Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Chapter 20:

Bryan extinguished his cigarette, the scent still lingering as he approached the window and drew the curtains. Looking over his shoulder, his voice carried a hint of reprimand. “I thought I mentioned breakfast was just for me; Vivian’s not up yet.”

Eileen’s reaction was muted, a clear acknowledgment of her overstep.

“Never mind, I’m tired from last night; I might as well eat for two,” Bryan said, catching her expression. He sat down and ate with a certain finesse.

A tightness formed in Eileen’s throat, making her words waver as she excused herself. “I should get going. Call me if you need anything.”

Without another glance, she departed, not catching the slight lift of Bryan’s gaze, which bore a complex mix of emotions.

As the door clicked shut behind her, a sigh escaped Eileen, a mix of relief and an ache spreading inside her. The experience, inevitable as it was, left her feeling more hollow than she had prepared for. The proximity of Bryan and Vivian weighed heavily on her chest, hard to ignore.

Forgoing the idea of returning to her room for rest, Eileen decided instead to seek reprieve in the fresh morning air. She stepped outside, taking a moment for herself—a rare indulgence in light of recent events.

With her colleagues out on the mountains, the resort grounds offered a tranquil refuge. Eileen found solace under the branches of a flowering tree while the nearby lake’s surface danced with the wind. Her mind was awash with thoughts she couldn’t quite place.

Time slipped quietly by, and with the approach of noon, fatigue nudged her toward the hotel’s restaurant. She decided to eat and rest in her room afterward.

It was there she noticed Bryan, Vivian, and Kian gathered at a table. Vivian beckoned her over with an eager wave. “Eileen, join us!”

Find what’s next on g al no ve ls ;com With a brief hesitation, Eileen made her way to them, offering a simple greeting to each of them.

Vivian’s lighthearted grumble broke the air. “I’m famished. Bryan here didn’t bother waking me for breakfast, and he finished everything you brought on his own.”

Bryan offered a half-hearted glance Eileen’s way before replying to Vivian, his voice tender. “You needed the rest, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Having steeled herself against the turmoil inside during her morning outdoors, Eileen managed a measured response. “Well, Miss Warren, make sure you have a hearty meal now.”

Kian observed the exchange, his gaze landing on Eileen thoughtfully, adding an unspoken depth to the casual lunch encounter.

Vivian’s cheeks warmed with a rosy glow from Bryan’s attentiveness. Leaning on his shoulder, her contentment was palpable. “I do need more sleep after our long night,” she said.

When their meals arrived, Bryan rose to pour water, prompting Vivian to straighten. She seemed unfazed, simply reaching for her utensils to start her meal.

Bryan’s meal was a leisurely affair, and he thoughtfully offered Vivian bites of food cut from his plate, one being a portion of broccoli near Eileen.

With a subdued spirit, Eileen rose, pushing the plate toward Vivian with a courteous smile. “I’m not particularly hungry. I’ll retreat to my room. Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

Vivian’s surprise was clear. “You’ve barely touched your food. Are you sure you’re not hungry?”

“I ate a lot this morning. I’m just not hungry now,” Eileen replied. Seeing that Bryan kept eating, she felt her heart sink. She quickly excused herself and left.

She hastened to the elevator, the doors enclosing her in solitude. As they sealed shut, Bryan’s voice reached her faintly, full of gentle prompts for Vivian to eat while the food was still warm.

Alone in the elevator’s embrace, Eileen exhaled deeply, her gaze falling to the floor as reality settled heavily upon her. She believed she and Bryan were over now. She could deceive herself and accept that Bryan was in love with another woman. But she couldn’t accept the fact that he had slept with another woman as well.

A silent resolve took shape within her—once the team-building event concluded, she would resign. Maybe Bryan would ask her to leave before she could find the chance to resign.

The elevator chimed its arrival, and there stood Jacob, his appearance weary. “Miss Curtis, have you eaten?”

The edges of Eileen’s mouth quivered in an attempt at response, but cheerfulness eluded her. “Yes, I’ve eaten. You should hurry. Mr. Dawson and everyone else are downstairs,” she said.

Jacob’s concern was evident. “You look a bit off. Was our noise too much last night? We’ve been playing games all night.”

“Playing games?” Eileen was puzzled.

“We played a card game in Bryan’s room,” Jacob replied. “It was pretty loud. Did we keep you up?”

As the realization set in, contrasting sharply with her previous assumption, a laugh broke from Eileen’s lips, dispelling the weight she had been carrying. “No, I slept well last night,” she said.

