?Chapter 383:


    She reached for her phone in a panic, but Merlin was quicker. He snatched it before she could even unlock the screen, his mood shifting like a sudden storm. “Why do you have to consult Elliana for everything?” he asked, his eyes sharp. “You’re an adult. A college graduate. You’re even two years older than her. Can’t you make your own decisions?”


    His words stung, and she flinched inwardly. He wasn’t wrong. Elliana was only twenty—barely out of SATs—while she was twenty-two, a degree-holder, technically the one who should be giving advice, not seeking it.


    But Elliana was different. Always had been. Sharp as a tack, confident beyond her years, and uncannily intuitive. Somewhere along the way, Hailee had started leaning on her, not just as a friend, but as apass.


    As Hailee hesitated, Merlin’s gaze bore into her, unrelenting. No way was he letting her call Elliana. That venomous Elliana had always had it out for him—if she even…


    Hailee fidgeted under the weight of Merlin’s gaze. The offer seemed too good, too surreal. Her instincts screamed at her to think it through, but her mouth moved faster than her mind. “Okay,” she heard herself say. “I’ll do it. I’ll be your secretary.”


    Merlin’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile. Without a word, he tapped lightly on the partition between them and the driver. The partition slid down almost immediately.


    “Yes, Mr. kely?” Lucas asked, his eyes flicking to Merlin.


    “Prepare an employment contract,” Merlin said smoothly. “Her title is Executive Secretary to the CEO.”


    “Right away,” Lucas replied without missing a beat.


    Secondster, he handed Hailee a sleek tablet. “Ms. Loftus, please review the terms. If everything’s in order, you can sign right here.”


    Hailee stared at the screen, blinking. So, this was how things worked in the upper echelons—swift, paperless, clinical in its efficiency. No hoops, no waiting. Just instant results. Still, wasn’t this moving a little too fast?


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    Hailee epted the tablet from Lucas, her hands heating up as if she were holding something far more dangerous than a device. It felt less like a contract and more like signing her life away.


    Her heart fluttered nervously as she began scrolling through the contract, scanning every use while Merlin sat beside her in silence, his eyes locked on her every move.


    Inside the vehicle, the atmosphere was tense and still—not a single word was spoken.


    Everyone in the car, from Merlin’s driver to the assistant and the bodyguards, knew what was unfolding. Their boss was quietly luring the clueless Hailee into his web, while she naively believed she was simply returning a favor.


    When Hailee hit the use detailing the sry, she nearly dropped the tablet.


    “Something wrong?” Merlin asked smoothly, timing his question with uncanny precision.


    Hailee looked up at him, eyes full of disbelief. “Mr. kely, my sry…”


    “Not enough?” Merlin asked, his tone unreadable.


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