Chapter 157: Chapter 157

Chapter 157:

Eileen furrowed her brows. “I’ve been out of the loop working as an assistant for quite some time. I’m not sure I can be of much help.”

“That’s alright,” Raymond replied, smiling. “There’s just that one project in Wist Land needing attention. Mr. Dawson should be able to handle it himself. You just focus on his day-to-day needs.”

Standing by the expansive floor-to-ceiling window, Bryan drew slowly on his cigarette. His lips curled into a faint smile, though his eyes remained serious. He even said to Eileen earnestly, “Thank you.” Somehow, Eileen followed Bryan out of the hospital just like that.

Once they were settled in his car, Bryan turned to her. “So, are you moving in with me, or am I supposed to go to your place?” It was then that it hit Eileen. She had unwittingly been dragged into something more complicated than she had thought.

She said, “Wait, you’re Milford’s temporary guardian. It’s your responsibility to arrange care for him while he’s injured. But why should I owe Raymond a favor?” Why would she step in for Raymond to look after Bryan?

Bryan raised an eyebrow, acknowledging her point with a serious nod. “Given your current state of mind, returning as an assistant might not be the best fit.” His words hinted at calling her foolish, yet he quickly covered it with an excuse. “But remember, Arthur took Milford away because of you.”

So, she was indebted to Milford. Had Raymond not stepped in, she would have been running to the hospital daily. That meant Raymond was taking care of Milford on her behalf, right? Something about this felt off, but Eileen couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“So, where are we going?” Bryan asked, his voice laced with impatience.

“My place is out of the question. It’s cramped, and I’m living with Phoebe and Bailee,” Eileen replied. There was a room for each of them, leaving no space for Bryan.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is your gateway to fiction Starting the engine, Bryan steered towards Eileen’s place. “Looks like small isn’t to your liking.” Eileen was at a loss for words.

“Pack your things first. My place is big and convenient,” Bryan suggested, his tone laden with implication.

An hour later, Eileen, having packed a couple of outfits, arrived at Bryan’s expansive residence. She reiterated that her stay was only temporary, just until Milford was out of the hospital. However, her firm declarations lost their weight as soon as she stepped into the opulent Pianoforte Villas. Bryan’s every look and insinuating comment seemed to hint at more than just hospitality.

Choosing to ignore the underlying tension, Eileen avoided his intense gaze as she set her luggage down in a guest room on the first floor. She then prepared spaghetti for their dinner.

Bryan scowled as he took his last bite, puzzled by how she managed to keep the spaghetti disastrously bad. For the first time, Eileen also recognized the dismal quality of her spaghetti. Perhaps her lack of practice was to blame, since Bailee had taken over cooking duties for the past year.

After they finished eating, Eileen cleaned up the kitchen and headed toward her room. “I need to prepare some course materials to send to Milford and Adalina. Let me know if you need something, but please don’t interrupt unless it’s urgent,” Eileen cautioned. She doubted Bryan would keep to himself tonight, but it seemed wise to set boundaries.

“What counts as urgent?” Bryan asked, a playful look in his eyes, his hand casually tucked in his pocket.

“You’re perfectly capable of doing anything on your own. There shouldn’t be anything urgent. So please, let me work in peace,” Eileen answered, leaving him in the hallway as she retreated to her room to work on her laptop.

Working on the course materials served as a convenient excuse to avoid Bryan, though it wasn’t entirely fabricated. She did have plans to prepare various materials for Adalina and Milford. By a little after nine, she had finished her tasks. Yet, she remained seated at her computer, hesitant to sleep, her senses sharp, bracing for any disturbance from Bryan.

“Take some time to review these materials.” She sent a message in the group chat. Although Milford’s phone was broken, she was aware that he had an old backup he could resort to. Both Milford and Adalina quickly replied with a simple “OK.” Around thirty minutes later, they both sent messages confirming their understanding of the materials.

“I’ll walk you through the new course material then. Let’s start with a brief overview,” Eileen replied. She was surprised at their quick grasp of the material. It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet, and they were already done… It seemed a bit early. It would probably be best to stay occupied until late at night.

“Ms. Curtis, we’re both weak and tired now. Please, skip the preview. Give us a break,” Milford responded sharply. After reading Milford’s message, Adalina immediately inquired if something had happened to him. As they chatted, Eileen tuned them out and began to prepare the new course materials.

Twenty minutes later, Milford realized Eileen was serious about letting them preview the new course. He couldn’t help but send her a voice message. “Ms. Curtis, is it really necessary to push us this hard? It’s already ten o’clock. How much longer will this lesson go on?”

Checking the clock, Eileen realized it was indeed ten in the evening now. It was a late hour for Milford and Adalina since they were both in poor health. Yet for Bryan, the night was still young.

“Ms. Curtis, do you suffer from insomnia?” Adalina was confused. Eileen, ever the advocate for health, often advised her to rest early and avoid late nights. But now, here they were, embroiled in a lesson at such an hour.

