Chapter 719

Brielle arrived at the top floor of Dorsey International, and, as usual, Annie was the first person she ran into. However, Annie seemed to be in a sour mood today. She barely acknowledged Brielle’s greeting before resuming whatever she was busily tending to at her desk. With a lunchbox in hand, Brielle didn’t linger and entered Max’s office without knocking a privilege she had always enjoyed.

As the door swung open and she caught sight of five or six executives withiri, her face instantly stiffened. Some were standing others sitting, but all quickly overted their gaze when Brielle entered.

“The presentation is ready for you, boss, one of them said, noting the lunchtime interruption. “We’ll circle back after you’ve eaten.” The executives, avoiding any further eye contact, filed out one by one.

Frozen at the doorway, Brielle felt the lunchbox burning in her grip.

Max closed his laptop and raised an eyebrow at her lingering presence. With nervous energy, Brielle marched forward, her heart pounding like a drum solo as embarrassment washed over her. “Made you breakfast,” she said, attempting a casual tone Max wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning in for a kiss, but Brielle dodged his advance. “Aubree’s waiting for me downstairs.”

She dreaded the teasing she’d endure from Aubree if she showed up looking too…glowing.

Max sighed and withdrew his arm. At his gesture of disappointment, Brielle’s heart twinged with reluctance. “Tll be back at Premier Palace tonight.”

Hearing this, Max’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His gaze raked over her, and his voice roughened. “I’ll make it home early, too.”

Her cheeks flushed with understanding. They’d both been so busy tangled in–miscommunications, and now was their chance to reconnect The usually solemn office seemed to bloom with romantic bubbles at her arrival, but with the executives due to return, Brielle didn’t dare stay long.

“I should go.” she said, turning to leave, but Max called out, “Brielle.”

She looked back to see him touch his lips – the message clear Amused, Brielle wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a quick kiss on his lips. The moment, however, quickly escalated, and their kiss deepened.

“I wanted to discuss the project further, I think… The door burst open, revealing one of the previously departed executives, who, upon realizing the situation, clamped the door shut again. “Sorry for the interruption.”

Brielle’s face blazed with embarrassment, frustration boiling over. She wished she could disappear from the planet. Blaming herself for succumbing to temptation, she stormed out, avoiding any eye contact as she headed straight for the private elevator, jabbing the button more than necessary.

Still feeling overheated, she found Aubree’s eyes on her as she slid into the car. “Your lipstick is smeared.”

Wishing for a crevice to swallow her whole, Brielle touched her lips, realizing the light color had bled beyond their edges. Aubree, with a smirk, handed her a tissue. “Mr. Dorsey must get a kick out of seeing you all flustered like that. What a perv.”

ༀ ༄ ཛ ཥ ཥག Brielle wiped her mouth clean, avoiding a response, and drove them to Stellar Stage Entertainment in silence.

Today’s shoot was s still at Stellar Stage, and Aubree’s scenes were up soon. They parted ways in the parking lot–Brielle to her office, Aubree to the set.

Walking through the hallway, Brielle greeted young artists from Stellar Stage, all beaming and shyly calling out, “Ms. Haywood.”

“Ms. Haywood, you’re even more stunning in person.”

“Ms. Haywood, I’ve been dying to meet you.”

Brielle responded politely until she reached her office, where she found Dustin already waiting, his presence a surprise. “Mr. Lynch?” Dustin’s eyes were lined with evident fatigue. Seeing her arrive, he massaged his temples. “BrL was everything okay last night?” She didn’t mind Dustin’s impromptu visit or that he was in her office. To her, he was always one to follow his whims She asked Donny to bring in some tea.

“Still troubled about your sister’s situation, Mr. Lynch?”

His expression darkened. “We checked out Mark. His background is clean. His wife’s whereabouts, though, remain a mystery. No trace of her. And with the Sunflower Children’s Home records destroyed, it’s impossible to track all the kids adopted over the years.”

Dustin stood, ceding the main chair to her and settling onto the couch with a heavy sigh like he was confiding in a close friend. “My grandmother doesn’t have much time left. The doctors issued another critical notice.”