Chapter 25 Emma's About to Catch Them Red-Handed
Emma walked toward the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
Standing here, she truly understood what it meant to be at the top of the city.
Her gaze swept over the sprawling skyscrapers below, and she could actually make out her own apartment building and balcony in the distance.
That tiny space where she'd filled every corner with flowers and plants.
Her heart suddenly felt hollow!
She wondered—had Nicholas ever stood here countless times, looking in that direction?
Perhaps, during all those days when she was completely unaware, their gazes had somehow met across that vast distance?
How ridiculous!
Emma pulled her gaze away and focused on the other side of the office.
A massive bookshelf occupied an entire wall, filled with various hardcover books—mostly economics and management texts, along with several original Novarian editions.
Her eyes swept past the bookshelf to the west wall, where something seemed different.
Moving closer, she noticed an almost invisible seam in the wall.
A hidden door.
On impulse, she reached out and gave it a gentle push.
The door opened soundlessly—it wasn't locked.
She peered inside.
What she found was completely unexpected.
This wasn't a storage room, but a fully functional private suite.
A large bed dressed in charcoal gray linens.
There was even an independent washroom.
This was Nicholas's private rest area?
An enormous black wardrobe held rows of bespoke suits, shirts, pants, and ties.
He still favored dark colors, avoiding anything flashy.
A nearby display case showcased dozens of watches, cufflinks, and other expensive accessories—everything perfectly organized.
She remembered that a year ago, she'd given him a pair of sapphire cufflinks that she'd designed herself. Unfortunately, he'd never worn them even once.
She opened the small drawer and found a blue velvet box—the very cufflinks she'd given him.
Still pristine and untouched!
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she reached into her purse.
She nodded with satisfaction and turned to leave.
But then footsteps and voices echoed from outside the office, growing closer.
Steady footsteps accompanied by a woman's flirtatious tone!
Her heart nearly stopped. Almost instinctively, she darted back into the hidden room, gently pulling the door almost shut, leaving only the tiniest crack.
She held her breath and peered through the gap.
The office door swung open.
Nicholas's tall figure appeared, with Zoe intimately clinging to his arm.
Zoe wore a beautiful dress, her face slightly pale but radiant with the glow of someone who knew she was favored.
"Nicholas, you promised to pick me up from the hospital personally, but you sent the driver instead. I'm so disappointed."
Zoe shook Nicholas's arm playfully, her voice sickeningly sweet.
Nicholas's expression remained neutral, though his tone was gentle.
"I had an urgent international conference this morning that ran over. Have a seat."
He withdrew his arm and walked behind his desk.
"Well, after you finish your work, you have to take me to that restaurant you mentioned, okay?"
Zoe followed him, her tone carrying the demanding quality of someone accustomed to getting her way.
"Fine," Nicholas responded absentmindedly while opening his computer.
"I knew Nicholas was the best! I promise I'll be good and won't disturb you."
As she spoke, Zoe moved closer to him!
Standing here, she felt the thrill of being Mrs. Harrison.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Charlie entered carrying a cup of coffee.
When he saw Nicholas behind the desk with Zoe practically draped over him, his heart sank.
This was bad!
Where was Emma?
She'd definitely been here when he left!
Had she hidden herself after seeing Zoe arrive?
Sweat beaded on Charlie's forehead.
What a mess!
If these two started doing anything intimate, Emma would essentially be catching them in the act!
He couldn't even imagine that scenario.
Would they even be able to complete the agreement signing?
No, he had to warn his boss!
Charlie steadied himself and approached nervously, "Mr. Harrison, your ten o'clock appointment with Ms. Rodriguez is coming up."
Zoe immediately pouted in displeasure and reached for the coffee in Charlie's hands, "Is this for me? Charlie, your timing is impeccable."
She shot Charlie a smug look, as if the coffee had always been intended for her.
Charlie was speechless.
That coffee was for Emma!
Zoe took a sip, and her face scrunched up in disgust. "Why isn't there any sugar or cream? How can anyone drink this? It's so bitter!"
"Ms. Perez, let me make you a fresh cup!"
Nicholas looked up from his computer screen and glanced at Charlie—subtle, but enough to make Charlie fall silent immediately.
Then Nicholas said to Charlie, "Go to that pastry shop downstairs and get some macarons and cakes that Zoe likes. She hasn't had breakfast yet."
He completely ignored Charlie's earlier reminder about the "ten o'clock appointment" and "Ms. Rodriguez."
"Nicholas, you're so sweet!"
Zoe's face lit up, and she immediately leaned over to plant a loud kiss on Nicholas's cheek.
Charlie might as well have been invisible!
Then, with complete naturalness and no regard for anyone else's presence, she settled onto Nicholas's lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Nicholas, all that online drama has been cleared up now. Thank you! Without you, I wouldn't have known what to do!"
Charlie's eye twitched as he desperately tried to catch Nicholas's attention.
Nicholas received Charlie's signals but merely gave him a cool glance, his tone completely flat.
"If the client arrives, take them directly to Conference Room Three."
Not "Ms. Rodriguez," but "the client."
The message couldn't be clearer—Emma didn't need to come to his office.
Or rather, right now, she wasn't appropriate to be here.
Charlie's heart sank to the bottom.
He understood.
Nicholas was clearing the room, or more precisely, deliberately keeping them separate.
Behind the hidden door, Emma watched this scene with an expressionless face.
Her fingers gripping the door frame turned white from the pressure.
So she was just a client who needed to be escorted to a conference room.
While that woman could brazenly sit on his lap, receiving his indulgence and attention.
The signature she'd just written seemed to burn with searing heat, making her fingertips numb.
She watched the intimate pair outside, watched the indulgent expression on Nicholas's face that she'd never seen before.
Her heart seemed to slowly freeze over, stripped of all former hope, leaving only cold detachment!
"Got it." Charlie didn't dare say anything more, replying before quickly leaving the office.
"Oh no!"
Zoe's shriek rang out as she accidentally knocked over the coffee cup, sending the liquid splashing directly onto Nicholas's expensive shirt, rapidly spreading into a dark stain.
She turned pale with fright, her voice breaking with tears.