Jacob lowered his voice, a touch of curiosity threading his words. “Did Bryan fall in love with you or something? He seemed oddly distracted last night. Even when Vivian mentioned being tired, he ignored her request to end the game and go to sleep. It’s almost as if he did it intentionally. Could you be the reason?”

Eileen dismissed the insinuation with a gentle shake of her head. “You’re reading too much into things. That’s not within my power.”

Jacob, seemingly bored, quipped with a scoff, “It seems like you’re not charmed by Bryan at all. No wonder everyone says beautiful people are often heartless.”

With that, he stepped into the elevator. Eileen walked away without a backward glance. Jacob’s comment about heartlessness meant that she had hidden her feelings well.

Back in the sanctuary of her room, Eileen succumbed to the day’s exhaustion. After washing her face and changing into pajamas, she lay on the bed and fell asleep soon.

Meanwhile, Bryan approached the front desk, casual in demeanor. Noticing a young man absorbed in a game, he knocked on the desk and inquired about access to room 8809. The young man, without looking up, responded routinely, asking for identification.

Bryan’s reply came with a hint of annoyance. “I don’t have it on me.”

The young man set aside his game and checked the information on the computer. “Sir, the records don’t list you as the occupant of 8809,” he informed Bryan. Indeed, the system showed a woman as the sole guest registered in that room.

With an air of authority, Bryan said, “I’m the CEO of Apex Group. We’re here for a corporate retreat. We’ve reserved the entire property.”

The young man suddenly connected the dots—this was Bryan, head of the Apex Group, a VIP to be accommodated without question. He promptly retrieved the key card for room 8809 from the drawer and handed it to Bryan. “Here you are, Mr. Dawson.”

Bryan grabbed the room card and departed. The young man remained absorbed in his game, his agile fingers dancing across the screen. Suddenly, a realization struck him: “Wait! Apex Group? If that’s Bryan Dawson, then his assistant…”

He hurled his phone away and swiftly searched for the guest’s check-in details on the computer. Soon, he located the information for the room. That was Eileen Curtis’ room.

Huey had never imagined he would bump into his blind date, Eileen, while temporarily summoned to the resort for assistance. The burning question now was… Why did Bryan, Eileen’s boss, need her room card? Thinking about this, Huey’s sharp eyes gleamed with unusual intensity.

Meanwhile, in the room, Eileen slept soundly. Suddenly, she felt a weight on her head. A man’s warm lips trailed from the corner of her eye to her lips. The familiar scent stirred her from slumber. She wanted to speak, but Bryan silenced her with a kiss.

Furrowing her brows, Eileen struggled to open her heavy eyelids. She attempted to protest, but Bryan persisted until he left her breathless. Only then did he let her go.

“Mr. Dawson, are you worried about Miss Warren catching you here? She and your friends are all on this floor,” Eileen said.

Bryan’s eyes gleamed mischievously. His voice rumbled low and hoarse, “They’re all still asleep. After all, last night was tiring. You also don’t look like you slept well last night.”

He was intentionally making her misunderstand. Eileen’s bright eyes twinkled with amusement as she arched her eyebrows. “Indeed, I didn’t sleep well. Switching places often leads to insomnia. It’s an old habit of mine,” she said.

Bryan’s dark eyes dimmed slightly. His slightly calloused fingers gently massaged Eileen’s forehead as he teased, “Your stubbornness is a malady; it needs curing.”

Though he was teasing her, Eileen found it amusing. “What did you expect? Do you want to see me get jealous? Or fall in love with you?” she asked.

Bryan tensed momentarily before regaining his composure. A hint of indescribable anger simmered in his eyes. Leaning over, he playfully nipped at her chest. “Cream on.”

Eileen giggled softly, swept away by his playful retaliation. Her voice softened, taking on a flirtatious tone. “Mr. Dawson, are you worn out?”

“Even if I am, I have to satisfy your needs. I don’t want you to still have free time to play games with another man,” Bryan said, pulling the thin blanket separating them away, his warm body radiating heat like a furnace.

But Eileen wasn’t about to let him off the hook easily. With his breath growing warm, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Next time, let me join you. I’m good at card games, too.”

Bryan stiffened, withdrawing from her neck, his face a mix of embarrassment and irritation. Clenching his jaw, he glared at her teasing expression.

Eileen suddenly regretted her words. She had hoped to fluster Bryan and gain the upper hand, but the cost felt too high.

Bryan set a fierce, almost punishing pace, reminding her, “Vivian’s right next door. If you’re not worried about her hearing, feel free to make some noise.”

Eileen couldn’t utter a sound. Enjoying it yet holding back, her expression proved to be an irresistible temptation for Bryan.

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