?Chapter 67:


    Bailee, having stepped away from the Warren Group, had had her contract breach fee covered by Eileen, furnishing a usible exnation. Eileen reassured Bailee with a hint of nonchnce. “You don’t have to worry about that. There’s no need for you to advance your sry.”


    Bailee’s reply was tinged with concern. “If I have the money upfront, it’ll keep me on track. Just keep the money.” Continuing, Bailee’s voice held a note of worry. “Eileen, has there been another incident recently? Have Kian and his sister been troubling you again?”


    “I’ve got it under control,” Eileen replied.


    Internally, Eileen grappled with her ability to face Bryan’s tactics. Nheless, she chose silence over sharing her doubts with Bailee.


    Her thoughts consumed her, only scattering when Bryan’s car whooshed by.


    In the fleeting reflection, Bryan saw Eileen pause. He couldn’t see her clearly, but he noticed that she was on her phone. Who would be calling her so early in the morning?


    Thinking of this, Bryan’s face darkened. Upon his arrival at Apex Group, Bryan was met with the news of Eileen’s half-day off.


    He tossed his coat onto the chair and ckened his tie, his demeanor somber as he took his seat.


    The office door swung open abruptly. Bryan frowned as Kian made his entrance.


    “I’ve brought Vivian along to work and thought we might talk,” Kian announced, settling into the chair across from Bryan, sliding a document across the desk.


    “To put it inly, I don’t like Eileen, perhaps because of Vivian. So, I took the liberty of digging a little deeper.”


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    Bryan’s gaze narrowed at the paper. He had never delved into Eileen’s background.


    Looking up, he questioned, “Is digging into her past really necessary?”


    Kian shrugged. “Absolutely. You’ve overlooked the obvious, Bryan. Eileen knows her role, yet you fail to see she’s merely an assistant. Driven by profit, that’s her nature. She’s fixated on money. Don’t trust my words? See for yourself.”


    A pang of difort struck Bryan at the mention of Eileen being driven by money.


    “Stared the truth?” Kian taunted. He opened the file for Bryan. “Let me help you. I might overlook other matters, but I refuse to watch you be duped.”


    The file revealed Eileen’s financial history: seventy thousand from Han, fifty thousand from Huey, and the transactions from Bryan’s own generosity in the past.


    Kian added, “Vivian’s return has probably unsettled her. She’s securing her future, savvy at judging her worth.”


    Kian’s drumming echoed Bryan’s sinking feeling. Bryan had two hundred thousand on the card he had given to Eileen, but in the eyes of others… she appeared quite cheap!


    Indignation red within Bryan, a challenge to hisposure. “It’s irrelevant. As long as I feelfortable using her services, it’s fine. That’s what counts,” Bryan retorted, dismissing the notion of deceit.


    Kian’sughter was tinted with irony as he stood by the window. “You care, don’t you?”


    Bryan clenched his hands together, his eyes piercing the list of numbers. “My personal life is off-limits. If you want to keep helping me, keep Eileen out of this.”


    Kian’s posture momentarily tensed at Bryan’s words. But he quicklyposed himself and smiled. “I’ve done my part for what I thought was best for you. If it displeases you, I’ll step back. I’m leaving now,” Kian said and left.


    With Kian’s departure, the air in Bryan’s office thickened with contemtion. Outside, Vivian approached Kian with haste, her curiosity urgent. “Kian, how did it unfold? Is Bryan furious?”


    Kian’s answer was nonchnt. “So what if he’s angry? Does it make you happy?”


    “Absolutely!” Vivian’s voice held a victorious note. She had longed for Bryan to hate Eileen.


    “His anger is a telltale sign of his concern for Eileen, which bodes ill for us,” Kian said. Kian had before witnessed someone sway Bryan’s feelings too evidently.


    Vivian’s expression clouded with concern. “Then why did you do that?”


    Kian’s reply came with an arch of his eyebrow and a squint of his eyes. His intentions remained his own.


    Vivian’s question went unanswered. After Kian left, she lingered in her chair, lost in thought. She felt that she couldn’t just sit around and wait. What if Kian’s n failed? A n was forming in her mind.


    Finding Judie’s name on WhatsApp, she sent a message and invited Judie to lunch. Since she was alreadyte, Eileen decided to just ask for leave.


    Her savings totaled four hundred and fifty thousand, a whisper away from half a million. The shortfall would be covered after she received her sry in about two days.


    At the hospital, Eileen transferred the sum into Ruby’s ount and assured Dr. White of the pending fifty thousand.


    Returning to the office earlier than expected, Eileen’s arrival coincided with lunchtime. Stepping off the bus, she spotted Judie and Vivian, their hands entwined, heading toward a nearby eatery.


