Chapter 192
The crowd of spectators formed a ring around the scene, their faces alight with anticipation for the unfolding drama. Fingers were readily pointed at Layla, accusing her of being the instigator of the incident. She stood defenseless as Gioanna's voice rose above the murmurs, threatening to involve the police.
Jane was on the verge of dialing the authorities when Susan intervened.
"Is it truly necessary to escalate such a minor incident?" Susan questioned, her voice steady. She was a veteran when it came to navigating workplace dynamics and had little tolerance for such disruptive behavior.
"This is far from a minor matter," Gioanna retorted, her anger palpable. "She pushed me into the wishing fountain. What if I had hit my head? She could never compensate for that, and I can't even swim!"
Jane chimed in, her grin mischievous, "How is that any different from murder?"
Alice, however, stood in Layla's defense. "Layla would never do such a thing. You're quick to blame her, but for all we know, you might've jumped in there intentionally."
Gioanna's anger flared at their words. "You're all a nest of rats," she accused, her finger pointed at the two women.
"Susan, I've tolerated your favoritism towards her in the past, but this is too much. I can't bear it any longer. Regardless of what you say, I'm calling the police."
Before the situation could escalate further, Mr. Smith stepped in. "Everyone, let's calm down," he urged, helping Gioanna out of the fountain. "We're all colleagues here. Involving the police won't reflect well on the Holland Group. Let's just let it go, for my sake."
Gioanna felt wronged, but in the end, no one called the police. She and Jane walked away, grumbling under their breath. "This is infuriating. Why can't men ever see through these manipulative women? This injustice is too much to bear."
"Don't worry," Jane reassured her with a sly smile. "A sly fox always shows its tail. We'll keep an eye on her, and she's bound to slip up. Let's see how she wriggles out of that one..."
...
The clock struck nine in the evening.
After a barbecue with her colleagues, Layla returned to her hotel room. She changed into a comfortable nightgown and sprawled out on the bed, her thoughts drifting to the man she left back home. Deciding to video call him, she dialed his number.
The call connected after just two rings. Samuel appeared on the screen, dressed in a suit, his finger pressed to his lips signaling for silence.
Realizing he was in a meeting, Layla playfully stuck out her tongue, indicating she would hang up, but Samuel gestured for her to wait and stepped out of the conference room.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were in a meeting. You can hang up," Layla offered.
"If I hang up now, my little bunny will be hopping mad," Samuel teased.
"Since when am I that petty?" Layla laughed.
"Petty? I wouldn't want you to get suspicious."
"As if I'd ever doubt you."
"Really? That much trust? Is it because you've got me all figured out, or do you think your man lacks charm?"
Layla laughed, a hint of annoyance in her voice. If Samuel lacked charm, then there wouldn't be a man in the world who could be called charming. This thought made her worry, but for some reason, she had confidence in him.
"Because I trust my man," she affirmed.
What else could she do? Keep him tied up at home so other women wouldn't get their claws into him?
"Are you sure I'm trustworthy?" Samuel teased, a sly smile on his face.
"My heart is with you; how can I not be? Though, I do hope you'll get a little jealous sometimes."
...
Such words from a commanding CEO made Layla's heart flutter. She wished she could leap through the screen and shower him with kisses. A soft sob escaped her lips. Layla wasn't typically one to get clingy, but just seeing his face stirred a wave of longing within her.
"I miss you so much," Layla whispered tenderly.
"I miss you too," Samuel responded, his voice deep and filled with emotion.
Through the screen, it was as if they couldn't get enough of each other, wishing they could etch every detail of the other's face deep into their souls.
He was akin to an addiction. They had only just said their goodbyes that morning, yet she found herself yearning for his presence already.
" What exactly do you miss about me? Do you miss my physical presence or my emotional companionship?" he queried.
"Goodness, you're incorrigible," Layla responded with a chuckle, fluffing her pillow in an attempt to distract herself.
"So, which is it?" Samuel's voice took on a huskier tone, his words laced with a tantalizing promise.
Truth be told, Layla's thoughts had been purely innocent until his provocative inquiry. Now, she found herself feeling a bit disconcerted as her emotions began to stir.
"Perhaps we should change the subject," she suggested, attempting to regain control of the conversation.
After all, it was often said that seeing without touching could be more harmful than beneficial.
"How was your day?" she asked, steering the conversation towards safer waters.
"It was splendid," she lied, not wanting to burden him with her melancholy. More importantly, she was well aware of his protective nature; she didn't want her colleagues, Giovanna and Jane, to lose their jobs because of her.
"Your eyes tell a different story," Samuel observed, his perception always astute.
"That's merely because I miss you so much. Things would be better if you were here with me."
"I'll come over right now," he offered without hesitation.
"Don't. You're in the middle of a meeting. Besides, everyone's waiting for you," Layla remembered suddenly.
"It's fine, let them wait. I want to see you more," Samuel declared, his affection for her radiating so intensely through the screen that it nearly melted her.
While lips could deceive, the eyes of a lover never could. His feelings were pouring out so clearly that she felt as though she were drowning in them.
"Wait for me to return, and then we'll start planning our wedding," Samuel proposed.
"That soon?"
"Don't women fret about not fitting into their wedding dress if they wait too long?"
"You have a point there. A small wedding would suffice, just our close friends and family."
Samuel shook his head in disagreement, "My woman deserves the grandest wedding in the world."
Layla's heart fluttered at the thought, envisioning castle weddings, beachside ceremonies, grand and beautiful feasts... Abroad, with champagne and thousands of roses...
It was every woman's fairytale wedding dream.
"I want to tell the entire world that you, Layla, are mine," Samuel declared.
Deeply moved, Layla had only wanted a small wedding, but she found herself unable to resist his enticing proposal and nodded in agreement, "Alright, we'll start planning as soon as we're back."
Her mind was already brimming with fantasies
The tranquility was shattered by the sudden ringing of the doorbell.
"Who could that be?" Samuel inquired immediately.
"Probably Alice. I texted her to come over and keep me company."
"No way. You're only sleeping beside me." His words were laced with a hint of jealousy.
Layla chuckled with a smirk, "Typical Samuel, jealous even when I'm in bed with another woman, huh?"
Samuel snorted with faux arrogance.
"Alright, enough joking around. Get some rest after the meeting and steer clear of those sketchy places. Goodbye."
After ending the call, Layla hopped out of bed to answer the door.
"Alice..."
However, the person waiting on the other side wasn't Alice.
Her smile froze instantly.
"Mr. Smith?" Layla stammered, her hands instinctively smoothing the fabric of her skirt.
"I figured you hadn't hit the sack yet. You youngsters love to burn the midnight oil, don't you? I can't sleep either. Mind a little chat?" Mr. Smith suggested, lifting a bottle of red wine with a smile that Layla found rather sleazy.
"I was just about to turn in."
"Just a quick chat, a sip of wine might actually help you sleep."
"Mr. Smith, this isn't a good time."
The last thing she needed was colleagues getting the wrong idea...
Layla leaned against the door to keep him out, but Mr. Smith ignored her protest and forced his way into the room.