Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Chapter 71:

But Jacob had remained silent throughout the meal, observing quietly as Bryan’s expressions grew increasingly gloomy while conversing with Harlan, misinterpreting everything. Thinking of this, Bryan’s expression darkened.

Seeing this, Jacob swiftly got into the car, locking the front door and cautiously lowering the window a little as he said, “Sit in the back. I’ll drive you home.”

Bryan, standing motionless, suddenly wore a smile, adjusting his tie and lifting his eyebrows as he looked at Jacob.

With a click, Jacob promptly opened the door for the passenger seat, afraid that Bryan would beat him up if he didn’t do that.

Once in the car, Bryan remained silent, leaning back against the seat and staring at the passing scenery. His eyes held a frosty, unforgiving gaze.

Despite Jacob’s silence, he was keenly aware of Bryan’s seriousness now.

It seemed there was about to be quite a show.

Outside the apartment, as Eileen parked the car, she hesitated before exiting. She gently ran her fingertips over the car key, feeling the lingering warmth left behind by Bryan.

She knew his mood could shift unpredictably, and she could sense the difference between his good and bad days.

Lost in her thoughts, she pondered the surreal feeling of his occasional kindness, almost like a dream.

After much consideration, she realized that knowing her place might ease some of her sadness.

With her decision made, she opened the car door and stepped out. She washed up and went to bed early.

Exclusive content available at gⱯlnσν𝒆𝓁s․com The next morning, upon waking, she noticed a message from Bryan sent half an hour prior, requesting a ride to work from Oak Villas.

For a moment, it felt like everything had returned to normal.

At exactly seven-thirty, Eileen set off for Oak Villas, arriving promptly. By seven-forty, she had picked up Bryan, and they were en route to the company.

Glancing at the rearview mirror, Eileen noticed Bryan’s posture—legs slightly apart, hands resting on his knees as he sat upright.

He was looking at the scenery outside, seemingly the same as before.

Turning her focus back to the road ahead, Eileen was unaware that Bryan had turned his attention to her. Through the mirror, he could only see her full lips.

At a crossroads, Eileen licked her lips and took a deep breath, causing Bryan’s heart to flutter.

In the parking lot, Eileen happened to run into Vivian and Kian. Seeing Bryan and Eileen arrive together, Vivian noticeably tightened her grip on the strap of her bag.

Upon stepping out of the car, Eileen nodded in greeting to Kian. Bryan had already opened the door and was leisurely strolling over, one hand casually tucked in his pocket.

“Bryan, why did Eileen drive you here today?” Vivian couldn’t help but ask.

Bryan shot Vivian a cold glare. “Is there a problem?”

Bryan’s indifferent demeanor left Vivian speechless, a lump forming in her throat as she struggled to find words to respond.

“Vivian, go upstairs with Bryan; I’m leaving now,” Kian interjected, pushing Vivian towards Bryan with a smile.

As Kian turned to leave, Bryan said to Eileen and Vivian, “You two go upstairs first and have a talk with Kian.”

The tension was palpable. Eileen couldn’t help but glance worriedly at Bryan.

Bryan motioned towards the elevator, gesturing for Eileen to go.

“Yes, Mr. Dawson,” Eileen replied, turning away and leaving.

Vivian exchanged a worried look with Kian, but Kian reassured her, “Go ahead. It’s been a while since I talked to Bryan. Don’t worry.”

After hesitating briefly, Vivian followed Eileen upstairs.

In the vast parking lot, silence reigned.

With one hand in his pocket, Bryan headed towards a corner, followed by Kian at a leisurely pace.

Bryan halted and lit a cigarette, smoke rings escaping from his lips, failing to conceal the coldness in his eyes.

Kian seemed to grasp the situation and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong? You want to defend Eileen because I’m causing trouble for her?”

With a muffled thud, Bryan’s fist connected with Kian’s face before he could finish his sentence. Kian stumbled to the ground, his pristine shirt now tainted with dust.

Struggling to rise, Kian looked up at Bryan in shock. “Did you just hit me because of Eileen?”

“I warned you before. Don’t ever harm her,” Bryan said, the pent-up anger of the night finally finding release.

Throughout the night, Eileen’s cautious gaze, her pleading eyes, and the mix of grievance and stubbornness in her expression had haunted him relentlessly.

Thinking of the tears and redness around her eyes from that night in the bathroom caused Bryan’s heart to ache.

“Bryan, is it worth it?” Kian stood up, his voice thickening unconsciously. “Eileen is just your assistant. She can’t even compare to Vivian!”

Bryan smirked. “Do you need me to spell it out for you?”

Kian’s face turned pale, and a tingling sensation spread from the corner of his mouth. He reached to touch it, emitting a soft hiss of pain.

After a moment, he chuckled and said in a gentler tone, “You know that I can’t let anything harm Vivian. You still owe her! And Eileen is a thorn in her side.”

“Don’t harm Eileen ever again!” Bryan’s gaze turned icy as he confronted Kian with determination. “If something like that occurs again, I won’t hesitate to take any necessary actions.”

Bryan tossed the cigarette onto the ground and forcefully stepped on it, breaking it into fragments.

