics, or will he continue to play the role of the reluctant peacemaker? The stakes are rising, and the fragile balance of their professional relationship hangs by a thread as they navigate the fallout from Shawna’s humiliation.
Moreover, Shawna’s fate remains uncertain. Will Lavern take a stand to protect her, or will he succumb to Marina’s icy influence? The emotional stakes are compounded by Shawna’s precarious situation, and her desperation may lead her to unexpected alliances or even revenge. As secrets and hidden motivations begin to surface, the dynamics of power within the group will shift. Expect a riveting exploration of loyalty, manipulation, and the lengths individuals will go to protect their own interests. With every character teetering on the edge of a precipice, the next chapter promises to be filled with shocking revelations and heart-wrenching decisions that will leave readers breathless.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
