Chapter 184
Nora Eilish kneaded her throbbing temples, the intensity of her headache making even her own voice seem like a sharp lance to her nerves. With a furrowed brow, she muttered, "Why all this conjecture? Simply meet her, and all will be clear."
"Your brother's first love has rendered him bashful; he's not even revealing her name. I suspect it will be some time before he brings her home. And perhaps that's for the best. Once he's settled, matrimony won't be far behind."
"Mmm," Nora responded, her brow creasing further, finding it difficult to match the enthusiasm.
For starters, she held a firm belief that no woman could ever measure up to her flawless brother. Moreover, her own romantic life was a dead-end street, and she was not eager to relinquish Anthony's exclusive affection.
When a man makes a choice, it often happens swiftly. Anthony was such a man, and so was Samuel. Despite her relentless pursuit of Samuel over the years, she had been unsuccessful; Layla had captured his heart in a heartbeat.
Nora's mental equilibrium began to falter. Known for her cool demeanor, she found herself rapidly undone by irritation.
Brenda, noticing her sour mood, likely attributed it to Samuel yet again. She opened her mouth to suggest moving on, but the words seemed futile; everything that could be said had already been said.
"Just retreat to your room and rest-I'll request the maid to bring up your medicine."
"Okay."
...
The room was bathed in a warm, yellow glow.
Layla sat at the vanity, her fingers idly twirling the diamond ring on her finger, her lips curved in a contented smile.
"Still grinning to yourself, Mrs. Holland?" Fresh from the shower, a shirtless Samuel emerged from the bathroom, encircled her from behind, and planted a kiss on her neck.
"Quit your teasing. We're not wed yet," she chided, her voice filled with sweet laughter.
"Oh? Having second thoughts? Planning an escape?" Samuel's arms tightened around her, a blend of possessiveness and doting affection.
Layla playfully pushed back, saying, "Who knows, Alice just suggested some romance novels about elopements that sound rather exciting."
"Spanking can be exciting too. Care to try?"
"Enough."
But once he held her, Samuel seemed enchanted, unable to resist his desire, his hands instinctively moving towards her slender waist...
His kisses sent shivers down Layla's spine, making her breathe heavily, "Stop... not now... I... I have something to tell you."
"Let's talk somewhere more comfortable," Samuel suggested, lifting her up gently and then showering her with kisses.
Before the tempest of passion completely swept her away, with the last ounce of her strength, Layla placed her hands against his chest, panting, "Wait, listen to me first..."
"Do you recall me mentioning that I grew up in an orphanage? They're reconstructing it. Could you donate... a million dollars?" To him, that sum was a mere drop in the ocean-tonight's fireworks had cost more.
"It depends on your performance," Samuel responded with a mischievous grin.
"What kind of performance?"
"This kind," he replied, disregarding her dazed state, and kissed her fervently.
The night was ablaze with untamed passion.
After a wild night, Layla arrived at work the next day with wobbly legs.
She was grateful for the cool weather, as it allowed her to wear a scarf without arousing suspicion.
That devil of a man, always leaving marks on her neck that made her incredibly self-conscious.
As soon as Layla entered the office, her phone buzzed with a new message.
"Our heartfelt thanks to Miss Adkins for your generous donation of ten million dollars to the Sunny Kids Foundation."
Her heart skipped a beat.
That man was certainly proactive.
But... ten million?
Last night, hadn't he mentioned just a million? He was a businessman, after all-looks like she'd be paying back the rest in installments.
The thought made Layla feel both elated and slightly terrified.
"Hey, Alice! Good morning!" Layla greeted with a radiant smile that left Alice dumbfounded and in sheer amazement.
"What's got you in such a great mood today?"
Trying to contain her joy, Layla was eager to share her happiness with her close friend.
"Come here, I've got something to show you."
"What is it? All this mystery!"
They sneaked off to the stairwell.
Layla pulled out a necklace, from which dangled her wedding ring.
"Is that...Wow! Did the CEO propose to you?" Alice couldn't help but exclaim loudly.
Layla quickly covered her mouth, "Shh, not so loud."
"I can't help it, I'm shocked! Looks like the CEO is seriously into you. Did you guys make up?"
With a smile, Layla nodded her head.
"That's good. You had me worried with how down you've been lately. I knew he wasn't the hit-and-run type. Oh my, you're going to be the CEO's wife, and I'm so jealous!" Alice went on a wild rant of envy and admiration.
As they returned to the office, Alice felt it was time to talk business.
"Since you were off yesterday, you might not know, but today we're expecting a new team leader who'll also be managing things. They say the company lured a designer away from LONE with a big offer, Susan."
"Susan the goddess!" Layla exclaimed.
"Yeah, her. You've seen her on TV, right? Absolutely stunning and so talented. She's knocked many a guy off his feet. Although..."
"Although what?"
"Even she doesn't have the luck you do-becoming the CEO's wife even before graduation."
Layla laughed and playfully rolled her eyes, "There you go making fun of me again."
While they were chatting, a voice echoed.
"Mrs. Susan, the conference room is this way."
A subtle hint of cool, feminine perfume lingered in the air, heralding the arrival of a tall woman dressed in sleek professional attire. Her long, black, curly hair framed a face adorned with bold brows and phoenix-like eyes-twenty-eight years of age, possessing enchantingly beautiful features. Yet, her countenance remained devoid of emotion, exuding an aura of ultimate aloofness. Around her, an undeniable air of nobility permeated.
Layla and Alice found themselves utterly captivated.
Susan, undoubtedly the reigning ice queen of the design world, commanded attention in the conference room. Her tall, model-like figure was captivating; she exuded a cool detachment not out of snobbery, but rather an intrinsic part of her serious and reserved nature.
Such a woman, brimming with feminine allure, was a challenge that men yearned to conquer, yet dared not approach carelessly.
"Since everyone here already knows me, I'll skip the introductions. In my hands, I have the documents for the latest five-star hotel project developed by Eilish Group, and I'm entrusting this project to Layla."
Layla's eyes widened in astonishment, while Alice offered her an envious but congratulatory smile.
At first, murmurs of astonishment filled the room, only to be followed by a solemn silence. Soon, objections began to surface amidst exchanged glances among colleagues.
"This isn't fair."
"That's right, what has Layla done besides a small boutique project? She lacks the experience and achievements. Why give her such a significant project?"
"Based on seniority and ability, any one of us would be stronger than her. At best, she's just been a bit luckier."
"Exactly!"
"Mrs. Susan, did Mr. Marley specifically tell you to take special care of her?" someone asked sarcastically.
"Surely, she's the chosen one, always under Mr. Marley's wing. If that's the case, then I have nothing more to say."