Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Chapter 38:

The flourish of Bryan’s signature on the paper spoke volumes of confidence and grace. In Eileen’s eyes, his appeal extended beyond his looks to the elegant strokes of his writing. She gathered the papers, and with a swift retrieval of the pen, she spun around to leave the office, passing the documents to Karla. “Go ahead,” she urged.

“Thanks, Miss Curtis, you’re amazing!” Karla said in awe as she clutched the papers and dashed off.

Now, Eileen found herself facing Vivian. They exchanged a look, and a moment of uncertainty hung in the air. Eileen wrestled with the thought of offering advice on navigating such urgent matters without seeming boastful about her rapport with Bryan.

“Eileen, what do you say to dinner tonight? I’ve invited lots of people, and they’ll be going too,” Vivian said, her smile breaking through the silence.

“I’m swamped, maybe another time. You all go ahead,” Eileen said with a gentle nod, excusing herself to disappear back into her sea of work.

As time slipped by unnoticed, the evening pulled a veil over the sky. The neon lights outside flickered to life, bathing the room in a warm hue. A sudden burst of light from the overhead lamps jolted Eileen from her focus.

She looked surprised by the night that had crept up on her and turned her gaze towards the door. Bryan’s posture was casual, a stark contrast to the intense look he gave Eileen.

Vivian, seizing the moment, plucked the pen from Eileen’s grasp and nudged her to rise. “Time to head out. Don’t worry; the work can wait,” she said.

When Eileen came to her senses, they had already moved past Bryan.

Bryan closed the door to Eileen’s office. Eileen knew she couldn’t refuse now.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s．çоm takes you away “I’m off to fetch the car,” Bryan said, striding towards the elevator.

No sooner had Bryan’s footsteps faded than Vivian released her grip on Eileen. She walked over to Karla, engaging her in light conversation.

“What’s your preference for dinner? Pick anything—I’m eager to mingle with all our teams,” Vivian said.

“Anything’s fine with me,” Karla replied with a polite smile.

Eileen was lost in thought.

Vivian’s attitude towards her had shifted; she pretended nothing had changed before Bryan. And then it dawned on Eileen—the hidden luggage. Had Vivian found out about it?

Entering the lift, Eileen caught Vivian and Karla in hushed conversation. Colleagues from various departments joined them, all bound for the same evening meal.

Then Eileen’s gaze landed on Judie. Despite her tenure at the company, she hadn’t quite landed a spot on Vivian’s guest list.

Judie stepped into the elevator, and her eyes met Eileen’s. The moment was tinged with discomfort before Judie masked it, inching closer to Vivian.

Eileen locked on, feigning ignorance to the social dance unfolding, recognizing Judie’s efforts to curry favor with Vivian. However, after exchanging a few words with Judie and realizing her relatively low position and deliberate flattery, Vivian stopped talking to her.

To Vivian, Judie didn’t warrant the investment of her social capital.

As the group dispersed among the waiting vehicles, Judie found herself without a spot. Her eyes found Bryan’s Land Rover parked curbside, with Vivian the sole occupant amid the vacant seats.

“Miss Warren, might there be more room in the car?” Judie inquired, hope lacing her soft-spoken request.

Eileen, who had just arrived from the parking garage, caught the exchange. A gust swept through the crack in the car window, sending a cascade of hair across Eileen’s face. She watched as Judie stood by the Land Rover, trying to win Vivian over.

The sight coaxed a scoff from Eileen. Judie, ever the social climber, seemed to have hit a wall.

“I prefer to be alone with Bryan,” Vivian said without a hint of guilt, leaving Judie to chill in the evening air.

The rebuff painted embarrassment across Judie’s features. Her manager, quick to intervene, chided her.

“Judie, think. You’re interrupting Mr. Dawson and Miss Warren’s private moment. Isn’t Miss Curtis your family? Her car has a seat for you.”

With a hesitant nod, Judie made her way to Eileen’s vehicle, fumbling with the passenger door only to find it locked.

“Go sit in the last row,” Eileen said.

Judie’s frown deepened, but this was the company’s car, and she knew Bryan would usually sit in the front passenger seat or the first row of the backseat. So, she had to oblige. She opened the rear door and settled into the seat furthest back.

Vivian, positioned by the Land Rover, observed Judie settling into Eileen’s vehicle with a puzzled frown. “That woman is family to Eileen?” she muttered under her breath.

