?Chapter 156:


    The director then inquired, with a hint of concern, “Miss Gordon, are you ill? Your voice sounds different.”


    There was a moment of silence. Ellie’s smile stiffened momentarily. “Just a minor throat issue, no impact on my work.”


    “There’s nothing more for today. Miss Gordon, would you like to visit the thirty-eighth floor?” asked the director, aware of Ellie’s close ties with Kaiden.


    Ellie inquired directly, “Does he need me for anything?”


    “No, he doesn’t.”


    “Then I shall pass. I have a dinner engagement. I’ll be off now.” Ellie wouldn’t seek out Kaiden without a purpose.


    On the thirty-eighth floor:


    “Mr. Thorpe, today Mrs. Thorpe’s voice seemed unusual,” Bruce informed Kaiden. “She may have a cold since she seems to be experiencing a sore throat.”


    Kaiden’s brow creased at the mention of a cold, but at the mention of a sore throat, realization dawned, and a subtle smile touched his eyes. Ellie hadn’t caught a cold. It was a consequence of her vocal cries during their lovemaking.


    “Hmm.” Kaiden’s response was brief yet telling.


    Bruce was puzzled by Kaiden’s delight at Ellie’s difort, but he refrained from questioning it.


    Kaiden, setting aside his pen cap, asked, “Where is she now?”


    “She left for a dinner engagement,” Bruce replied.


    Kaiden’s expression turned grim instantly.


    Another dinner engagement?


    Why did she have so many appointments every day?


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    Meanwhile, Ellie received a call from Essence not long after leaving GT Group.


    “Ellie, have you gone broke and lost your mind? Is a mere few hundred thousand dors worth such a fuss?” Essence’s voice was a mix of anger and incredulity, struggling to retain herposure.


    Beep! Beep!


    Ellie drove the Koenigsegg Kaiden gave her to work today. The car unlocked itself as soon as she approached it with the key.


    “A few hundred thousand is still significant. And as Mrs. Thorpe, I’m hardly poor,” Ellie retorted, her wordsced with disdain for Essence.


    “You… How shameful, Ellie,” Essence seethed. “Send me your bank details. I’ll transfer a million. Just leave me alone.”


    “I’ll have mywyer handle it,” Ellie responded, wary of any direct financial dealings with Essence. She wouldn’t give Essence her bank ount directly. What if Essence ndered her for fraud instead?


    “Don’t get toofortable, Ellie. Your status as Mrs. Thorpe won’tst. Carole Lambert’s return will be your downfall.”


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