Chapter 397

Layla, feeling famished, gulped down half a carton of milk in one go. "Have you had any contact with him before?" she asked.

Mr. Brooks nodded. "Yes. This is our third collaboration. Mr. Evans brings a different assistant each time. His title of 'abusing subordinates' is as famous as his excellence. Two of his previous subordinates were abused into the hospital, countless resigned, and one was rumored to have gone insane."

"No way?" Layla shouted.

Layla wanted to say it was too exaggerated, but considering that person was Brian, she couldn't rule out the possibility. It was only her first day traveling with him yesterday, and she was already close to going crazy.

Shaking her head, Layla said, "I sympathize deeply."

"You're a young girl, petite and slender, probably can't last two days," Mr. Brooks remarked.

"I'll do my best," Layla replied, "I'm not one to give up easily."

However, Layla added in her mind that she wasn't a fool either. Between life and work, she would choose life. If the exhaustion continued, she wouldn't rule out leaving the job early for her sanity.

Mr. Brooks looked admiringly. "Well done! Very excellent."

"Thank you for the praise." Layla smiled.

"How about exchanging contact information for future convenience?" Mr. Brooks suggested.

"Sure." Layla agreed.

Layla didn't mind getting to know more colleagues. Just as she took out her phone, a shadow suddenly loomed over her. Brian stood directly between her and Mr. Brooks, coldly stating, "I need samples of wood."

Mr. Brooks held his phone. "Let me add Miss Adkins first..."

"I need it now," Brian said expressionlessly.

Mr. Brooks, being smart, understood immediately that Brian didn't want him to add anyone. Understanding the hint, he put away his phone, casually saying, "Alright, I'll go get it, wait a moment."

As Mr. Brooks left, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.

Brian turned around, looking indifferently at Layla.

'What did I do wrong this time?' Layla pondered.

Having experienced the icy CEO Samuel, Layla wasn't intimidated by Brian's cold demeanor to that extent, but being stared at with a straight face still made her somewhat uneasy.

"What's wrong?" Layla asked.

"What's your task for today?" Brian asked.

"Visiting the factory, taking notes, and looking at samples," Layla answered fluently.

"Isn't it about flirting with clients?" he asked.

Flirting? Layla was astonished.

She couldn't believe Brian would suddenly accuse her of such a serious offense!

She immediately clarified. "I was just having a normal conversation with Mr. Brooks. Isn't communicating with clients also part of the job?"

"I handle the communication, you handle the notes," Brian said.

"If he talks to me, I can't just ignore him, right? That would be impolite," she explained.

"Answer whatever he asks, but you don't need to smile too brightly," he added.

Brightly? Layla thought, 'You're reading too much into it!'

"First, I didn't smile too brightly. I just responded politely with a smile. Second, your habit of facing clients with a straight face doesn't mean my smile is wrong," Layla retorted.

"I didn't say smiling is wrong; I meant your smile," he added.

"Is having a sweet smile my fault?" Layla retorted, starting to get annoyed.

"Sweet smile? I suggest you learn more about facial expressions outside of work hours," Brian said.

"It's Sunday today, and I'm on a business trip, no time for that." Layla couldn't help but reply sarcastically.

"If you don't want to be on the trip, you can go back." Brian left with this statement, walking away briskly.

"I..." She thought, 'You think I don't dare? I'll leave if I want. Who likes dealing with your sour face?' Layla glared at his retreating figure, internally venting a bunch of complaints.

But Layla, being a person with professional ethics, despite feeling frustrated, still restrained her temper and followed along.

Night fell.

Layla never expected that one day she would "love" socializing.

After experiencing the fear of being dominated by hunger all day yesterday and feeling famished today, being able to discuss work at the dining table was the happiest thing for her.

Layla eagerly looked towards the door, anticipating the dishes.

"Miss Adkins, may I sit next to you?" Mr. Brooks politely asked.

Before Layla could respond, Brian had already seized that seat.

Seeing this, Mr. Brooks could only leave disappointed.

Layla thought he was really impolite, not being courteous to anyone, including business partners. So thoroughly indifferent!

There were four people in total. Mr. Brooks raised his glass and cheerfully said, "Welcome Mr. Evans and Miss Adkins."

Layla raised her glass, just lightly touching the empty glass with her lips.

"Miss Adkins, isn't this inappropriate? You didn't even touch the wine, you're too perfunctory," someone remarked.

"I don't drink," she replied.

"I didn't ask you to drink a glass, just take a sip," he added.

But Layla was pregnant and couldn't even take a sip.

"Just a sip." they insisted. "Yes, just one sip."

In a dilemma, Layla was about to take a sip when Brian set down his glass. "Mr. Brooks, this isn't our first collaboration, you should know what I dislike the most."

Brian's gaze turned colder.

Hearing this, Mr. Brooks quickly waved his hand with a smile. "I know. We don't like to force drinks here, just teasing Miss Adkins because she's young. Miss Adkins, it's just a joke. Don't take it seriously."

Layla shook her head with a smile. "I won't."

The topic quickly shifted.

"Thank you," Layla whispered to Brian beside her.

Brian replied stiffly, "You're overthinking."

He successfully erased any trace of gratitude in Layla's heart.

What a cold man!

Layla waited a long time for her food to be served. The first course was seafood lobster, and she just took a bite.

"First time eating lobster?" A cool taunt came from her ears.

Layla licked her lips and looked up. "No. Is there a problem?"

"Your every move represents the image of the company."

Brian was disgusted with how ugly her eating looked.

But she was just eating normally. How could she look ugly?

"Mr. Evans, you have your own way of eating, I have mine. So we don't interfere with each other. To put it bluntly, you eat your meal, I eat mine, okay?" Layla secretly rolled her eyes. Wasn't this person being a bit too overbearing?

Brian pumped the corner of his mouth and returned a cold mockery, Layla as if she did not hear. She ate every dish that was served.

After a satisfying meal, Layla patted her stomach contentedly, feeling that being full must be the happiest thing in the world.

Looking at Brian next to her, who had barely touched his utensils and hadn't even touched a drop of wine, Layla deeply suspected he was a robot. How else could he go all day without eating?

"Mr. Evans, since you've come all this way, would you like to go singing tonight?" Mr. Brooks enthusiastically suggested.