Chapter 411

In the Morning at the company.

"Mr. Evans, good morning."

Brian responded to the enthusiastic greetings from his employees with a polite smile, maintaining a sense of distance without being rude. His slightly aloof demeanor stirred the hearts of many female employees.

"Good morning, Mr. Evans." Layla looked up and met his eyes, smiling.

Brian's heart raced again, and he quickly looked down, blushing, and hurriedly went into his office.

When Brian came to his senses, he realized he had been sitting in his chair, daydreaming for half an hour, his mind blank and his heartbeat irregular.

"Mr. Evans?" Layla's voice snapped him out of his daze, making him even more nervous.

"Come... come in." Brian couldn't even sit still, as if there were hundreds of needles under him.

"Mr. Evans, I've finished the report. Please take a look." Layla handed over the report with both hands, but when Brian didn't take it; she placed it on the desk, curiously observing his slightly flushed face. "Are you running a fever?"

"No." He was just having trouble breathing. Brian tried hard to hide his rapid breathing, fearing Layla might hear his thunderous heartbeat.

To cover it up, Brian's hands fumbled aimlessly on the desk.

"Mr. Evans, what are you looking for? Can I help you?" she asked.

Brian's frantic searching was futile.

Layla looked at him with curiosity. Since yesterday, Brian had been acting strangely. Like now, the usually organized him was behaving like a headless chicken. She had no idea what he was trying to do, and it seemed he didn't either.

"Mr. Evans, are you okay?" Layla couldn't help but worry.

"Is there something wrong with me?" Brian deliberately asked her back.

"I'm not sure. You should ask yourself. If you're not feeling well, you should go to the hospital. By the way, is your back still hurting?" she asked.

When Layla mentioned it, Brian became even more flustered. Avoiding her gaze, he tried his best to act normal. "I'm fine."

When a woman said she's fine, it usually meant she wasn't. Could it be the same for men?

Anyway, Layla thought Brian looked off no matter how she looked at him. But she didn't press further. "Alright, I'll head out then."

"Okay," he replied.

After Layla left the office, Brian tugged at his tie and finally sighed in relief.

He couldn't afford to be distracted any longer. Brian had to focus on work.

Brian immediately grabbed the report, trying hard to concentrate on the data, but every line of data strangely morphed into Layla's face.

Brian shook his head, trying to dispel Layla's image, but it kept reappearing as if he were under a spell.

Closing the file, Brian finally had to admit in frustration that Layla had a significant impact on him.

A chaotic morning with zero work progress was a first for Brian. Even when Evelyn had pestered him to no end, it hadn't affected his work. But today, he kept thinking of Layla. The scary part was that every time he looked up, he could see her diligently working at her desk, and he couldn't help but be drawn to her.

After several such instances, Brian pulled down the blinds to avoid seeing her, but that only made him think of her more frequently.

At 12:30 PM, Brian leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling light.

"Mr. Evans." Layla's voice came through the door again. "Mr. Evans?"

Brian looked at the office door as if facing a formidable enemy, his throat tight. "What's up?"

"Can I come in?" she asked.

Brian wanted to refuse but said, "Come in."

"Finally, everyone's gone..." Layla tiptoed in, looking mysterious.

"What is it?" Brian was confused.

"Rubbing medicine, of course." Layla waved the ointment in her hand. "I brought this from home. It's better than what we used last night. I guarantee you'll be pain-free in three days."

"No need," he refused.

"Why not? I saw you were distracted all morning. Your shoulder must be hurting. You got hurt because of me, so I can't just ignore it." Layla, who practiced martial arts, was very loyal. "Come on. Let's do this while everyone's out for lunch."

Layla closed the door and walked toward Brian.

"Really, it's not necessary..." Brian backed away, trying to avoid her. "Layla...No need..."

"Don't be scared. It'll be quick," Layla said.

"Mr. Evans, why are you dodging? It's not like I'm going to do anything to you..." Layla was both amused and exasperated. "Are you afraid of pain? Why are you acting like a child? Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

"You have to massage the bruise for it to heal. Just bear with it." Layla coaxed. "A real man isn't afraid of a little pain."

In the end, Brian had no choice but to reluctantly take off his suit jacket.

Layla nodded, indicating he should continue. "I can't rub the medicine through your shirt. Hurry up, or they'll come back and misunderstand."

Being urged to undress by Layla again, and this time in the office, made Brian even more uncomfortable.

"Come on, my arm's getting tired... Either way, you need the medicine. Let's get it over with, be good," she urged.

Brian hesitantly took off his shirt, revealing his well-built upper body...

"Mr. Evans, there's a contract that needs your urgent signature..." The secretary walked in and was stunned to see her half-naked boss and Layla about to pounce on him...

The scene was extremely awkward.

Layla knew she would be gossiped again.

Every colleague in the office acted extremely calm, but it was this nothing happened attitude that was the most dangerous. Layla could feel the countless ambiguous, curious, mysterious, and knowing glances whenever she turned her back. Although different from the previous hostile looks, it was still troubling.

Even when Layla went to the restroom, she could hear them gossiping intensely behind her back.

"Have you heard about Mr. Evans and Layla?" one female colleague said mysteriously.

Everyone quickly gossiped.

"You know?" Colleague A put down her lipstick.

"You know too?"

"Everyone in the office knows. We just don't talk about it."

"Oh my God, we used to just suspect that Mr. Evans liked Layla or that they had feelings for each other. But they have already gone that far, it's so fast."

"Nowadays, relationships are like fast food. Many people get together in just two or three days. We were so naive, thinking they were just platonic, but they had already taken it to the next level."

"They did it in the office while we were out for lunch. Seeking excitement."

"I heard it was Layla who made the first move on Mr. Evans. I never thought she was so bold. I always thought Mr. Evans was pursuing her."

"Mr. Evans pursuing her and her making the first move makes it more exciting for the man."

"Exactly. Men like women who appear pure on the outside but are open in private. Layla is that type, which is why so many men are captivated by her."

"But Layla keeps saying she has a boyfriend. Does it count as betraying?"