Chapter 3:

Lena stared at her phone screen that had just gone dark, a petulant pout on her face. It looked like her day off was going to be spent at work again!

She arrived at the office with haste. She took a moment to regulate her breathing before she knocked on Ethan's door.

Ethan was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, sunlight streaking across his body, adding a hint of warmth to his aloof, distinguished demeanor.

"Mr. Walker, you asked for me?"

Lena approached him respectfully from the back. Ethan turned around, his face cold. The softness she thought she had seen earlier when the sunlight landed on him seemed nothing more than an illusion cast by her own mind.

"Bring me the contract we have with Triumph Group."

Lena was confused. Wasn't Marcus Hale in charge of things like contracts? Wouldn't it have been easier to have someone from the legal department deliver it to him? Why did he call her back from her day off?

Despite feeling confused, Lena did not dare to voice any of her complaints. She obediently went to the legal department to retrieve the contract.

Ethan picked up a pen and circled a few areas on the contract before passing it to Lena. "Make some changes to these areas."

"Understood."

Lena returned to her office with the contract in hand. Just as she sat down, she received a message from Aria.

Aria asked, "Why are you taking such a long time at the bank?"

Lena replied, "I was called back to the company to modify the contract by Mr. Walker."

Aria was perplexed. "What? Okay, how long will it take for you to finish? Should we go shopping after you're done?"

Lena sent her reply, "Probably about half an hour, I suppose. I'll message you when I'm done."

Aria agreed, "Alright."

After putting her phone away, Lena began modifying the contract. What she did not know was that through the blinds, Ethan saw all her frowning and pouting while she was messaging Aria.

About half an hour later, Lena took the revised contract back to Ethan's office.

Ethan circled a few more spots on the revised contract. It went back and forth like that several times. It seemed like the problems on the contract could never be fully rectified, which made Lena feel a bit distressed, so she made herself a cup of coffee.

She was not sure if it was her imagination, but it seemed to her that Mr. Walker was intentionally making a fuss...

Half an hour passed again.

She tentatively brought Ethan a cup of coffee along with the revised contract. "Mr. Walker, this is the revised contract, and here is a cup of coffee I've made for you."

Ethan glanced up at her, accepting the contract. "Alright, let's leave it at that."

Following that, with a click, Ethan lit up his lighter. The stench of gasoline and nicotine spread through the air, instantly overwhelming the aroma of the coffee. It was an atmosphere of unprecedented oppressiveness.

All Lena wanted was to escape. "Mr. Walker, if there's nothing else, I think—"

"Was the one you wanted to yell at earlier your boyfriend?"

Ethan interrupted her.

"What?" Lena was caught off guard. Her brain spun as she remembered the phone call before returning to the company!

Caught off by surprise, she did not know how to respond. She wanted to say it was not, but she was also afraid he would misunderstand that she had purposely yelled at him.

Just as she was about to explain herself, Ethan added coldly, "It’s a company rule that any employee under 25 years old who is in a relationship will be dismissed."

Was there such a rule? How did she not know about that? Could it be a measure to dissuade staff from romantic affairs that could affect work efficiency?

Thinking about the risk of dismissal, without much thinking, she immediately replied, "No, no! I just want to work diligently for the company and make money. I have no plans for romance!" As she slipped away, the oppressive feeling in the air noticeably lessened.

Ethan, feigning composure, blew out a ring of smoke. "You'd better do as you say and thoroughly memorize the rules designated for assistants."

Just as he was about to list the rules one-by-one to remind Lena, the sound of knocking came from the door. It was Marcus Hale. He was Ethan's right-hand man, the director of the Walker Group.

"I'll step out first."

Knowing that Marcus certainly had important matters to discuss with the president, Lena tactfully took her leave.

As soon as she returned to her workstation, she unexpectedly realized that she had left her phone in Ethan's office!

D*mn it!

Lena plucked up her courage to go back to Ethan's office. Just as she was about to knock on the door, she heard Ethan's cold voice.

"Has there been any news from that woman?"

Her hand that was about to knock on the door immediately froze.

“It’s confirmed. The madam had ordered to drug you that night." Marcus emphasized every word. "That woman might have been hidden by the madam... This time, the madam might insist on you marrying her!"

"Hmm." Ethan's voice carried a hint of disdain and danger. "Find that woman and deal with her."

"Yes!" Marcus's response was marked with derision as well.

Lena's face turned pale as she eavesdropped outside the door. Were they still looking for the woman from that night? Deal with her... Suddenly, she was covered in goosebumps. If they found out that she was that woman in question, they would definitely show her no mercy!

Marcus opened the door and saw Lena. Upon seeing her, he furrowed his eyebrows. "Miss Hayes?"

"Hello, Mr. Hale."

Lena immediately suppressed her emotions and greeted him respectfully even though her mind was in chaos. Marcus glanced at her pale face and asked, "Miss Hayes, you look a little off. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Ah, I-I might've caught a bit of a cold," Lena answered, trying to cover her nervousness.

Ethan, who was disturbed by the commotion at the door, spoke indifferently, "Are you guys having a casual chat during work hours? Are you asking for a salary deduction?"

"Aren't we having our dedicated break time?"

Marcus objected softly as he shot a glance at Lena before hurrying away.

Swallowing nervously, Lena shuffled into Ethan's office, her legs weak. "I'm sorry, Mr. Walker. I left my phone here." Having said that, she went to get it.

Just as she did so, the screen of her phone on the coffee table lit up. Ethan took it before she could, glancing at the icy case of the phone and then at the screen. At the top was a partially hidden message... Ethan's face darkened instantly.

"Miss Hayes, what mistake have you made?"

Already pale, Lena turned even more ashen at Ethan's query. She flicked her eyes to the screen. The texts were from Aria.

Aria had said, "Aren't you done yet? Is Mr. Walker keeping you back? Just say that it's not your fault, you were just..."

Since the message was too long, the rest were not displayed. However, the words "kept back" and "fault" made Lena feel as if her mind had exploded!

Terrified, Lena reached out to snatch her phone back. Ethan lifted her phone high, his gaze stern and sharp. "Speak! What bad deeds have you done that warrant my detention of you?"

Lena's lips trembled, and she felt somewhat suffocated. "No, it's not..."

Her mind was a total mess, and she could not think of a plausible excuse.

"Then what is it?" Ethan looked at her enigmatically, clearly waiting for her explanation.

Lena closed her eyes, "Mr. Walker, I’ve been hiding something from you!"

"Oh? You've always been forthright in your dealings. What have you been hiding?"

Ethan was a strict, overbearing boss who rarely praised his subordinates, but such excessive praise turned out to be more like a death sentence for Lena.

Just as she was at a loss as to how to cover her lie, a new message came from Aria.

"Reply to my messages. Has Mr. Walker discovered the truth? I'm dying of anxiety! Do not ever admit it! Just say you're under a lot of work stress, and you were momentarily hot-headed..."

The messages were too much to handle. Cold sweat broke out on Lena's forehead.

Ethan stared at her in silence. Left with no choice, Lena could only take a chance along the line of "work" mentioned in Aria's message. Holding her breath, she murmured, "I kept it from the company that I took a part-time job during my vacation!"

"A part-time job?" Ethan raised his eyebrows, and an inexplicable look flashed across his eyes