Chapter 41
Thinking back to what Sean had said, Elsie quickly responded, “I’ll return to work immediately!” Her voice was laced with embarrassment as she fled from the scene, not daring to challenge Myra.
Once Elsie was gone, Tilly gave Sean a quick glance, noting his stoic expression, before she turned to Myra with a playful wink. “Myra, I just remembered I have something urgent to handle. I’ll catch up with you later.” With that, Tilly hurried off, leaving the two of them alone.
Myra watched her leave, then turned to Sean, her expression returning to its usual calm. “Director Chase, is there something I can do for you?” She couldn’t help but clench her fists at her sides, the memories of past humiliations still fresh in her mind.
Sean’s gaze swept over her, but his eyes, though emotionless, seemed to linger on her a bit longer than usual. “I heard you went on a business trip a few days ago. Was it for the Sunny Bay Project?”
Myra nodded coldly. “Yes.”
The answer seemed to irritate Sean further. He recalled how he’d searched for her during that time and couldn’t find her, even though he knew she was avoiding him. For the past few days, he’d come home to find she wasn’t there, and he couldn’t deny the guilt gnawing at him.
“You didn’t wait for me,” Sean’s voice was heavy with frustration. The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Myra was taken aback by his sudden admission, her shock evident. Sean, sensing her reaction, removed his tie — a simple black tie with blue stripes, one she had bought for him a long time ago. It was the same tie he had never worn, kept hidden at the bottom of his closet until now. Seeing him with it, a flutter of emotion stirred in Myra’s chest, but she quickly suppressed it, her nails digging into her palms.
With a forced smile, she lowered her gaze. “The Hart Group allowed the Chase Group to re-enter the competition with the Hay Group. Since the last meeting was near the Sunny Bay Project, I decided to stay at the hotel to save time on commuting. If that caused you any inconvenience… I’m sorry.”
Her words were soaked in bitterness, but Sean could only feel more frustrated. She used to be confident, always smiling, but now, after everything, her light had faded. The guilt and anger that had been eating at him remained unresolved.
Was she deserving of such a life? Did the child she once harmed define her worth forever? These thoughts swirled in his mind, but despite his best efforts, he couldn’t ignore the way he felt about her. He wanted to hate her, but something held him back.
His expression softened for a moment, and after a long silence, he simply said, “It’s nothing.”
The words were surprising, not sharp or condemning like usual. Myra looked up, unsure if she had imagined the gentleness she’d seen in his eyes. It disappeared too quickly for her to be certain, leaving only the familiar coldness. It couldn’t have been real, she told herself.
She took a step back, ready to leave, but Sean’s voice stopped her. “Come with me to Old Master Hart’s birthday party next week.”
Myra blinked, unsure if she had heard him correctly. He went on without waiting for her response. “I’ll have Richard pick you up. Try not to be late.” And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Myra standing there, her mind reeling.
She stood motionless for a moment, her emotions a tangled mess, staring down at the draft papers before her.
For the past two days, Myra had been completely absorbed in the design plans, determined to perfect them for the final meeting. She had worked late into the night, often skipping meals and sleep. Exhaustion was written all over her face, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. This time, her draft would shine.
At 1:00 AM, Myra exited the Chase Group building and, as expected, saw Sean’s black Lamborghini parked outside. Richard, as always, was waiting by the car. He quickly opened the door for her. “Young Mistress Myra, Director Chase is waiting inside,” he said with his usual polite tone.
Without any hesitation, Myra slid into the car. Once inside, the ride was silent as always. They returned to the Chase residence, where Myra would head to her bedroom, and Sean would retreat to his study. Neither spoke, but there was a quiet understanding between them, even if neither fully understood it.
In the past, Eve would ask Myra if she and Sean had made peace. Make peace? Myra thought to herself. She didn’t even know what he was doing. She didn’t know why he was so distant, so cold. But she didn’t want to think about it now; the upcoming meeting was too important.
The next day, Myra arrived at the company and double-checked her design plans. Everything seemed in order, and after locking the drafts away, she made her way to the director’s office, where Tilly informed her that the director was looking for her.
As she was about to head to the office, Elsie suddenly appeared at Myra’s desk. With a roll of paper in hand, she unlocked Myra’s drawer, swiftly swapped the design drafts, and locked it again. Her eyes gleamed with hatred as she spoke, “Let’s see how you present your report tonight. If you don’t win the Sunny Bay Project, you’d better be prepared to lose your job.”
After her parting words, Elsie quickly left, leaving Myra with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Later, at 4:00 PM, Myra arrived at the Hart Group with her draft in hand, this time with Tilly accompanying her as her assistant. They were met by Sasha and Lily, who had also arrived. Myra greeted them politely, and the tension in the air was palpable. Everyone was on edge, knowing the importance of this meeting. Myra noticed that Lily was deep in thought, her brows furrowed, as she held onto her design draft. The competition had never been fiercer.