Chapter 10

Zoey tried to grab her phone once more, but no luck. She missed it again.

Layla had already stashed her phone, her fingers flying as she typed out a few lines before putting it away. She shot Zoey a smug look. "Just wait to get roasted!"

"If that's not enough, I'll add more dirt. Everyone remembers how you were all over the school heartthrob." Her tone was dripping with venom.

Zoey's face turned icy, and she warned in a chilling voice, "Delete the video and apologize to me."

Layla was momentarily thrown by Zoey's cold stare, but then she forced a sarcastic smile. "Still dreaming? Why should I apologize to you? Weren't you the one chasing after Philip Hernandez? I'm still figuring out how to dump him, thanks for giving me an excuse."

Zoey's expression darkened even more.

Back in school, a jealous classmate tried to trip Zoey during a race. If it hadn't been for Philip, she might've been seriously hurt.

That was the first time her heart skipped a beat for a man.

When she was ready to give her all, she found out Philip had a steady girlfriend—Layla.

Forgotten memories started flooding back, along with the disdainful looks and mocking accusations from classmates.

If Zoey hadn't been strong-willed, she might not be standing here now.

It was also then that she lost it and beat up Philip and Layla, earning all three of them the troublemaker label.

Layla probably thought that incident cost her the guaranteed admission.

Zoey pieced it all together and looked at Layla with pity. "I can't believe after all these years, you're still living in my shadow. How sad."

Layla was stunned, then snapped. "Don't get cocky, just wait, you're about to be humiliated!"

She pulled out her phone, looking smug. "They're calling you shameless. If I were you, I'd apologize everywhere right now, maybe you can still save some reputation."

Seeing Layla getting bolder and more relentless, Zoey lost her patience. She didn't care that they were still in front of the big boss's car. She stepped forward and demanded, "Who exactly needs to save their reputation?"

"Do you really not know why you lost your guaranteed admission? Why do you want to break up with Philip? Isn't it because you want to marry rich and climb the social ladder?" Zoey questioned.

Layla's face twisted with anger.

Zoey ruthlessly exposed how Layla used to flirt with married men.

"Shut up! Stop talking nonsense!" Layla broke down.

So it was true. Zoey was surprised, as she had only heard it as gossip.

Seeing Layla break down, Zoey continued, "You said I want to seduce Mr. Windsor; is that because you want him, so you think everyone does?"

"You!"

"Who wants to seduce me?" A pleasant voice mixed with the night breeze, easing Zoey's anxiety.

Layla seemed to find support and quickly shouted, "Mr. Windsor, she says she's Aurora and insists on seeing you."

Zoey even let go of the collar she was holding, exposing half of her chest.

But Henry didn't even glance at Layla, his long legs striding towards the nearly stunned Zoey.

'What? They're the same person? So he know my identity from the start?' Zoey stared blankly at the approaching Henry, and when the scent of cedar surrounded her, she dryly called out, "Mr. Windsor."  

Layla behind them was also shocked, her eyes wide. Why did they seem to know each other?

Henry lowered his eyes, his dark eyes scanning Zoey from head to toe.

It was as if he was inspecting his prey.

Seeing her dressed properly, with just a loose long skirt on the bottom, he finally retracted his gaze in satisfaction.

"Why didn't you knock on the car door when you arrived?"

Zoey retorted. "With all the noise outside, you couldn't hear it?"

She was genuinely asking.

Layla and the bodyguards looked terrified. 'Is this woman crazy? How dare she retort to Mr. Windsor like that? Isn't Mr. Windsor going to tear her apart?'

But the expected reaction didn't come.

Henry chuckled lowly and actually explained. "It's special bulletproof soundproof glass, so I couldn't hear."

Zoey understood and answered his previous question. "Your secretary wouldn't let me through, said I needed an appointment."

Being mentioned, Layla trembled all over.

It was clear that the relationship between Zoey and Henry was not ordinary.

Layla regretted her thoughtless words earlier, nervously explaining. "You're having an online meeting with Mr. Howard Jones. So I..."

Henry interrupted her expressionlessly. "Since when do you get to make decisions?"

Layla broke out in a cold sweat, repeatedly apologizing.

"Mr. Windsor, something's wrong." John walked quickly over, seeing Zoey there, he abruptly stopped, then switched to a jog, whispering something in Henry's ear and showing him his phone.

After looking at it, Henry turned his head and stared at Layla menacingly. "Did you post the video?"

Layla felt such a surge of regret that she could almost cut off her hand that had posted the video, afraid to deny it, yet even more afraid to admit it.

Henry nodded, casually instructing, "You don't need to come in tomorrow."

He turned and walked towards the car, glancing at Zoey, and said, "Come here."

Zoey obediently followed, and the car door slowly closed.

Outside the car, Layla felt as if the entire world was crumbling around her, crying and begging John. "John, please help me, I didn't mean to."

John was also speechless. He had just gone to see off a client and left Layla to hold down the fort for a bit, and she caused such a mess.

"Go pack your things. If your stuff is still in the company tomorrow, you're done; you know Mr. Windsor's temper."

Inside the car.

Zoey and Henry sat facing each other.

The confined space made his scent stronger, as if she was wrapped in his embrace.

Henry didn't speak, his shirt sleeves rolled up loosely, the veins extending from under his shirt always attracting Zoey's gaze.

He swirled the wine in his hand, took a sip, his Adam's apple moving.

Zoey's eyes followed the movement of his Adam's apple.

"If you keep staring at me, I'll be pierced by your gaze." Henry laughed deeply.

Zoey's face burned, she averted her eyes. "Mr. Windsor, why do you want to stop the investment? Did something happen?"

Henry, who had been laughing, instantly tensed his face, his eyes turning cold.

Zoey's heart skipped a beat. 'Oh no, could it really be a serious problem?'

In the silence, Henry slowly spoke, "I heard you're working as a production supervisor in the crew now?"

She was slightly stunned, then nodded honestly. "Because you appointed me as the coordinator, the crew wouldn't let me go. I had nothing else to do, so I just made some adjustments within my ability."

Henry rubbed his forehead helplessly, seemingly muttering, "Really backfired."