Chapter 222

In the confines of the office, Layla's hand reached tentatively for the project progress report. However, Anthony's slender fingers gently pressed down on the folder, halting her movement.

"Layla," he began, his voice laced with a concern he tried to suppress, "you know I didn't come here for the project."

Layla paused, her response a mere whisper. "I'm fine."

Yet, her appearance belied her words. In just a few days, she had grown noticeably thinner, her usually vibrant face now haggard and drawn.

"Anthony," she said, forcing a small smile onto her lips, "don't worry, I won't cause you any more concern."

His next question was hesitant. "You and Samuel broke up?"

"Yeah." She nodded, her smile strained. "But it's more than that. It's more like I've completely given up hope."

"Layla..."

She cut him off, her voice firm. "There's no need to say anything, Anthony. I don't need comfort." She paused, adding softly, "I really am okay."

Comforting words had become a hollow echo to her, slightly embarrassing in their redundancy. Besides, Layla had no desire to keep rehashing old wounds.

"Regardless of whether you need it or not, I'm always here for you. I've always been here. Layla, I hope I'll be the first person you think of when you're in need."

"Thank you, Anthony."

In the lobby, Susan, clad in a Burberry trench coat over a black suit, strode with an energetic grace despite her four-inch heels. She issued a quiet order to her assistant, "Get the contract sorted out quickly and let me review it before anything else. We can't afford any mistakes."

"Got it, Susan. I'm on it."

The two of them stepped into the elevator in succession. As Susan pulled out her smartphone to reply to emails, she remained oblivious to the fact that a pair of eyes in the executive elevator next door were watching her intently.

Susan's image as a formidable, put-together woman was striking, a stark contrast to the radiant and charming figure she had been on another occasion. A woman with dual personas could be the most intriguing, especially since Susan was known for her social prowess.

Caleb narrowed his eyes, "Find out why Susan is here."

Ten minutes later, in the vice president's office.

"Caleb, the woman you saw earlier is Susan. She's a B-level designer at the Holland Group, currently in charge of the Eilish Group's five-star resort project. That's why she and her team are stationed here at the Eilish Group offices downstairs."

It was common for teams to be based onsite for convenience, but the fact that their office was just below was indeed curious. Caleb stroked his clean, attractive jawline, his deep-set eyes cold but distinctly masculine.

At 6:00 PM, Susan emerged from the underground parking garage elevator, engrossed in a phone call as she headed towards her Lexus.

Suddenly, a Jaguar luxury sedan pulled up in front of her, its sleek body barely brushing against her beige trench coat. Startled, Susan stopped in her tracks.

The driver's side window lowered, revealing Caleb's face-haughty to an extreme but with a hint of mischief in his intentions. "Get in."

Susan frowned.

The Jaguar moved with graceful ease through the dimly lit cityscape, its sleek form slicing through the night like a shadow. The city was a vibrant tapestry of bright lights and bustling nightlife, a thin, glamorous veil that shrouded the concrete jungle in an alluring mystique.

In the quiet sanctuary of the car, Susan sat in silence, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.

Caleb's voice cut through the stillness, measured and steady, "To think you've been right under my nose all this time, you sure are composed." His words were a stark reminder of the inevitable. She had always known that her secret would be discovered.

With a sigh, Susan acknowledged the power of destiny. It was a force that neither she nor Caleb could escape. All she could do was maintain her calm, clinging to her last shred of dignity in Caleb's presence.

Caleb broke the silence again, his voice a low murmur, "You've matured a lot."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Susan's mouth. This so-called maturity was nothing more than the scars life had etched into her soul. As a single mother, she had toiled tirelessly to provide for her daughter, Olivia. The innocence she once possessed during their initial meeting had long been extinguished by the harsh realities of life. Now, she functioned like a machine, devoid of emotions, her only tenderness reserved for her precious Olivia.

