Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Chapter 26:

Vivian looked at Eileen. “Eileen, your thoughts?” she asked.

A pause lingered before Eileen’s face broke into a smile. “You’re asking me? I think that’s a question for Mr. Dawson, considering you’re aiming to be his secretary.”

Vivian said, “These tasks are what you do daily. If I join, it will impact you too. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to take your place.” She glanced at Bryan and continued, “I’m just looking for a way to be closer to Bryan without being a burden. It would be more convenient if I could work here.”

Eileen kept smiling, her glance brushing against Bryan’s gaze, only to retreat just as quickly. She remained quiet; her thoughts locked away as if they held no weight.

Vivian turned to Bryan and said, “You’re laying it on thick with Eileen, Bryan. She needs a breather. Life’s not all about work, is it? How about her chances at love? Are you willing to shoulder the cost of her happiness?” Vivian’s tone was gentle, seemingly defending Eileen.

A storm seemed to brew in Eileen’s mind as she felt the weight of Vivian’s words. Bryan’s stare was piercing, almost scorching.

“She holds a senior position,” Bryan finally spoke with an edge. “With the salary and the status come the trade-offs. If she wants to get the money, solitude might just be part of the bargain.”

A shiver raced along Eileen’s spine, understanding what Bryan meant. Vivian seemed oblivious. “It’s over the top. Eileen’s bound to get married someday, right? Time waits for no one, especially not for the ladies. If Eileen hesitates, she might miss her chance.”

Bryan’s annoyance simmered, his voice flat. “Then it’s her choice, isn’t it? She can choose between money and marriage.”

Vivian was taken aback.

Lᴀt𝑒st chαptєrs in ɢ𝓪lnovels.𝑐𝑜𝑚 Eileen quickly said, “We’re straying from the point, Miss Warren. Your potential role here has nothing to do with my personal life. And frankly, my views are irrelevant to this discussion. I’ll excuse myself now.”

Vivian reached out to stop Eileen from leaving, her words rushing. “I am worried you will think that I want to steal your job. That’s why I want to seek your insight. Whether you marry or not isn’t my business. Just tell me if I could be Bryan’s secretary.”

Eileen believed Vivian was missing the point; her consent wasn’t necessary here.

Bryan adjusted his tie, his annoyance thinly veiled. “Eileen’s opinion isn’t our concern; it’s with Ryan. If he agrees to you being my secretary, then it’s settled.”

Vivian furrowed her brows as she faced Bryan. “Why do I need to get my brother’s say-so?”

Bryan inhaled deeply and rose to his feet, circling his desk to join Vivian and Eileen. With one hand casually resting in his pocket, he carried himself with effortless grace. “Your family treasures your reputation. Wouldn’t your parents be upset to see you be my secretary here? Better to persuade them first.”

Eileen recalled the Warren family members’ tense expressions during their last encounter with Bryan. She could bet that Vivian working here would set off alarms for them.

Vivian softened her stance, her voice taking on a tender note. “Leave it to me. They’re just miffed that you haven’t gotten divorced yet. They fear I’ll be labeled as a homewrecker. But that doesn’t faze me.”

A smirk played on Bryan’s lips. “Okay. Then you can head home now. I’ve got my hands full today.” He shot a look toward Eileen. “We’ve got a meeting in ten minutes. Get ready.”

Eileen gave a brief nod and made her exit, Vivian at her heels. Pausing by Eileen’s desk, Vivian leaned in close, lowering her voice. “Eileen, I spotted a scratch on his chest yesterday. It looked recent!”

Eileen’s hold on the files paused as she met Vivian’s gaze, memories of the clash with Bryan that afternoon surfacing. She had forgotten to be careful, resulting in that scratch. Dropping her gaze, she concealed the twinge of panic.

Vivian continued, “I didn’t expect him to be with that woman at the resort, but now I know that woman must be an employee here. Don’t trouble yourself on my account. Bryan’s temper flared last time over the hotel booking. That’s part of the reason I want to work here. I’ll handle this and investigate on my own.”

Vivian’s grasp on Eileen’s wrist was firm. “You understand where I’m coming from, right?” she asked.

Pulling away gently, Eileen reached for some documents. Her voice steady, she assured, “You’re too kind, Miss Warren. It means a lot that you’re concerned about my workload. I won’t misunderstand you.”

Vivian glanced toward Bryan’s office, a weight lifting from her shoulders. She leaned closer, her voice a whisper. “Talking to my brother about working here will get nowhere. He’d never consent. So… I’ll still need your assistance.”

