Chapter 40
At the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Leo was scheming on how to push Myra closer to Tony. He felt confident in his plan as he glanced subtly at his boss. Usually, Tony despised when his subordinates made decisions without consulting him, but when Leo made the lunch announcement, a smile appeared on Tony’s lips, and a flicker of approval passed through his eyes.
As Myra exited the car with her luggage, she overheard Leo’s announcement. Her gaze instinctively landed on Tony, who stood at the center of the group, effortlessly commanding attention. Tall and striking, he was absorbed in his phone, his sharp jawline highlighted by the soft light. Though his usual cold demeanor remained, there was a faint sense of joy in his expression.
However, the thoughts from earlier weighed on Myra’s mind, and her mood soured. She felt an urge to leave, her thoughts unsettled after the events of the hotel and the awkwardness in the car. Without hesitation, she turned to Leo, her voice calm but firm. “I’m a little tired from the past few days, so I’ll pass on the lunch. I appreciate the invitation, but I’ll head home and rest this afternoon. The Chase Group will gladly treat everyone another day.”
Myra’s abrupt departure caught Leo off guard, his face falling, but he quickly masked his discomfort. She had already called a cab before he could protest, and the car drove off with a hurried farewell.
Leo’s mood soured as he realized his plan had backfired. A cold grunt from Tony reminded him of his misstep. “Did I ask you to invite them to lunch at the Ritz Carlton?” Tony’s voice was icy, his displeasure evident.
Leo’s heart raced, beads of sweat forming as he stammered, “Director Hart, I… made the decision myself.”
Tony’s gaze narrowed. “You’ll be punished with a month’s salary. If you ever make decisions like this again, you’ll replace Justin in South Africa.”
Leo sighed in relief after Tony left for the elevator. Miss Stark is a troublesome woman… he thought.
Meanwhile, in the Hay Group’s car, Sasha and Lily were deep in discussion about the design drafts. Sasha was fixated on surpassing the Stark Group’s proposal, dismissing Lily’s ideas as too conventional. “Don’t worry,” she reassured her assistant. “We’ll get my father’s opinion. He’ll know what to do.”
But as they discussed, Lily suddenly asked, “Miss Hay, last night, you weren’t in your room when I came by. Where did you go so late?”
Sasha’s face flushed slightly, and she stammered, “I was walking around the hotel’s garden. You know the pressure I’ve been under lately.”
Lily nodded in understanding, but Sasha’s mind raced, thinking about Tony and Myra. Could it be that Tony and Myra… have something more than a professional relationship? she pondered, a knot of unease forming in her stomach.
As the car continued its journey, Sasha’s thoughts remained fixed on Tony. Is it possible that Tony Hart and Myra… are having an affair?
Back at the Chase Group, Myra had decided not to go home just yet. She headed straight to the office, unable to wait until tomorrow to get back to work. Upon her arrival, Tilly greeted her with concern. “Myra, why are you here? You should rest after your business trip.”
“There’s no time for that,” Myra replied with a faint smile. She was more comfortable in her professional life than in her personal one.
Tilly brightened at the thought that the project was almost secured. “Is the deal in our hands?”
Myra shook her head. Before she could respond, Elsie’s mocking voice cut through the air. “In our hands? Don’t get too confident, Myra. You might embarrass yourself if things fall through.”
Tilly frowned, but Myra remained calm. “Whether I embarrass myself or not, it’s my own business. It’s none of yours, ‘Secretary’ Foster.”
Elsie’s face turned red with fury, but before she could retort, a deep voice interrupted. “Miss Foster,” came Sean’s sharp tone.
Elsie froze, her expression faltering as she turned toward him. “Director Chase,” Tilly greeted with a sly smile, aware of the tension between him and Elsie.
Sean stood before them, his presence commanding the room. His posture in his black suit was imposing, and his gaze swept over Elsie without so much as a flicker of emotion.
“I overheard Mr. Xavier’s complaints as I came in,” Sean began, his voice smooth but edged with coldness. “So why are you wasting time here, Miss Foster?”
Elsie trembled, feeling the weight of his gaze without him even looking directly at her. Myra, too, felt a pang of discomfort, her emotions tangled as she faced the man who had once made her feel safe—and now, distant.