The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 176

Even though the cold had hit her hard, Petty woke up the next morning feeling completely fine, as if nothing had happened at all. She took a hot shower, changed into fresh clothes, then headed downstairs.

She’d texted Jared last night to request a few hours off, hoping that with a little luck she’d bounce back in time for the important interview scheduled that afternoon. She was running late, but with her sick leave approved, that wasn’t surprising. What did catch her off guard was seeing Jay at home so early in the day.

Was Franco still in the house? That never happened. Franco was the kind of guy who was always the first to arrive at the office—never late, not once.

Jay did a double-take when he spotted her coming down the stairs. “Petty? You’re actually going to work?”

Petty jogged down, full of energy, and flashed him a smile. “Told you, I’m totally fine now.”

No matter what drama was going on between her and Franco, she’d never treat Jay poorly. After all, just a few days ago when she was stranded on that bridge, it was Jay she called, and he showed up with backup, no questions asked. Petty appreciated that kind of loyalty. The least she could do was be friendly.

She made her way past him into the dining room for breakfast. When she finished eating, she noticed Jay outside, waiting at the car with the door open for her.

“Franco said I should drive you to the studio today,” Jay explained.

Petty paused for a second, glancing up at the empty staircase. “Is Franco still around?”

Jay shook his head. “He left for the office super early.”

She nodded and slipped into the passenger seat, thinking she’d maybe gotten Franco sick and he was stuck at home, but clearly, that wasn’t it. So, did Franco send Jay just to make sure she was okay?

Something else suddenly clicked in her mind. “Wait, I never opened the door for you yesterday. How did you guys get into my apartment? And before, how did you get in to grab my suitcase?”

Jay started the car, answering, “Franco told me your door code.”

Petty raised an eyebrow. “How would he even know that?”

She was pretty sure she’d never shared it.

She just smirked and decided not to give them the satisfaction, finishing her lunch in record time. Back in the newsroom, she was about to message her usual reporting partners so they could get to the event early when a coworker sent her a news link.

Seconds later, another message came in—this time, a short voice note. “Petty, you gotta see this.”

Petty clicked on the link, her stomach tightening. She already had a bad feeling about it. No wonder everyone in the cafeteria was whispering.

It was an entertainment gossip piece, and the headline made her do a double take.

What Exactly Helps a Gorgeous Reporter Climb the Ladder?

The words “climb the ladder” were loaded, and not in a good way. In today’s world, everyone knew that was code for taking shortcuts—usually the ugly kind. Pair “gorgeous” and “climb the ladder,” and anyone reading it would jump straight to dirty rumors and scandals.

The article was subtle, but the implication was obvious: Petty’s quick rise from regular reporter to senior staff wasn’t just about hard work. They were questioning her résumé, suggesting there was more going on behind the scenes.