Chapter 102: Chapter 102

Chapter 102:

“You have seen Eileen, Bryan’s assistant, more times than I can count. She’s a real catch: kind, smart, and generous to a fault, yet he has exploited her kindness. She’s practically wilting under his thumb, and it’s downright maddening. You and I, we’re nothing like him. He’s sunk lower than any creature I know!”

Seated elsewhere, Bryan’s phone lay dormant next to his hand, its screen flickering to life unnoticed.

Bryan caught a glimpse of Huey’s messages, the edges of a chill smile forming on his face.

As he glanced at Huey, who was lost in a frenzy of texts trying to snitch, his smile twisted into a scowl.

“Ax, a guy like that should get under your skin just like he does mine. We can hatch a plan later, invite him over, and teach him a lesson. You’ll have my back, right?”

Huey sent about seven messages, each one a grumble of his gripes.

Then, he received a response: “Okay.”

Huey slammed his phone down with a flourish, casting a victorious look Bryan’s way.

Eileen and Bailee were both startled, turning to look at Huey with wide eyes.

“Trouble’s brewing for you. Just you wait,” Huey muttered.

Eileen’s eyes darted from Huey to Bryan, sensing the tension.

Huey was basking in his petty win, while Bryan sat there calmly.

Exclusive updates gαlησνєℓs.cøm Eileen felt the air thick with unsaid words and could do nothing but nudge Huey, hinting at him to eat.

The feast before them was mostly Bryan’s handiwork, with Huey contributing but a dish or two.

Eileen savored Bryan’s cooking, relishing each bite more than the last.

As she finished, she leaned closer to whisper to Bryan, “This afternoon, we’re heading to the hospital. If you’re worn out, feel free to stay and rest, or you can head out.”

Bryan, changing into his spare suit, replied as he grabbed his coat and glanced back at his casual clothes left behind, “Make sure you bring my clothes next week to the Clarkson family’s house.”

“Sure thing,” Eileen responded with a nod.

Bryan was the first one to leave. Bailee watched him go and then turned to Eileen with a puzzled expression.

“Wait, Eileen, you don’t have a car now?” Bailee asked.

The vehicle Bryan had just taken was the one usually driven by Eileen, a company benefit for her role as the CEO’s assistant.

Now, her usual parking spot lay bare.

Eileen simply said, “Company cars are a perk only for senior management.”

Hearing that, Huey sprang up, making an obscene gesture at…

Bryan’s fading taillights made Eileen curse under her breath.

In the end, Huey drove Eileen and Bailee to the hospital, although he didn’t accompany them inside.

At the DV Club, Bryan only showed up at Kian’s planned meetup in the evening. Vivian and Jacob were already there, with Benjamin waiting outside.

Raymond, being an assistant like Benjamin, also stopped at the door.

“Bryan.” Spotting Bryan, Vivian lit up as she rose to her feet. “We’ve missed seeing you around. What’s kept you hidden away all weekend? You’ve been like a ghost—no calls, no texts, nowhere to be found, even at the office.”

Vivian attempted to loop her arm through Bryan’s, but her grasp slipped as he moved forward.

With a subtle frown, she trailed behind him, taking a seat beside him.

“I’ve been staying at the Dawson Mansion with my grandmother,” Bryan stated, sprawling on the sofa without glancing Vivian’s way.

Kian handed Bryan a glass of wine with a smile. “What’s Stella’s take on you and Vivian these days? Still opposed?”

Bryan’s forehead creased just a bit. “The topic upsets her every time.”

“Why not bring Vivian along next weekend? Let her spend more time with your grandmother. It might smooth things over,” Kian proposed, his eyes fixed on Bryan’s reactions. Then, quite abruptly, he asked, “Brought a new assistant today? I don’t think you trust him yet. With Eileen gone, I assumed you’d be swamped. But you even seem to have the free time on the weekend to stay with your grandmother at home.”

The inquiry hung in the air, Bryan’s gaze never straying from Kian.

Ambient light scarcely filled the room, and Kian could see Bryan only in profile.

Bryan turned to face Kian squarely, their gazes locked. “Her sole purpose is only to assist me. My work efficiency plummets without her. Then what good am I as the CEO of Apex Group?”

Bryan’s look was neutral, but the resolve in his voice was unmistakable.

Vivian, eager to lighten the mood, chimed in, “You’ve always been top-notch. But Kian’s got a point. Next week, I’m coming with you to see your grandmother at the Dawson Mansion.”

“It depends,” Bryan said, his reply sharp and succinct.

Kian settled back into the plush sofa, pulling out his phone to send a text.

Outside, Benjamin felt his phone buzz; he took a quick look at the screen. His expression darkened slightly.

Putting away his phone, he said to Raymond, “So, you’re stepping into Mr. Dawson’s world as the new assistant?”

Raymond nodded politely. “Nice to meet you, Benjamin. I’ve heard about you before.”

With a smile, Benjamin said, “In our field, it’s inevitable our paths will cross. How about we add each other on WhatsApp? Considering the ties between Mr. Warren and Mr. Dawson, it might come in handy.”

To illustrate his point, he briefly flashed Eileen’s contact on his phone, an attempt to underscore the practicality of the exchange.

