Chapter 74
The next morning, Brielle had barely stepped into the department when she felt a glare so intense it could bore holes. She turned and caught sight of Emily, lurking in a corner. Emily’s lips were pursed, her hands clenched around her cell phone as if it were a lifeline.
Initially, Brielle thought she was imagining things until lunch break, when Patrick sauntered onto her floor, and that feeling of being watched intensified.
“Ms. Brielle,” Patrick began, “Dorsey International will be collaborating with Hartley Group, and Mr. Flynn might drop by in person. He specifically requested to meet with you and hopes you’ll join him for the occasion.”
Glancing at her planner, Brielle noted her schedule was jam–packed. Without a manager promotion yet, she was bogged down with all the minutiae.
“When’s the date?”
“In a month’s time. Mr. Flynn had a message for you.”
“What’s the message?”
Surprised, Brielle hadn’t expected Flynn to remember someone as minor as her.
“He’s intrigued by your three principles of cognition and hopes to discuss certain ethical perspectives with you next time.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. How should one live their life? Was the pursuit of happiness more justifiable than upholding duty? Was goodness an external trait one can intuitively feel?
If it were Flynn, he would probably genuinely engage in such discussions.
“Sure, I’ll be there.”
Patrick nodded and flipped through his schedule. “The president will be out of Beaconsfield for the next three days. If you need anything, Ms. Brielle, feel free to reach out to me.”
That was as good as openly sharing Max’s private itinerary. The pen in Brielle’s fingers paused, the ink blotting the paper thickly.
“Alright.”
Three days. Hearing this, a twinge of disappointment flickered through her. She lowered her gaze and reined in her thoughts.
She worked overtime until 10 pm before leaving Dorsey International. The building was still brightly lit, casting reflections on the giant glass screens amidst the myriad lights of the cityscape.
Suddenly, Brielle felt an overwhelming sense of solitude. In this concrete jungle, even the night lacked warmth.
She tightened her scarf around her neck and sneezed as a cold breeze hit her. Footsteps approached from behind. At this hour, many were still burning the midnight oil.
A chill swept over her, quickly replaced by warmth as a black suit jacket was draped over her shoulders. Startled, she turned to see Max.
He was on a call, gesturing to her while speaking to someone on the other end, then walked out with Patrick in tow. His strides were long, and in no time, he was a dozen meters ahead, his silhouette elongated by the lights outside the glass canopy.
Brielle stood in the shadow of that silhouette.
“Stocks represent free cash flow, and the financial metrics are unclear,” his voice trailed off into the distance.
Brielle felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Motion and stillness, light and shadow, it was all emblematic of their relationship. Max probably never felt
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Chapter 74
loneliness; he moved through life with effortless grace. Just like now, casually draping a jacket over her shoulders without a second thought. His steps never faltered as he signaled to Patrick to take note of the meeting details.
To him, it was a mere flick of the wrist. To her, it was a breathtaking moment.
Brielle looked down and gently tugged at the fabric of the suit. It was smooth, clearly high quality..
She stood there for ages, until her legs began to tingle, before finally moving.
Nearby, Emily watched through thick–framed glasses, seething at the scene. She couldn’t believe Max would ever drape his jacket over a woman. He was above such mundane affairs. Yet, in that moment, Emily felt as if he had fallen from his pedestal. This realization fueled her jealousy to the brink of madness.
Her chest heaved with rage, her teeth clenched so tightly she could taste blood.
Why?
Fuming, Emily made a phone call. She wanted to ruin Brielle’s reputation, to make sure Brielle could no longer deceive people with that face. And she wanted Max to know how despicable this woman was at heart.
