Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Chapter 41:

“Really?” Eileen asked, well aware that Vivian’s strength lay in networking, reminiscent of how Vivian had initially tried to curry favor with her.

“Absolutely. Though Miss Warren is beautiful, lately she has been involved in minor interdepartmental tasks and dealings with Mr. Dawson, where her lack of skill has led to several errors,” the colleague commented, taking a sip of her coffee before adding in a hushed tone. “Between us, everyone still prefers having you liaise with Mr. Dawson. You’ve always been reliable, never making a single error.”

Eileen listened quietly to the gossip, offering no comment.

It seemed Vivian’s approach to winning over colleagues hinged on her social maneuvering, yielding only a facade of respect.

Her inefficiencies were a poorly kept secret, cloaked in whispers yet publicly unchallenged, partly due to the fear of reprisal. But with Bryan’s guidance, Vivian stood a good chance of improvement. Eventually, she could very well step into Eileen’s shoes.

Returning to her desk, Eileen found her workload manageable and began aimlessly browsing her phone. The first thing she saw on her social media feed was a post from Vivian, showcasing a candid shot of Bryan at work, his concentration palpable.

The seriousness displayed in his professional life was starkly different from his more intimate moments with Eileen; both aspects of him were equally irresistible to her. Yet, the sight of Bryan through Vivian’s lens stirred a pang of discomfort in Eileen, her heart sinking with a mix of pain and heaviness. She scrutinized the photo once more, her expression shifting abruptly.

She quickly rose and stepped outside, catching Judie and a few other female colleagues approaching Vivian, documents in hand. It was clear their main intent wasn’t work-related but to engage in conversation with Vivian, who welcomed the chat with open arms.

“Miss Warren, I saw your post on social media. You and Mr. Dawson seem quite close,” one remarked.

“It’s wonderful that Mr. Dawson can keep you company at work. We’re all a bit jealous!” another added.

New updates live on gαlησνeℓs․com Vivian, basking in the praise, replied, “Though he might appear distant, he’s actually very considerate towards me privately. But don’t be too envious; each of you has someone special too.”

Judie, juxtaposing Roderick with Bryan, felt a twinge of longing for a life akin to Vivian’s. It was then that she noticed Eileen, who observed the scene with an icy demeanor.

“Eileen,” Judie whispered under her breath.

With a slight turn of her head, Vivian caught sight of Eileen. “Eileen, are you looking for something?”

“What brings you all here? Run out of tasks to do?” Eileen approached, not wanting to discuss Vivian’s social media post in front of so many people.

Her insinuation prompted the onlookers to turn to leave, their interest deflated. Judie, recognizing Eileen’s authority, tried to make a swift exit as well.

Vivian, attempting to maintain her composure, stopped Judie and the others. Her demeanor hinted at disdain, as if questioning Eileen’s right to intervene, subtly labeling her as beneath her.

“About that post you shared on social media, I’d like you to delete it,” Eileen stated clearly.

Vivian paused, then scoffed, “Eileen, are you hearing yourself? You’re poking your nose into my affairs now? What does my social media post have to do with you?”

“It’s not about me personally, but it involves Mr. Dawson in that picture—” Eileen began, only to be cut off by Judie.

“Eileen!” Judie interjected. “Why are you so invested in Miss Warren and Mr. Dawson’s private affairs? If Miss Warren chooses to share something, that’s her prerogative. Your interference might lead others to speculate something.”

Her comment, though framed as a casual reminder, unmistakably suggested that something was going on between Eileen and Bryan. The underlying message was clear—an assistant had no business meddling in the personal matters of her boss’s significant other.

Vivian, with her arms crossed, wore a look of satisfaction. “My presence here isn’t solely for work; it’s also to stay close to Bryan and ward off any unwelcome aspirations from others.”

“Miss Warren, truly, no one is more suited for Mr. Dawson than you. Anyone else is merely fantasizing, lacking your standing,” Judie chimed in, layering her flattery with a veneer of guidance towards Eileen. “Eileen, it might be wise to apologize to Miss Warren now. Moving forward, stick to your duties as an assistant and steer clear of personal matters.”

The gathered female employees were perplexed, sensing the weight behind the seemingly light remarks. The subtext was thick in the air, yet none felt confident enough to voice their thoughts, opting instead to observe in silence.

Eileen’s gaze briefly met Judie’s, realizing Judie hadn’t grasped the significance of their earlier conversation at all. As she contemplated a response, the office door swung open, and Bryan emerged, document in hand. Seeing so many people there, he frowned slightly.

“Is there nothing for you to do?” he asked.

His presence commanded attention. The casual roll of his shirt sleeves and the absence of a tie did nothing to diminish the authority he radiated.

Vivian masked her feelings quickly, adopting a slight look of distress as she approached Bryan. “Bryan, I don’t know what has gotten into Eileen. Out of the blue, she’s asking me to take down a photo from my social media. I just captured a moment of you looking particularly focused at work and shared it. She may be your assistant, but that doesn’t give her the authority to meddle in my personal posts, does it?” she queried, seeking validation.