The continual probing left Eileen scrambling for a response. Pressing on with the lesson seemed insensitive. She could only reply, “I’m just concerned that if you take a break for a few days, you might forget everything we’ve covered so far.”

Milford responded, “Here’s the thing. You want to introduce a new lesson now.” Eileen was at a loss for words. She struggled to think of a solution.

Suddenly, a new message appeared in the group chat. “Let them finish early today. Come upstairs and assist me with a meeting.” The wording and tone were so unmistakably Bryan’s that it felt as though he were standing in front of Eileen.

Eileen remained dumbfounded for a few moments, unable to understand what was happening until Milford sent a message. “Ms. Curtis, we’ll take a break. You go and help Bryan!”

Eileen suddenly realized the WhatsApp account she had always assumed belonged to Milford was actually Bryan’s. With a growing sense of embarrassment, she quickly opened Bryan’s profile and scrolled through their chat history, which consisted mostly of her own messages. The realization that she had mistaken Bryan for Milford all this time made her wish she could disappear into thin air.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she turned off her computer and headed upstairs. She intended to go to the study, but she found only the bedroom door slightly open, leaking soft light into the hallway.

Bryan’s distinctive, resonant voice floated out from the room. Eileen tapped lightly on the door twice. “Come in.” Bryan’s crisp response came as his gaze met hers. He nodded towards the chair across from him, silently inviting her to sit.

The meeting had already begun. There were voices coming from Bryan’s computer. Eileen settled into the chair. Bryan had prepared a notebook and pen for her. She opened the notebook and began to jot down notes.

It only took a few moments for her to recognize the conversation was a shareholders’ meeting, the voices familiar as those of the Apex Group’s shareholders. “We believe that if your father doesn’t see the value in this project, there’s no need to continue.”

“Exactly. Mr. Dawson, please don’t push this. Five hundred million is not a trivial amount.”

“Accepting our losses now, even if it’s a few tens of millions, is better than risking more and losing it all. We simply can’t afford that.”

“Unless, of course, you’re willing to take on the risk yourself!”

Voices of agreement echoed, building a wave of opposition. Eileen lifted her gaze, looking at Bryan, who was seated before the computer screen. The light from the screen cast a glow on his face, highlighting his sharp features. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and a cigarette hung loosely from his lips, the smoke curling upwards. Despite the opposition, his demeanor remained calm. He tapped the ash from his cigarette into an ashtray, then let out a cold sneer.

“I’m the one taking the risks, but the moment there’s profit, you all want a piece? Cunning old foxes,” he said. His words silenced the dissent immediately. Though Eileen couldn’t see the computer screen, she could easily picture the disgruntled expressions on the faces of the shareholders.

After a moment of uneasy silence, someone spoke up, their tone considerably softer. “Mr. Dawson, it’s not like that. It’s just… Your father doesn’t want you to continue with this project. He’s asking for you to come home!”

“You’ve all helped build this company alongside your father. Ignoring his wishes isn’t an option.” They were ready to play hardball but knew they couldn’t outmaneuver Bryan. Instead, they aimed to tug at his heartstrings, hoping Bryan would grasp the complexity of their situation.

Bryan’s face showed no emotion. He arched an eyebrow and declared, “Cut it out with the bullshit. You have two options. Either release the funds, or step aside and let me handle the project. I assure you it will be profitable, but don’t expect a share of the profits if I take over.” With those words, he ended the video call and shut his laptop with a snap.

He pulled at his tie in frustration. Lifting his eyes, he noticed Eileen sitting across from him, looking bewildered in the harsh lighting, her eyes clear. His heart fluttered. Reaching out, he wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her into a forceful kiss. The kiss was intense, almost a release of his frustration, and Eileen whimpered softly in discomfort. Only then did Bryan relax his grip, slowly letting her go and leaning back in his seat with a grave expression.

Eileen’s notebook lay open but untouched. There was no need to take notes during the meeting, and Eileen wondered silently why Bryan had insisted on her presence here. The atmosphere was thick with his discontent, enveloping her in an uncomfortable haze.

He rose abruptly and stepped out onto the balcony, lighting one cigarette after another. Through the expansive glass, Eileen watched his silhouette merge with the shadows. A sharp ache clutched at her heart; she knew he only resorted to chain smoking when he was truly cornered. In the three years she had worked for him, such moments had been few.

Gathering her resolve, she approached him, plucked the cigarette from his lips, snuffed it out, and tossed it into the trash. “Smoking won’t solve anything. I may not understand your conflict with the Apex Group shareholders, but I’m sure you have a plan, given how resolutely you spoke just now,” she said. She had unwavering faith in Bryan’s capacity to change everything. His skills were unmatched; in the corporate arena, no one could rival him.

Eileen’s voice was clear and firm, her expression resolute. This Eileen, unlike the tentative one Bryan had known a year ago, seemed far more intriguing and vibrant to Bryan. A subtle smile tugged at his lips, easing the weight in his chest. “It seems I’ll have to depend on you moving forward,” he said.

Eileen was taken aback by his words.

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