Chapter 348
Max guessed it. He had assumed that the female employee was after company data, but as he watched her shed her clothes, it dawned on him that she was pursuing a different kind of relationship altogether. A wave of revulsion surged through him.
There was disinfectant in the room, and he doused his phone in it repeatedly, gingerly holding it in his palm afterward. Still, there was a hint of reluctance in his heart. That carer had definitely touched his phone and even answered his calls.
He checked the call log. It was clean–conversations with some executives at Dorsey International and then with business partners.
If any of those people had called, the female employee wouldn’t have dared to delete it. But since she did, it meant the caller was a woman.
Which woman would call him? Only Brielle.
His private number was a closely guarded secret, and as for Aubree, he dismissed her instantly, not even considering her as a woman.
Max analyzed the situation briefly and made the call. It took a full minute for the call to be picked up on the other end.
By then, Brielle had composed herself enough to remain calm. So when Max asked, she nodded, then realizing he couldn’t see her, she quickly spoke up. “Yes, Mr. Dorsey, I came into work today and found out that the book project was handed over to William. Why
Dorsey International was set to invest two billion in the project. Although she and Max had been skeptical at first, the book had made some concessions, prompting Dorsey International to take on the project.
Logically, with Alivia’s involvement, Max, as the CEO, should have been approving every stage. of the project. Now, it seemed he was completely out of the loop–even the approvals hadn’t gone through him. What was going on?
“Are you aware of this, Mr. Dorsey? If William has bypassed you, that means he’s-”
She was cut off mid–sentence by Max. “Is your injury healed?”
His tone was soft, so tender it felt like it could drip through the phone. Across the miles and through the wires, his words pierced Brielle’s heart. It was a mixture of pain, and sweetness.
Max had always had this unreasonable way of invading one’s heart. She fell silent, waiting for her rapidly beating heart to settle. It was like an arrow shot across mountains and rivers, always finding its target in the person whose heart fluttered.
Max, however, didn’t give her time to respond. “What wishes did you make at Radiant Light Church?”
Why did he even need to ask that?
Brielle bit het ling her delicate flesh was caught between her teeth as if she might draw blood. She hated how vulnerable she felt. She was like a fish gasping for breath on a cutting board, surviving only on the occasional droplets of water Max spared her. In the moments he withheld, she lay there, gasping, staring at the sky.
The feeling of being out of control or of placing one’s hope in someone else was truly dreadful.
“Just a few simple wishes.” She deliberately cooled her tone, but then she heard Max chuckle softly on the other end.
“You have every right to be angry. I broke our appointment and haven’t had the chance to apologize.”
Brielle’s eyes welled up instantly, reminded of the sunset she’d seen on her way to Radiant Light Church. If only the person who had made promises to her had been there to see that brilliant sunset with her. But some moments, once missed, were gone forever.
Even if there were more beautiful sunsets in the future, they would never be like that one. Such a sense of loss would stick like a thorn in one’s heart.
But on the night Max left the country, they made love.
In truth, she had regrets because Max was the most rational person she’d ever met. He was always able to control his emotions with ease. He could have anyone he wanted, and if he chose to leave, he could do so without a second thought.
They had just broken up, yet they had immediately shared an intimate moment.
She could still feel the warmth he left on her skin.
Scorching.
Burning hot.
