Chapter 232
"Mr. Eilish," Layla nodded.
"Are you here to find me?" Anthony inquired, a hopeful note in his voice.
"The top floor houses only the offices of the CEO and the Vice CEO," Layla clarified. "I'm here for the Vice CEO. Mrs. Susan tasked me with delivering these design drawings."
"I see," Anthony responded, a hint of disappointment lacing his words. Had Layla sought him out of her own accord, he would have been pleasantly surprised. Yet, simply seeing her was enough to lift his spirits.
"It's been some time, how have you been faring?" Anthony studied her. Layla's complexion bore the signs of fatigue, but there was a renewed spark in her eyes.
Anthony's concern warmed Layla's heart. He was a master of balance, checking in on her life and work with the perfect frequency, providing just the right amount of emotional support.
"Fair to middling, work has been demanding," Layla admitted.
"In that case, I can't possibly let you skip lunch." Anthony found his opening. "It's lunchtime, after all."
"Well..." Layla hesitated.
"You need to eat, don't you? Whether you dine with me or not, it won't make a difference. Why not indulge me with your company?" Anthony suggested, offering her a hopeful smile.
A nearby secretary watched them with thinly veiled envy.
Layla found herself caught in the whirlwind of Anthony's attention. Why was he so focused on her when countless women vied for his attention? His invitation was so earnest that she felt a refusal would wound him.
It was just one lunch.
"Alright." Layla finally acquiesced.
"Let's proceed." Anthony gestured to his assistant, who promptly left the room.
As Layla moved to press the elevator button, Anthony, with a swift stride, beat her to it. "After you."
The CEO himself held the elevator for her, and the weight of the gesture was not lost on Layla.
"Thank you. Where shall we dine?"
"The employee cafeteria. After lunch, you can rest."
"But..."
"Lunch won't cause any trouble."
Anthony spoke with an air of nonchalance, but Layla wasn't so sure. As the CEO, he was the object of every female employee's affection, and his every move was under scrutiny. But Layla was indifferent now, her focus solely on her work. She had no energy for anything else, especially since she would be resigning in two months.
"Alright."
The elevator doors slid open, and as Layla stepped forward, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She stumbled, but Anthony was quick to steady her.
"Are you alright?"
"We should go to the hospital."
His voice was laced with concern.
Layla took a moment to regain her composure, her vision slowly clearing.
"I'm fine, I probably just stayed up too late last night."
"It would be best to see a doctor."
"There's no need. It's a minor issue. I'm fine." Layla attempted to pull away, but her hair caught on Anthony's suit button.
"My...my hair is tangled..."
"Stay still, I'll handle it."
Anthony had intended to simply untangle her hair, but upon touching it, he found himself instinctively stroking the soft, smooth strands.
A tremor ran through Anthony as he lost himself in the moment.
The scent of Layla filled his senses, seeping into his heart and stirring his emotions. Her hair, entwined with Anthony's button, mirrored his growing affection for her, wrapping around his heart tighter and tighter, leaving him breathless. Yet, he was more than willing to lose himself in her allure.
"Is it okay now?" Layla asked.
At the entrance, a group of female employees on their way to the cafeteria passed by. They looked surprised at the scene, quickly averting their eyes and hurrying away, feigning ignorance.
Their whispers, however, reached Layla's ears.
With a sigh, she realized she would be the office gossip once again.
"I'm done." Anthony reluctantly freed her hair.
Layla breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
"Wow, it's Mr. Eilish," one woman murmured, her eyes wide with surprise.
The CEO's rare appearance in the employee cafeteria caused a stir. "Who is that woman accompanying him? She's rather striking," another woman queried, her curiosity piqued.
"Have you not been keeping up with the office gossip? That's the infamous Layla," a third woman interjected, her tone laced with intrigue.
"Wait, the same Layla who was involved in the scandal with Mr. Smith? The one that led to his resignation just a week after he joined the company?" The shock was palpable in the woman's voice. Their conversation was becoming increasingly animated.
"Yes, indeed. There's been speculation within the team about who might be backing her. Could it be Mr. Eilish himself?" The question hung in the air, eliciting gasps of disbelief.
"Impossible! She's merely average-looking. How could she possibly have caught Mr. Eilish's attention?" The skepticism was evident in the woman's voice.
"Did you not notice the jovial manner in which Mr. Eilish was conversing with her? I've never seen him interact so closely with any other woman before." The observation was met with a collective sigh of frustration.
"Who exactly is this Layla?" The question echoed around the room, and the women's curiosity piqued.
...
"What would you like to eat? I can go buy it for you," Anthony offered, his tone polite.
"No need, I can manage..." Layla began, but was cut off.
"Sit," Anthony instructed gently, a warm smile on his face as he patted her shoulder.
Layla felt a wave of pressure wash over her. As soon as Anthony departed, she found herself the target of jealous glares from the female staff. It was as if she had committed a crime, stealing their collective heartthrob.
"I've brought you seafood rice," Anthony announced upon his return.
Layla hesitated. Pregnant women were advised against consuming seafood.
"Is something wrong? Don't you like it? We can swap." Without waiting for a response, Anthony exchanged his steak for her rice. This small act of kindness elicited a fresh wave of envy from the onlookers.
"Look at that, the CEO is exchanging meals with her. Could she be his girlfriend?" The speculation was rife.
"I can't believe this."
"I think I might faint!"
In the midst of the commotion, Layla quietly began cutting her steak.
"Is the company's steak not to your liking? You don't seem to have much of an appetite. I remember you used to enjoy your food," Anthony observed, concern evident in his voice.
"The taste is fine," Layla responded, managing a weak smile.
If the taste wasn't the issue, then it must be her mood. Anthony could tell that she was still upset. He knew that women were often more emotional than men, and some struggled to move on from past relationships. This concerned him. How could he win her heart if she was still holding onto her past?
Anthony was patient, but he didn't want her to continue nursing a broken heart over an unworthy man.
"My meal is quite good. Would you like to try some?"
"No, thank you." For Layla, eating had become a chore, a means to an end. It didn't matter what she ate.
"There's matcha cake over there..."
"I'm fine with the steak."
"Anthony." At that moment, a sweet voice rang out.
"It's Sophia Gabriel."
"No wonder she's a model. Just look at those long legs and that stunning figure."
"Could she be the CEO's official girlfriend?" The jealousy in the room quickly morphed into speculation and schadenfreude.
"This is going to be quite interesting."
"Sophia will surely win!"
...
"Sophia." Anthony acknowledged her with a nod. He wasn't particularly fond of her visiting the company, but out of courtesy, he didn't voice his displeasure. He maintained his usual composed demeanor, neither showing affection nor disdain.
'Sophia, such a formal address.' Sophia Gabriel secretly bristled at his aloofness. But what irked her more was the woman seated across from Anthony. Wasn't she the one he had sheltered in the rain last time? Despite her disheveled appearance that day, Sophia Gabriel would recognize that face anywhere.
Women had a knack for identifying their rivals in love.
Sophia Gabriel took a seat next to Anthony, deliberately brushing her shoulder against his. "Anthony, is she your secretary?" she asked, her voice dripping with curiosity.