Ten minutes later, everyone reluctantly gathered in the conference room. When they saw Haley's cold, expressionless face, they felt a sinking feeling of dread.Hearing the footsteps, Haley turned her head toward the door. Seeing them standing there without coming in, she raised an eyebrow. "What? Is there a monster inside?""No, no!"Everyone shook their heads vigorously, afraid Haley might get angry.Once they were seated, no one dared to breathe too loudly, fearing Haley might settle scores.However, five minutes passed, and Haley had not said a word. She just stared at them quietly. Though she was beautiful, their guilty consciences made her gaze unsettling.Finally, someone could not bear it anymore and stood up abruptly. "Miss Haley, I'm sorry. I apologize for my past mistakes."Seeing this, others followed suit, standing up and apologizing one by one. Their voices were so loud that even with the conference room's good soundproofing, people in the hallway could hear them.
With this reassurance, everyone who had been nervous felt a wave of calm wash over them.Yes, they had Miss Haley! She was so capable and under her leadership, they were bound to succeed! Gradually, everyone began to feel hopeful and confident about this collaboration.Haley observed everyone's expressions, a hint of a smile in her clear eyes. She began to assign tasks, instructing everyone to be diligent and strive to secure this partnership. The team, excited and motivated, eagerly took on their assignments and immediately dove into their work.After the meeting, Sue approached with a file in hand, her expression one of surprise. "Miss Haley, I just received a call from Morning Dew Design Co. They said they're coming to visit this afternoon. Is that true?""Of course," Haley replied with a slight smile.Sue covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes wide with surprise. "Miss Haley, when did this happen? Why didn't you tell me earlier? You gave me quite a shock!"Haley glanced a
"I might be home late tonight. There's still a lot to do. Don't wait up for me," Haley said into the phone.On the other end, there was a brief silence before Shane's low, slightly aggrieved voice replied, "Alright then, just don't drink tonight and come home early."A sweet smile appeared on Haley's face. "Okay, I know."After hanging up, Luna teased, "I never would have guessed that the famously cold-hearted Mr. Ford could be like this in private."Haley's cheeks turned a bit red. "He can be a bit childish sometimes. Sorry you had to see that."Luna waved her hand dismissively. "Not at all, I find it quite refreshing."She could not fathom how a man as powerful and aloof as Mr. Ford could be so submissive to one woman. It was almost unbelievable. Luna's eyes held a newfound respect for Haley.After dinner with Luna, it was past ten at night. Though Haley had only had one glass of wine, her head was already feeling light. Her pale cheeks were tinged with an unusual flush, and
Especially now that she was pregnant, facing such an adorable and obedient Haley, Sue had no resistance. However, thinking of what she needed to do, the smile on Sue's face faded a bit."Miss Haley, drink some water to sober up?""I'm not drunk!" Haley pouted but still obediently took the water. Just as she was about to drink, Sue's sharp voice rang out."Wait—"Haley paused, and before she knew it, the glass was taken from her hand.Sue forced a smile, explaining, "I thought I saw a bug in the cup. Let me get you a new one."Haley shook her head, using the table to stand up. "Never mind, I don't want it. Let's go home."Right now, she really, really wanted to see Shane and share her joy with him.Sue silently dumped the water and quickly helped Haley out of the hotel. She had called a driver ahead of time, but to her surprise, they ran into an unexpected person at the hotel entrance.Seeing the man's face, Sue's pupils contracted."Mr. Ford?"Shane gave a slight nod and shi
Haley's voice was soft and sweet, with an irresistible charm. Hearing her, Shane felt his heart melt completely. How could his Haley be so adorable and endearing?He lowered his head, gently kissed her smooth, full forehead. His eyes were filled with endless love.After holding her for a while, Haley started to fidget in Shane's arms. It felt like a fire was burning inside her, threatening to consume her entirely. She furrowed her brows slightly, instinctively reaching up to tug at her collar. The top button of her white shirt quickly came undone, revealing a patch of smooth, white skin."So hot..."Seeing her action, Shane's eyelid twitched, and he quickly grabbed her hand to stop her from going any further. He sighed and fixed her shirt, softly coaxing, "Hang in there, we're almost home. Just a little longer, okay?"But Haley, feeling uncomfortable, could not hear his words. She squirmed, trying to break free from Shane's embrace. Normally, she loved snuggling into Shane's
The butler listened and felt even more sympathy for her. He glared at Shane, his tone filled with worry and reproach. "Madam is still young and doesn't know better. Why didn't you stop her? How much did she drink? Just look at her, all flushed..."He kept muttering, his voice laced with concern for Haley. Normally, anyone daring to speak to Shane like this would face his icy demeanor, but now he remained silent.When the butler finally stopped, Shane calmly said, "Haley is asleep. I'll take her upstairs."Realizing what he had just done, the butler felt a wave of anxiety. He quickly stepped aside, making way for Shane. As Shane carried Haley up the stairs, the butler regretted his outburst. Was he out of his mind? What had possessed him to speak to his boss that way? Was Shane considering firing him now?Shane, unaware of the butler's worries, gently laid Haley on the soft bed. He carefully tucked her in before leaving the room.Half an hour later, Shane appeared in the private
"No, no, it's not like that! Mr. Ford, please listen to me!" Xena struggled to crawl towards Shane, her voice frantic and desperate. "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me. Mr. Ford, please believe me! I wasn't even at the competition that day!"Shane sneered, "Do you need me to explain why you weren't at the competition that day?"He stared at Xena intently, his eyes filled with a cold, sharp glint. His gaze was as if he were looking at a person on death row. Xena shivered under his icy, piercing eyes, feeling as though she had been plunged into an ice-cold abyss. Her shoulders hunched, and her voice, which had been full of panic and urgency, grew weaker and less confident.Despite her usual arrogance and willfulness, she knew better than to ignore the gravity of the situation. Shane might have seemed calm on the surface, but his deep eyes held a storm of fury. This Shane, with his understated but overwhelming presence, scared her to the core. It was an instinctual fear, the kind t
This moment would haunt Xena for years to come, forever etched into her nightmares. She could never forget the look in Shane's eyes as he stared at her like she was nothing more than a dead thing.A second later, a pair of hands shoved her from behind, sending her hurtling towards the open window. Her body fell uncontrollably, forming a perfect arc in the air. Xena's scream pierced the silence, her eyes wide with terror. "Ahhh!"The sound of rushing wind filled her ears, and she could vaguely hear the murmurs of passersby below. Just as she thought her life was over, her descent halted abruptly. Hanging upside down, Xena realized there was a rope tied around her waist. She looked up and saw the two bodyguards staring down at her, their faces impassive."Please, pull me up! I'm afraid of heights!" Xena pleaded, her voice shaky.The bodyguards exchanged a glance and smirked. "Afraid of heights? Perfect. Our boss said you need to truly understand fear to learn that some people a