A voice cut through her thoughts. “Coming?” The chill in Bryan’s voice prompted her into action. She quickly got into the car.

Eileen followed Bryan in her car, taking the backseat.

Judie ventured a question, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Eileen, has anything happened between you and Mr. Dawson?”

“Not really,” Eileen replied curtly.

“And with Miss Warren taking over as his secretary, does that change things for you?” Judie probed further.

“She assists with various duties,” Eileen responded, her tone flat.

“Why does Miss Warren want to work in Apex Group all of a sudden?” Judie shifted closer, her grip tightening on the seat in front of her.

Eileen’s response was noncommittal. “That’s not for me to say.”

Concern flickered across Judie’s face. “You can’t keep on this way. You ought to be more proactive, especially if Miss Warren has her suspicions. Imagine if she does—”

With a sudden stop, Eileen gave Judie a piercing look. “And if she does suspect, what then?”

Judie’s discomfort was palpable. Eileen’s stare seemed to constrict her very words. Eventually, Judie managed an uneasy smile and a shake of her head. “It’s nothing, I’m just worried about you.”

Eileen’s gaze didn’t waver. “Are you worried about me or worried about yourself? Afraid that I will fall out of favor? So you’re trying to suck up to Vivian?” She read Judie like an open book.

Judie’s countenance dropped, and she was at a loss for words. Eileen continued, “Let’s be clear—Vivian isn’t someone you can befriend. Your intentions are too…”

Eileen knew that without her position as Bryan’s assistant, she wouldn’t warrant a moment of Vivian’s attention. Judie weakly defended her stance. “What’s the harm? Miss Warren is well-off and will be Bryan’s future wife. Isn’t it wise to be on good terms with her?”

She was cut short as Eileen hit the gas at the change of the traffic light, sending her lurching back. “Ouch!”

Ignoring Judie’s protests, Eileen focused ahead, and Judie settled down quietly.

Two private rooms were booked, and the guests were divided. Being standing meant she was automatically seated at Bryan’s table, where Vivian was also present. Judie was assigned to the adjacent private room. She reluctantly headed towards it, yet Vivian’s voice halted her.

“There’s space here. Why don’t you join us?” Vivian said.

Surprise flickered across Judie’s face before she quickly replied, “Of course, Miss Warren!”

Vivian sat beside Bryan, leaving another seat beside him empty. This space was reserved for Eileen, considering her position. Once Eileen was seated, Vivian motioned for Judie to sit and signaled for an extra chair.

“Thank you so much,” Judie said, feeling flattered.

A subtle crease marked Eileen’s forehead as she took in the scene. Catching Bryan’s absorbed look toward Vivian, she sensed the undercurrents of unspoken thoughts. Eileen’s eyes drifted downwards, catching sight of a familiar hair tie encircling Bryan’s wrist, one Vivian often wore.

“Feel free to order whatever you like,” Vivian said, with a touch of grace as she placed the menu on the rotating platform for everyone to choose their favorite dishes. Her warm approach quickly melted the ice, and the table buzzed with friendly conversation.

Addressing the group, Vivian said, “We’re all here because of Bryan. Your dedication over the years is the backbone of Apex Group, and now, as I step into this circle, I’m counting on your support. Should I slip up, don’t hesitate to correct me, regardless of my ties to Bryan. He has always valued honesty and diligence above all.”

Bryan, a silent observer of Vivian’s mingling, betrayed no emotion. Eileen had heard that Vivian had made many mistakes, but Bryan had never lost his temper with her. He was really good to Vivian.

Eileen recalled her early days at the company, where each misstep had been met with Bryan’s stern correction—a stark contrast to the leniency Vivian had received. Even as her relationship with Bryan developed into something more, he remained clear about business matters and personal affairs. He treated her and Vivian differently.

At the table, Vivian’s presence commanded respect; everyone regarded her as the boss’s future wife. Feeling the atmosphere grow dense, Eileen excused herself. “You guys continue without me; I need a break.”

After cooling off in the restroom, she stood by the window, seeking tranquility in the chill of the evening air. The sound of approaching footsteps pulled her from her reverie, and she turned to see Bryan, with a lit cigarette adding a smoky haze to his sharp outline.

Bryan broke the silence. “Something on your mind? You seem down.”

Eileen’s response was noncommittal. She didn’t have the right to be affected. “Happy now, Mr. Dawson,” she said, deflecting her own unease.

.

.

.