THREE

Every pair of eyes turned to a girl strutting arrogantly towards the CEO's office. Her red dress perfectly matched the lipstick on her thin lips, and her sharp gaze was concealed behind black sunglasses—Anna Margaret, the youngest daughter of Robinson, the owner of the digital marketplace app company.

The girl moved freely and unashamedly in and out of the Griffin Company, as her name had become the talk of the local employees. After news of their arranged marriage, it had become a headline on various private television stations and newspapers.

"Where's Griffin?" Anna asked, taking off her sunglasses and addressing Dicky, who was Griffin's manager.

"In his office," Dicky replied curtly, seemingly unwilling to engage with Anna. Since their first meeting, Dicky had no desire to get to know her better.

Anna, like many rich girls, was arrogant and haughty. She wanted to be respected but seemed to belittle everyone she met.

The girl opened the door to the CEO's office, and Zaylee, who was indeed in the room, stood up to greet her. The girl with shoulder-length hair kept her head down, her eyes fixed on the floor, showing respect to Anna, who merely smirked, resembling a demon.

"Griffin!" Anna called in a flirtatious tone, and Zaylee rolled her eyes lazily. Her stomach felt queasy hearing Anna's repulsive and exaggerated voice.

"Why did you come here? Didn't I tell you to wait for me at the boutique?" Griffin said, his expression cold, clearly displeased with Anna's arrival.

"I got bored waiting alone there!" Anna replied in a timid tone, approaching Griffin and draping herself on the muscular man's arm.

Griffin tried to release her, looking uncomfortable with Anna's aggressive behaviour. Occasionally, Griffin glanced at Zaylee, who was focused on her monitor rather than the ridiculous spectacle before her.

Zaylee seemed unfazed, continuing her work as if Anna's presence didn't bother her. It was all a professional façade to conceal the turmoil within her.

"In that case, let's go!" Griffin said, forcibly pushing Anna's tiny hand away, grabbing his jacket, and quickly putting some distance between himself and Anna.

"Darling, wait for me! I can't wait to be your wife!" Anna's whining sounded insincere. She was clearly exaggerating her tone as she walked past Zaylee once more, who had to stand up again to see her off.

Griffin took a deep breath, restraining himself from pushing Anna away. Regardless, she was a woman, and Griffin tried to show some respect.

All eyes were on their departure, and there was an air of respect despite the gossip surrounding their business-driven marriage. And then there was his relationship with his secretary, Zaylee. Everyone knew about it, and the buzz about their failed love story due to Griffin's parents' interference was common knowledge.

Griffin stopped in his tracks as he reached his sports car, and Anna looked at him with confusion as he checked his jacket and pants pockets.

"Wait a moment! I forgot my phone," Griffin said, returning to his office while Anna sighed in frustration.

Anna wasn't foolish; she knew it was an old trick Griffin used. She knew Griffin always did this when a man left his office. She also knew that despite her parents' assurances that she had won without competition, Zaylee still held a place in Griffin's life.

Griffin furrowed his brow when he saw that Zaylee's chair was empty. He realized that she must have gone to the restroom.

"Ahem..." Griffin cleared his throat, trying to let Zaylee know he was still in the room. It was a futile effort because the soundproof design of the room meant she couldn't hear him.

The running water from the bathroom couldn't mask the sound of Zaylee trying to control her nausea. It was something Griffin had been unaware of, at least until she informed him of her condition. Every day before going home, Zaylee would vomit in the bathroom. The presence of her unborn child made her feel weak and reminded her of the essence of being a woman.

After a long while, Zaylee emerged from the bathroom, almost stumbling backwards when she saw that Griffin was waiting outside. She didn't pay much attention to him, though. Griffin tried to act casual, concealing his surprise at her pale and weak appearance.

Zaylee took a sip of her water, replenishing her energy. Griffin approached Zaylee while she was drinking.

"Is there anything left, sir? You can send a message for me to deliver it. No need to wait for me like earlier!" Zaylee said in a formal tone.

"Tomorrow..." Griffin's words hung in the air, and he scratched his neck as if holding back embarrassment in front of Zaylee, who was patiently waiting for what Griffin would say.

"What's with tomorrow?" Zaylee quickly asked, impatient to hear Griffin continue.

"Let's meet! There's something I need to talk to you about!" Griffin avoided eye contact with Zaylee, as it made his thoughts jumble.

"What's it about? You can say it here!" Zaylee's expression remained flat, uninterested in Griffin's invitation.

"I can't! If you're unwilling to meet outside, I can come to your apartment!" Griffin sounded insistent.

"No need! Tomorrow, we'll meet at the restaurant across the street at eight o'clock," Zaylee replied firmly, clearly rejecting Griffin's advances. After all, she saw no reason for him to come to her apartment.

Griffin smiled satisfactorily and then left. His wish was fulfilled; there was no need to linger with Zaylee. Every day, he felt the urge to distance himself. Unfortunately, their jobs were intertwined with each other."

"What took you so long?" Anna asked, flushed, her hands crossed in front of her chest. Her expression showed that she had been seething with anger for some time now.

"You lied to me! You said you left your phone behind! I'm not stupid! You always have your phone with you, even in the shower!" Anna chided, her shoulders rising and falling rapidly as she spoke.

"Why do you have the right to be angry with me? Whether I lied or not is none of your business, is it?" Griffin replied cynically once they were inside the car.

"You should not overstep your boundaries. Our marriage is only for the company's benefit, nothing more," Griffin added, stepping on the gas and leaving the basement.