"Just spit it out," Susan retorted, her patience wearing thin. She was not in the mood for a nostalgic trip down memory lane with Caleb.

Caleb's response was laced with amusement, "Oh, not only have you matured, you've grown aggressive too." A half-smile played on his lips, barely touching the corners of his mouth. "Our interactions from now on seem to be full of friction."

Interactions with Caleb from now on? The thought made Susan frown.

"I've just bought a mansion and I'm looking for a designer," Caleb revealed.

Before he could finish his sentence, Susan cut him off, "I don't have time; you'll need to find someone else."

"Susan, I can't trust a multi-million-dollar property with just anyone. Haven't you heard the saying? It's best to hire a designer you know."

"I can refer you to reliable designers," Susan offered.

"They don't understand me like you do," Caleb countered, his hand on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on Susan with a meaningful look.

Caleb had once bared his soul to Susan, without any reservations.

"I wouldn't claim to understand you," Susan retorted, her laughter tinged with mockery.

She had thought she knew him, yet she was oblivious to something as fundamental as his relationship status. She had once considered herself Caleb's cherished girlfriend, only to discover that she was merely the other woman.

"It's me who doesn't understand you," she admitted.

"Having an ex decorate your mansion might not sit well with Ms. Eilish."

"An ex? Did you count as one?" Caleb's words were a sharp dagger that pierced through Susan's composure, leaving her face pale.

Being the other woman indeed did not qualify her as an ex.

"Caleb, I'm currently focused on the resort project, and I don't have spare time for anything else."

"Time is like water in a sponge; there's always some if you squeeze," Caleb replied nonchalantly. In his eyes, that was not a problem.

"I don't want to squeeze out that part of my time," Susan refused outright.

Upon hearing Susan's words, Caleb responded with a palpable edge of irritation in his voice. "It appears you're missing the point, Susan," he retorted. "I'm not here for a debate. Even if I were to reach out to the Holland Group directly, the outcome would remain unchanged."

Susan fell into a silence, a tacit agreement with his statement. She harbored no doubts about the validity of his words.

Caleb was a man who stood by his promises, and his influential background provided more than enough leverage to back his actions. Susan found herself cornered, bereft of options.

"If you meet my expectations, I'll compensate you with a million dollars," Caleb proposed, his gaze sweeping over her attire. "You could use the money, couldn't you?"

A flush of embarrassment crept up Susan's cheeks as she felt herself under his scrutinizing gaze.

Her Burberry trench coat, though a few seasons out of style, would go unnoticed by the average observer. However, to Caleb, a man who had spent his life ensconced in the world of high fashion and luxury brands, her outdated attire was glaringly obvious.

"Take the money and upgrade that old Lexus of yours," he suggested dismissively.

His disdain for her vehicle was unmistakable. Susan's Lexus, a car she had painstakingly saved over $200,000 for, was still under a loan. To him, it was nothing more than a heap of scrap metal. What gave him the authority to pass such judgment?

Susan was tempted to retort with a biting, "So, money makes you superior?" But she knew that such a statement would only serve as a source of amusement for Caleb.

In this world, it seemed, wealth did indeed elevate one's status.

For a single mother like Susan, whose life was a constant battle against mounting expenses, money wasn't everything, but it could certainly alleviate ninety-nine percent of the problems she faced.

However, if Caleb were to take Olivia, Susan's son, away from her, all the wealth in the world would lose its value.

Her son was her world; she couldn't afford to let Caleb discover Olivia's existence.

"It's settled then," Caleb announced in his usual assertive manner, not bothering to wait for Susan's response.

A silence ensued.

Caleb parked his Jaguar near a roadside bar, glancing back to find Susan still seated in the car.

He sauntered back, opened the car door, and casually remarked, "I'm meeting my designer for a drink. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"I..." Susan started to protest, but before she could complete her sentence, Caleb had already ushered her into the bar. The grip on her wrist was searing, almost scalding.

Susan, steady yourself!

Steady yourself!