Yet, Raymond’s caution lingered, maintaining a professional distance.

Benjamin said, “Mr. Dawson and Mr. Warren favor the DV Club here for their socials. They usually stay in this very room. Sometimes, they venture next door for a meal.”

In a display of openness, Benjamin laid out the usual haunts and habits of Bryan and Kian’s informal gatherings.

Raymond’s expression softened over time. “I appreciate the rundown. Eileen’s exit was rather sudden, and she left without passing on something as crucial as Mr. Dawson’s personal agenda.”

Hearing Raymond take the initiative to bring up the topic of Eileen, Benjamin glanced toward the private room. He gestured towards a quiet spot nearby. “How about we go there for a smoke? It’ll be a while before they emerge.”

Raymond’s reply was gently firm. “No, thank you. I don’t smoke.”

Benjamin flashed a wry smile, stepping aside to enjoy a cigarette in solitude.

Raymond had expected that after Benjamin finished smoking, he would continue talking about matters of Eileen, yet the topic never resurfaced.

Their conversation drifted instead through the contrasting natures of Kian and Bryan before dwindling into silence.

Within the private room, Kian insisted on refilling Bryan’s glass repeatedly until a bottle of wine was emptied.

Jacob took his place by Bryan’s side, joining in the merriment, and soon, Kian was drunk.

Bryan, however, maintained a semblance of sobriety beneath the light haze of alcohol.

Vivian said hesitantly, “Benjamin can drive my brother Bryan; let me escort you home.”

“No need. My assistant is waiting outside for me,” Bryan said, his gaze detached as he rose, his coat in hand, his departure marked by unsteady steps.

Vivian’s instinct was to follow, but Jacob stopped her. “Look after your brother. I’ve got Bryan covered.”

With those words, Jacob after Bryan’s retreating form, Vivian’s eyes darted from Kian’s slumped figure to the exit, stamping her foot in frustration.

Jacob, stepping out, instructed Raymond firmly, “Go inside and take Kian home.”

He then followed Bryan, saying, “Kian did that on purpose, didn’t he? Trying to get you drunk so that Vivian can sleep with you. He and Vivian are too eager now. You can still stop the situation from escalating; just make things clear with Vivian.”

“What should be made clear?” Bryan asked. In the elevator’s quiet, his frame relaxed against the cold wall, his gaze drifting over to Jacob with an air of detachment.

Jacob suddenly didn’t know what to say. He wrestled with the thought that perhaps it was time for Bryan to be transparent about his feelings for Eileen. Yet, considering the delicate nature of Eileen’s situation, he doubted the timing for such disclosures.

No word yet from Eileen.

Beyond that, even without Vivian in the picture, Bryan still had a wife.

Even Jacob started to worry about Eileen.

Bryan’s mind seemed to race, prompting him to adjust his tie and undo a couple of buttons. Then, he casually rolled his sleeves up, revealing his wristwatch that caught the flicker of the elevator’s light.

Jacob remarked, “Seems Kian can’t really handle his drink—a couple of glasses and he’s drunk?”

Bryan’s lips twisted into a smirk. “He’s just putting on a show.”

Kian had realized that Jacob had been helping Bryan, knowing that he couldn’t get Bryan drunk. So, he had feigned drunkenness himself.

Taken aback, Jacob cursed, “That sly man, baiting you with his chatter, even dropping Eileen’s name… He’s playing a deeper game.”

Indeed, as Bryan suggested, Kian’s drunkenness was just an act.

As Benjamin stepped into the hush of the private room, he found Bryan with eyes wide open, casually sipping from a glass.

Vivian, piecing things together, punched the couch in frustration. “Seems Jacob’s not on our side, either.”

“How did your talk go?” inquired Kian, eyeing Benjamin intently.

They needed to pinpoint Eileen’s location, and Benjamin knew that starting with those close to Bryan, particularly Raymond, offered the most direct route.

With a troubled look, Benjamin replied, “Raymond’s tight-lipped, deflecting anything about Eileen with a shrug. Given his loyalty to Mr. Dawson’s grandmother, if Mr. Dawson’s hiding Eileen, he wouldn’t tell Raymond anything.”

Kian, undeterred, said, “I’m well aware of that, but you need to find a way to let Raymond know. There’s no chance he’s ignorant of Eileen’s location.”

A select few were privy to Eileen’s situation—Bryan, Raymond, and the personnel department’s manager, Mr. Ferguson. A long-standing pillar in the personnel department, he had given two decades to Apex Group, earning Bryan’s unwavering trust.

Approaching him haphazardly could rattle Bryan, risking little gain.

Kian’s strategy was clear—start with Raymond; Benjamin must lead the effort to avoid any backlash on Bryan.

“Understood,” Benjamin replied, his eyes a silent well of thoughts.

Vivian, hearing their scheme, thought of Judie.

Surely, Judie would know Eileen’s whereabouts. Vivian believed if she found someone to follow Judie, it could unravel where Eileen had been transferred to.

Meanwhile, Jacob insisted on joining Bryan in the back seat of the car.

Inside the car, Bryan asked Raymond, “What did you and Benjamin talk about?”

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