Inside the elevator, Eileen and Vivian stood side by side. They were using Bryan’s exclusive elevator, so no one joined them during the ride.

“Have you managed to gather all the medical funds for your mother, Eileen?” Vivian asked casually.

Eileen replied without lifting her head, “Thank you for your concern, Warren. I’ve managed to gather all the medical fees for my mother.”

Vivian scoffed. “What? Even if you gathered it this month, what about next month? You are basically prostituting yourself to Bryan! You’re just a shameless woman. I am fully aware that you’re using the excuse of being Bryan’s assistant to seduce him! If you’re interested, I can introduce you to numerous other wealthy men. Given your appearance, making about a million a month wouldn’t be a challenge.”

Vivian’s arrogant expression displayed both disdain and sarcasm.

Eileen’s patience was starting to wane. “Don’t worry, Miss Warren. I’ll ensure that I earn enough money by spending a few more nights with Mr. Dawson. I appreciate you providing another reason for me to sleep with him in the future.”

Vivian’s mouth twisted with anger as she raised her hand, intending to slap Eileen across the face.

But before Vivian’s blow could land, Eileen skillfully grabbed Vivian’s wrist and slowly closed the distance between them.

Vivian backed off and leaned against the chilly elevator wall, unable to find her voice.

Eileen said, “This is a professional environment, not your home. If you lay a hand on me, you will be fired immediately. I advise you to calm down and avoid a disastrous mistake.”

Her voice remained steady, yet it carried a subtle but potent undertone of threat.

As the president’s special assistant, her position held more authority than Vivian’s.

As the elevator doors opened, Eileen released Vivian’s wrist and swiftly walked out.

In her office, Eileen sank into her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose in an attempt to alleviate the tension that gripped her mind.

She knew she should have endured Vivian.

With Bryan’s current animosity towards her, Eileen saw no advantage in further provoking the Warren family.

Through the window, she observed Bryan’s return. He was halted by Vivian, exchanging words with her before disappearing into his office.

A few minutes later, the internal line rang, and Bryan’s voice echoed through the receiver. “Come here.”

Eileen composed herself and stepped into Bryan’s office.

The spacious office had a solemn atmosphere. Bryan sat upright at his desk, casually playing with a pen in his fingers.

As Eileen approached, Bryan put the pen down as he looked at her. “Get ready; we are flying to Bayside City this afternoon.”

Eileen remembered that Apex Group’s most influential clients in Bayside City were Mangy Hamilton and his wife, who had recently sent an invitation to Bryan.

Mangy and his wife’s upcoming wedding anniversary was going to be a lavish event at their large property.

“You’re taking me to the event? What about Warren?” Eileen asked cautiously.

Bryan narrowed his eyes and said, “Have you forgotten that you joined me for dinner with them as my girlfriend when we discussed the cooperation before? Do you want me to tell them that I’ve changed my girlfriend so quickly?”

Eileen’s cautious behavior weighed heavily on Bryan’s heart.

“I understand,” Eileen replied. She remembered that only a couple had been allowed to attend the cocktail party hosted by Mangy and his wife back then.

Bryan and she had pretended to be a couple to gain access to the party. They had successfully formed a friendship with Mangy and his wife and reached an agreement for collaboration.

“Go prepare yourself,” Bryan instructed before standing up. He then retrieved a document from the bookshelf. Upon turning around, he noticed Eileen still standing there. “Is there anything else?”

After hesitating for a moment, Eileen said softly, “Your tie is crooked.”

Bryan looked down and noticed that his tie was indeed askew. Placing the document on the desk, he walked to stand in front of Eileen and said, “Fix it.”

Bryan’s tall figure shadowed over Eileen. The sudden closeness made Eileen instinctively want to step back.

Suddenly, a large hand reached for her waist, holding her firmly as Bryan moved closer, pressing his body against hers.

Surprised and with slight trembling eyelashes, Eileen composed herself and reached up to carefully straighten his tie.

Bryan’s breath was heavy above her head, yet he stayed still, refraining from any further action.

Once she fixed his tie, he let go of her waist and said in a hoarse voice, “You may leave now.”

Eileen caught a glimpse of the slight bulge in Bryan’s suit pants, causing her ears to turn red. Avoiding eye contact, she quickly turned and exited the room.

This business trip was sudden and unexpected. Eileen wasn’t sure how Bryan had informed Vivian; Vivian didn’t voice any objections.

After attending to all the urgent tasks, Eileen went home to pack the afternoon before heading to the airport.

When Eileen arrived, Bryan was already at the airport, answering a call near the French window. Eileen could vaguely hear his voice from not far away.

“It’s almost time for your return. There’s no point in hiding from me. I’ll be back in two days after my business trip to Bayside City; I’ll bring her to see you then,” he said.

It seemed like Bryan was conversing with Stella, asking her to return so he could take Vivian to visit her.

Eileen lowered her head, lost in thought. She didn’t snap out of her daze until a pair of expensive men’s shoes suddenly appeared in front of her.

“Look into my wife’s identity after we return from Bayside City. I want you to meet up if you could,” Bryan suddenly said.

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