    A moment’s hesitation seized her before she entered the building, forgoing lunch to deal with work. Her agenda was set—wrap up early for a crucial meeting tonight with Aaron concerning academic matters.


    They had agreed to meet at seven in the restaurant, yet as the day edged towards its close, the ring of the internal phone pierced the stillness of her anticipation.


    Bryan’s resonant voice on the linemanded, “Prepare the car. Time to get off work.”


    A flutter of shock seized Eileen. She hadn’t expected Bryan to ask her to drive him today. If it was merely a drive, she would still have enough time to meet Aaron. Collecting her things, she stepped out.


    In Bryan’s office, she retrieved the car keys. Bryan was engrossed in his work, oblivious to her presence. Eileen maneuvered the car from its underground haven and stationed herself at the top to wait for Bryan.


    Half an hour passed. As dusk embraced the city, bringing it to a gentle glow, Bryan finally appeared. The casual drape of his coat over his arm and the unlit cigarette between his fingers lent him an effortless grace.


    Looking at Bryan, Eileen was in a daze for a moment. Bryan approached the car and pulled the handle, only to find that the car door was still locked.


    It was only then that Eileen snapped out of her daze and realized she hadn’t unlocked the car door. She quickly unlocked it, but it was toote for her to open the door for him.


    Bryan opened the door and settled into the seat himself. Then he sparked a cigarette to life, all without a word. Eileen quickly got into the car and started the engine. A palpable silence engulfed the space, pressing down on her, urging her foot heavier on the pedal.


    Navigating the car for a while, she had to stop at a red light at the turnoff for Oak Vis and Springvale Lane. She took a deep breath and waited, lightly tapping her fingers on the steering wheel.


    “Are you pressed for time?” Bryan’s voice cut through the silence, a note of detachmentcing his inquiry.


    Straightening in her seat, Eileen replied, “No.”


    “Head to your ce,” Bryan said.


    The directive detonated quietly in the confines of Eileen’s mind. Her voice wavered with panic. “Why the sudden need to go there?”


    Bryan’s reply was terse, probing. “Is there a problem? You don’t want to make money?” He leaned closer to Eileen.


    The smell of smoke lingered, a tangible presence that seemed to tighten around Eileen’s neck, challenging her breaths.


    The traffic light turned green. With a smooth motion, Eileen turned right.


    A solitary streetlight cast a weak halo at the apartment’s entrance, the night’s hum underscored by the drone of insects. Eileen bowed her head to key in the code, and with a mechanical click, the door yielded.


    She held it open, allowing Bryan to pass. His inherent clean fragrance mingled with the residual scent of smoke, creating an oddlyforting aroma. Eileen inhaled deeply.


    Before she could cancel the meal with Aaron, she received a call from him. Retracting her step from the threshold, she informed Aaron, already inside, “I have a call to make.”


    Then she returned to the room to take Aaron’s call.


    “Eileen, I’m heading to the restaurant. Need a ride?” Aaron’s voice came through.


    “Not there; no need for that. I suddenly have something urgent to deal with tonight. How about we schedule for another day?” Eileen said.


    Aaron’s displeasure was evident. “How can you cancel? I’ve been waiting for tonight!”


    Deprived of maternal warmth, Aaron had grown into a willful character, not one to easily shake off dissatisfaction. Eileen endeavored to calm him. Given her role, funded by his father to guide his studies, her demeanor needed to reflect patience and understanding.


    “Don’t be angry. Today’s turn of events was unforeseen. Next time, I assure you, mymitment will stand,” Eileen said.


    A slight huff from Aaron carried his frustration. “Just remember, if next time slips away, you’ll owe me.”


    Eileen chuckled. “Take a good look at what I sent you earlier. We’ll talk about rescheduling another time.”


    After ending the call, Aaron’s irritation lingered. He called Han.


    “You arranged for Eileen to tutor me, but she also has a job. Isn’t that too much for her? She might burn out. We should look at lightening her load, or my studies might suffer, and her health with it,” Aaron said.


    “You’re right. I’ll find a solution to that soon. Anything else? I need to return to my meeting now,” Han replied.


    With the call concluded, Eileen swiveled to find Bryan nearby. He was leaning against the front of the car, his shirt untucked from his pants, his allure wrapped in a smoky veil. His gaze,ced with a touch of mockery, found hers.


    “Do you have ns tonight?” he asked.


    Eileen hesitated for a moment, then said, “I already canceled.”


    Bryan closed the distance, a cloud of smoke wafting around them. “Feeling regretful? It could be sleeping with you tonight, yet here I am, monopolizing your evening.”


    Eileen was taken aback by his words. Her eyes widened as she stared at Bryan.


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