Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Chapter 51:

“Benjamin took you there to negotiate the contract, but he didn’t even enter the room, leaving you alone with them. That wasn’t business; it was putting you in a difficult situation,” Eileen said.

Bailee’s belief about the waiter only highlighted her naivety.

Bailee’s face tightened as she contemplated her next words. After a pause, she said, “Eileen, I promise to protect myself. If I can earn such a high salary just by drinking a little, I think it’s worth it.”

She didn’t want Eileen to bear all the hardship alone. Compared to what Eileen had endured with Bryan, drinking a bit seemed minor.

“What if I hadn’t been there yesterday? Have you thought about what might have happened?” Eileen asked.

Bailee was at a loss for words.

Eileen continued, “This was just a warning from Kian; he informed me of your location beforehand. But if this happens again, he will not give me the opportunity to rescue you.”

She was gently suggesting that it might be safer for Bailee to leave the Warren Group.

She felt a twinge of guilt; after all, Bailee was targeted because of her. Her expression grew troubled, reflecting the complexity of her emotions.

Bailee exhaled deeply, then smiled. “Eileen, don’t be upset. I can resign. I never really liked the Warren Group anyway. It’s just a shame to lose such a high salary. But it’s okay!”

For a moment, Eileen considered the possibility of bringing Bailee to work at the Apex Group. However, she quickly shelved the idea, knowing she might need to leave Apex Group at any moment.

Bailee added, “It’s all my fault. I didn’t think everything through at the start. I was focused solely on the high salary at the Warren Group. But if I end up making less after I switch jobs, don’t be upset if I start asking you for money!”

Every story unfolds at gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s．𝓬𝗈𝗺 Bailee was trying to lighten the mood and alleviate some of Eileen’s guilt.

Eileen chuckled, touched by Bailee’s words. “Well, the contract was signed yesterday, so I don’t think they’ll give you too much trouble if you resign now. Let’s go; I’ll drive you there.”

Eileen drove Bailee to the Warren Group. She waited until she saw Bailee safely enter the building before leaving. Then she headed to the Apex Group. Eileen needed the meeting record from the previous night for an assessment, but Vivian hadn’t arrived yet, so Eileen went directly to Bryan’s office to retrieve it.

As soon as she entered, a strong arm wrapped around her waist. The familiar scent of Bryan filled her senses. Her back was pressed against his chest, and before she could turn around, he kissed her earlobe.

She involuntarily tensed up. “You didn’t go home last night?” she asked.

“I couldn’t wait to see you,” Bryan replied passionately, his words making Eileen’s thoughts whirl.

She had resolved just days ago to keep a distance from him, but all her efforts seemed to melt away under his touch.

He tightened his grip around her waist slightly, then let go, his expression tinged with mild dissatisfaction. “You’re too thin. You need to eat more,” he said.

Eileen pressed her lips together and averted her gaze, worried he might see the longing in her eyes ignited by his kiss. It would be mortifying if he realized how much she was affected by a simple act from him.

“Let Bailee work at Apex Group. You can decide on a suitable position for her,” Bryan said.

It clearly didn’t take long for Bryan to see that Kian had set Bailee up.

Taken aback by his offer, Eileen asked, “Why would you help us? Aren’t you concerned that Miss Warren might be upset?”

She had raised similar questions before but never received a straightforward response.

This time was no different. Instead of answering her directly, Bryan simply stated, “It’s a matter of principle!”

Bryan was always a man of principle. Given that Eileen worked for him, he felt a degree of responsibility for Bailee’s situation.

He was protective of his staff, and Eileen understood this. She wasn’t entirely pleased by the rationale, but neither was she disappointed.

Bryan continued to kiss her, and she found herself enveloped in his tenderness. The frequent closeness had allowed her to witness sides of him that others rarely saw.

All of a sudden, an idea crossed her mind. Should she have a serious talk with him, telling him everything? Even though Vivian was his beloved, she was the one who had been intimate with him and was his wife. Given his adherence to principles, perhaps there was a possibility that…

Suddenly, Bryan bit her slightly. Her eyes, hazy with emotion, met Bryan’s.

His stare carried his discontent, clear from his narrowed eyes. He said nothing, but his kisses persistently urged her to focus solely on him.

His suit ended up discarded on the floor as romance filled the air of the room. The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm glow on her flushed face.

Forty minutes later, Bryan emerged from the lounge. Eileen followed, her ears still red but now hidden by the strands of her hair.

Eileen watched Bryan read the previous night’s meeting record. Noticing his furrowed brows and the stern set of his features, she couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

Bryan glared at her. “Do you still want your job or not?” he asked.

“Sorry,” Eileen replied, her smile fading. She quickly turned and left the office.

As she exited, she noticed Vivian sitting absentmindedly at her desk. The sound of the door caught Vivian’s attention, and she looked up at Eileen.

After a brief pause, Vivian stood and asked sharply, “Why are you coming out of his office?”

“I went to collect the meeting notes,” Eileen responded and started to walk away.

Vivian extended her arm to block her. “Why would it take so long? Is Bryan also in there?”