Bryan’s response was a subtle frown as he glanced Eileen’s way, a hint of recognition crossing his features. Retrieving his phone, he quickly browsed through the social media platform, his mood shifting noticeably at what he found.

Judie intervened, aiming to mitigate the tension. “Mr. Dawson, this situation with Miss Curtis may have escalated a bit. Perhaps she’s misplaced her sense of boundaries. Please, let’s not hold it against her.”

Eileen, opting for silence, merely turned her head aside and discreetly rolled her eyes, distancing herself from the confrontation.

Frustration manifested in the forceful way Bryan dropped the document on Vivian’s desk, causing her to flinch and release his sleeve. “Bryan, there’s no need for anger. Eileen’s been a loyal employee for quite some time. If you’re upset, I’m sure we can find a more constructive way to address this without causing distress,” Vivian urged, hoping to calm the situation.

“Why would I be upset with her?” Bryan’s gaze shifted, landing sharply on Vivian. “Wasn’t it you who shared that photo?”

It became apparent now that Bryan’s irritation was aimed at Vivian, leaving her speechless. Beside her, Judie shared in the confusion. Only Eileen understood the root of Bryan’s anger.

Bryan zoomed in on the photo displayed on his phone. The bidding proposal, with its details sharply in focus, was indisputably visible. “This is a confidential document of the company, now compromised because of your actions,” he pointed out.

Vivian, realizing the gravity of her error, hastily began to delete the post from her social media. “Bryan, please don’t be angry. I’m deleting it right now. My friend list is small, limited to friends only. Don’t worry, there won’t be any repercussions.”

“I never engage in a situation I’m not sure to win,” Bryan said, turning to Eileen. “Arrange a meeting with Jaxon and the rest. We’re going to have to work through the night to redo the bidding proposal. You’ll be staying far overtime.”

“Understood, Mr. Dawson,” Eileen replied.

“Additionally, Vivian needs a copy of the employee handbook. We’ll handle any breaches of company policy accordingly,” Bryan said.

Tapping on the table, Bryan underscored his point, each sound a figurative slap to Vivian’s pride, her cheeks flushing with mortification.

Witnessing the turn of events, Judie and the others quickly excused themselves, their earlier reasons for visiting Vivian evidently just a facade for curiosity.

Eileen, tasked with preparing for the meeting, also fetched an employee handbook. On her way to notify Jaxon and the team, she dropped the handbook on Vivian’s desk as a silent reminder of the company’s policies.

Vivian, swamped with embarrassment, avoided eye contact.

Eileen, unfazed by Vivian’s discomfort, proceeded directly to Bryan’s office for a concise discussion about revising the bidding proposal before heading to the meeting room.

The oversight on Vivian’s part meant a long night for Eileen and the team, culminating in the early hours with the completion of the new bidding proposal.

As Bryan and Eileen exited the meeting, they were greeted by the sight of Kian and Vivian waiting in the main office area.

“Bryan, has Vivian stirred up trouble again today?” Kian inquired as they drew closer. “Our dear princess still has much to learn about the business world,” he commented lightly.

“I’ve planned a get-together at D.V. Club. Jacob’s already there waiting. Let’s head over as my way of making amends on Vivian’s behalf,” Kian offered.

With the caffeine from earlier leaving Bryan alert, the invitation was a welcome diversion.

Eileen was tasked with retrieving the car from the underground parking. Emerging at the entrance, she found Vivian alone, Kian and Bryan having already departed.

“Bryan took off with my brother. I wanted to have a word with you, alone,” Vivian stated, stepping into the passenger side without waiting for Eileen’s consent.

Ensuring Vivian buckled up, Eileen ignited the engine and set off towards the D.V. Club, the car ride marked by a heavy silence, the air thick with unvoiced thoughts.

Upon arriving at the club’s underground parking and bringing the car to a halt, Vivian finally broke the silence.

“Eileen, you’re the secret Bryan’s been keeping, aren’t you?” she asked.

Leaning back in her seat, Eileen’s luminescence in the dim light shifted towards Vivian, yet she remained silent, letting the question hang in the air.

Vivian continued, “It’s futile to deny it. Despite Bryan’s attempt to hide your belongings at the Lakedale Hotel, I still discovered them. During our time at the resort, did he also sneak off to see you? And that night when I called him, only to find he wasn’t home, was he with you? How many times have you two slept together? How did this all begin? I’ve already come back to him. Why haven’t you left him?”

Eileen felt a jolt at Vivian’s barrage of questions, a confrontation she knew was inevitable. Vivian’s previous attempts to isolate Eileen hadn’t burdened her as much as they had displeased Bryan. That was why Vivian had reached a breaking point and decided to confront Eileen directly.

Now, there was no need for Eileen to keep pretending. But Eileen found no solace in dropping the facade. With the truth now laid bare, she encountered a new form of torment.

Eileen parted her lips to respond. “I don’t want to hear it!” Vivian cut her off sharply, tears streaming down her face as she buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

As Vivian’s sobs subsided into quiet whimpers, she lifted her head, eyes filled with betrayal. “Eileen, I thought of you as a friend and treated you with nothing but kindness. Is this how you repay me? By being with Bryan? Don’t you feel guilty?”

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