Eileen found herself feeling resigned. “Miss Warren, I’m only Mr. Dawson’s assistant. My help is limited to minor tasks. The best course of action? Take your concerns to Mr. Dawson directly. It’s better than wrestling with this alone.”

Vivian was aware that if Bryan was determined to hide something, he wouldn’t reveal it even if asked. Confronting him would only put him on guard. Her plan had to be covert, beginning with that mysterious woman. She gave Eileen’s shoulder a reassuring tap. “I get it. But I also have my reasons for doing this. Just lend me a hand, and when I’m Mrs. Dawson, you’ll see gratitude beyond words.”

Eileen’s response was a silent smile. If Bryan and Vivian got married, her secret would surely be exposed. Vivian’s fondness for Bryan could turn dire for her.

“I should get to the meeting room now,” Eileen said. She gestured to the documents she held and made her way to the conference room. With a flip of the switch and a swift twist of the blinds, she cast the day’s agenda onto the screen. As everything was set, Bryan entered.

Dressed in a suit as dark as night, his entrance exuded understated prestige. The soft thud of his shoes echoed as he moved across the room, taking the lead chair. His eyes found Eileen, lingering with an unreadable intent.

“Planning on getting married soon?” he inquired, catching Eileen off guard.

The sudden question confused Eileen. Then, she realized he was probably influenced by what Vivian had said just before. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Bryan cut her off.

“There’s no need for you to hide it from me. We both know there’s nothing serious between us. If you want to end things with me, just say the word,” Bryan said, his voice cold.

A throb of hurt resonated in Eileen’s chest. Words failed her just as the meeting room door swung open, the influx of colleagues breaking the moment. She composed herself and took her place by Bryan’s side, preparing to document the proceedings.

He had made it clear she was free to end things whenever she wished, yet Eileen remained silent, unsure of her own desires.

In the days that followed, Vivian’s presence dwindled, reducing to rare appearances. Eileen’s interactions with Bryan, once intimate, had settled into a rigid dance of professionalism. The need to chauffeur him had dissipated.

A peculiar calm settled over Eileen’s life, akin to the stillness before a storm, leaving her with the sense that she was under the shadow of a gathering tempest.

Eileen greeted the weekend with the sun. She had plans: to collect Bailee and then keep Ruby company at the hospital. Years of focus on her career had left her with few friendships. She often spent her free time in the hospital with Ruby.

Upon reaching Bailee’s place, Eileen called her. Bailee said over the phone, “Could you give me a couple of minutes? I’m running behind. I slept through my alarm and had to stay up late for work last night.”

“Why didn’t you mention that to me? You need to rest. Head back to bed, and I’ll head to the hospital on my own,” Eileen suggested.

But Bailee didn’t want to do that. “Just ten minutes, I promise,” she said, compelling Eileen to agree and wait in the car.

As she waited, Eileen’s eyes landed on a sports car nearby. It stirred a flicker of recognition in her, but the pieces didn’t fall into place until Huey emerged, backpack in tow, and slipped into the driver’s seat of the sports car.

Was he a resident here? While she was piecing this together, a knock on the window jolted her. There stood Huey, approaching her car because it blocked his way.

Eileen cranked down the window. “What a coincidence!”

Huey momentarily stared, then beamed a smile at her. “What brings you here?”

“I’m here for my sister. We’re off to the hospital,” Eileen explained as she stepped out of the car. “And you? Are you visiting someone here?”

“No, I live here,” Huey said, gesturing upwards. “Mom’s lectures chase me, so I’ve turned this place into my refuge. Sworn to secrecy, okay?”

Laughter escaped Eileen. She felt a bit envious of Huey’s relationship with his mother.

“It’s great seeing you here. How about we grab lunch together?” Huey suggested, ruffling his hair with a sheepish grin on his face. “Well, it’s at my mom’s bidding. She tasked me with inviting you for a meal. I’ve been dragging my feet, and today’s the deadline. If we hadn’t crossed paths now, I’d be dialing your number for this.”

“Eileen!” The call drew their attention as Bailee approached, slightly out of breath. “Let’s go; I’m all set,” she said to Eileen.

Huey’s eyes flicked to Bailee. “And this is…”

“This is my sister, Bailee Brooks,” Eileen said. Then, turning to Bailee, she introduced, “And this is Huey Baker, a friend of mine.”

Bailee was wearing sportswear with her hair tied up. She gave a quick nod, “Nice to meet you, Huey.” Recognition flickered in Bailee’s eyes as she recalled Ruby mentioning Huey. She shot him a few more curious looks.

Catching snippets of their earlier conversation, Bailee inquired, “Did I overhear something about lunch?” Her eyes danced with mischief. “Eileen, you go. I’ll take care of Mom.”

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