Vivian had been under the impression that Bryan hadn’t arrived yet. She had been waiting for a long time. Realizing that Eileen and Bryan had been together in the office all this time fueled her suspicion and anger.

Vivian’s expression darkened as she said, “Eileen, you’re such a bitch! Do you really think I can’t do anything about this?”

“It’s not that you’re unable to handle it; it’s Bryan,” Eileen replied, preferring not to engage further with Vivian’s accusations. She brushed past Vivian and left.

Gritting her teeth, Vivian watched Eileen walk away. At that moment, her phone rang on her desk. She snatched it up and moved to a quieter corner. “Who’s this?”

Her tone was sharp, causing Megan to recoil on the other end. “Vivian, what’s wrong?”

“What else? I was just pissed off by Eileen,” Vivian responded, holding back the details about Eileen being alone with Bryan, as admitting that would be too embarrassing. She quickly changed the subject by asking, “Why are you calling?”

“It’s my father’s company anniversary, and he would like Mr. Dawson to attend. Can you help me with it?” Megan said.

Vivian paused to think, then said, “He’s booked tonight, but I might be able to change his schedule. You’ll have to do something for me in return, though.”

“Sure,” Megan agreed instantly, desperate to secure Bryan’s attendance at the event.

Eileen didn’t know why the schedule for the evening had abruptly changed; Bryan was now slated to attend the Beckett family’s anniversary party.

With the change set, Eileen had to inform the client about the adjustment to Bryan’s schedule. By five o’clock, she was downstairs, having fetched the car, waiting for Bryan at the gate.

Shortly thereafter, Vivian emerged alongside Bryan. Eileen stepped out, opened the car door for them, and watched as Vivian, ignoring her, slid into the backseat with Bryan, chatting and laughing.

After closing the door, Eileen got back behind the wheel and started the car, the sound of Vivian’s laughter and conversation filling the space during the drive.

The Beckett family’s anniversary wasn’t at a hotel but at a picturesque lakeside spot in the western suburbs. Though all guests were business figures, the Beckett family strictly avoided business talk at their parties, focusing solely on celebration.

The atmosphere was cheerful. Guests clustered in small groups, engaging in lively conversations over drinks.

Bryan’s entrance caused quite a stir. Dressed in a sleek black suit, he moved with grace, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

Trailing behind him were Vivian, looking lovely and captivating, and Eileen, who appeared both exquisite and reliable.

Stuart, smiling broadly, greeted them as they approached. “Good evening. We’ve prepared excellent wine and food, and Kian is just over there. You might want to catch up with him.”

Bryan gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. He glanced around at the other guests and inquired, “Where is Mr. Gibson?”

Stuart paused and then pointed in a direction, a bit surprised by the question. “He’s over there, enjoying the quiet alone.”

“I’ll go have a word with him,” Bryan declared and headed in that direction. Eileen started to follow but was halted by Vivian.

“Eileen, Mr. Gibson is the mentor of Bryan and me. We’re going to meet him together. You don’t need to come along,” Vivian said.

Eileen looked towards Bryan, who nodded.

“Okay,” Eileen replied and stayed put, watching as Bryan and Vivian left together, pondering the reasons behind Bryan’s attendance here.

Eileen knew who Soren Gibson was. Bryan always made it a point to visit him every holiday, and she had seen him on several occasions, though she had never fully grasped his significance to Bryan. She understood from their previous interactions just how important Soren was to him.

Since the party involved no business discussions, it was relatively relaxing for Eileen. She could just find a corner and enjoy her alone time.

Taking out her phone, Eileen distracted herself by playing Huey’s game, familiarizing herself with the characters.

Soren hadn’t come to the party alone; his wife had accompanied him, someone Bryan and Vivian also knew well.

Vivian hadn’t seen the Gibsons since her time abroad. Mrs. Gibson was delighted to see her again and started asking her questions right away.

As they chatted, the conversation naturally drifted to Vivian’s relationship with Bryan.

“When you two broke up back then, we both felt so sorry for you. Fortunately, you are back together now. I know that real love wouldn’t fade so easily,” Mrs. Gibson commented, smiling and looking at Vivian and Bryan.

Vivian responded with a shy smile while glancing at Bryan. Bryan was deep in conversation with Soren; he hadn’t heard what Mrs. Gibson had said. Unaware of their conversation, he didn’t even glance back at Vivian.

Sensing the dynamics, Soren tactfully steered Bryan a little further away and asked, “After being apart for several years, did your feelings for her change?”

Bryan frowned slightly, pausing to take a sip of his wine. After a moment, he replied, “If the feelings are real, will they change?”

“No,” Soren said, reflecting on the nature of enduring love. “True love doesn’t fade with time. It stays with you. The one you love will constantly be on your mind, no matter what you’re doing. When you can’t see her, you feel a void inside.” He glanced at his wife, smiling warmly.

At that moment, the image of Eileen unexpectedly surfaced in Bryan’s thoughts. Bryan realized Eileen had been a constant presence in his life for three years, never apart for even a day.

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