Chapter 55 You Should Leave Silverlight City
Yosef tilted Elizabeth's chin between his fingers, studying her face from different angles.
Her expression didn't change. "Mind letting go? This is workplace harassment."
He released her without protest, leaning back with a faint smirk. "Didn't think I'd see the day when your entire life revolved around romance. Armando ignores you, yet you still deliver him breakfast. If that's not proof, what is?"
Elizabeth drew a slow breath, her lips curling into a cold smile as she handed him a file. "You're right. My life is all about romance. Now, if you're done, there's a meeting at nine-thirty."
Yosef frowned. "Who schedules a meeting at nine-thirty? My brain's still on strike in the morning."
Sometimes she genuinely wondered how this man had become chairman. Probably nothing but dumb luck.
He muttered a curse under his breath, grabbed the file, and stalked off to work.
After lunch, Elizabeth crossed the street to the bubble tea shop opposite TechStrong and bought herself a cup. As she stepped outside, she spotted Tom standing beside a black sedan.
He walked over, lowering his voice. "Elizabeth, Armando wants to see you. Are you free now?"
She glanced toward the car. Armando was probably inside.
"Sure."
Tom opened the door for her, and she slid into the back seat. The car pulled away.
Elizabeth sent Yosef a quick message requesting leave, then turned to Armando. "You've been avoiding me for weeks. What's with the sudden change?"
His gaze lingered on her for a beat, unreadable, before it cooled again. "We'll talk in a moment."
She tore the plastic wrapper off her straw, slid it into the cup, and took a long sip. The sound of tapioca pearls rushing up through the straw was almost obnoxiously cheerful.
Armando glanced at her again.
"You want some?" she asked, one brow lifting. "I don't mind sharing a straw."
"No." His tone was flat.
She shrugged. "I know you don't like sweet things."
The sedan turned down a quiet stretch of road and eased to a stop. Tom stepped out, leaving them alone. Outside, the sky hung heavy and gray, the kind of light that promised rain.
Silence thickened between them.
Armando's long fingers rested against his knee. His handsome face was unreadable as he said, "Elizabeth, leave Silverlight City. I'll make sure you have money."
She froze, staring at him. "What did you just say? You want me to leave Silverlight City?"
"Yes."
A sharp laugh burst from her, spilling into the quiet cabin until her eyes watered. She wiped at the corner of her eye, lips curling. "Why the hell would I do that?"
Her voice was laced with disbelief and mockery.
He waited for her to settle, his own irritation barely leashed. "What will it take for you to agree?"
Her smile turned razor-sharp. "Where I live is none of your business. If my bringing you breakfast bothers you, I can stop. But I'm not leaving."
She reached for the door, but his hand caught her arm, pulling her back. The cup slipped from her grasp, bubble tea spilling across the seat and splashing onto her heels.
Elizabeth looked down at the mess, then back at him, eyes bright with anger. "Let go. I'm not leaving Silverlight City."
"Elizabeth—"
She wrenched free, shoved the door open, and stepped out, her stride long and unyielding. Only when she was alone did she stop, muttering under her breath, "Unbelievable."
From the car, Tom watched her retreat with a creeping sense of unease. Sliding back into the driver's seat, he heard Armando's voice from the back, cool and decisive. "Call Yosef. I want to meet."
Elizabeth could not be allowed to stay in Silverlight City. Armando's thoughts flickered to Sherry… and to Sloane.
Yosef raised a brow when he got the call. Armando inviting him to discuss business was rare. "Tell Mr. Johnson, seven tonight works," he said before hanging up.
Mabel arrived at the bar's private room after getting Elizabeth's call. A single empty bottle sat on the table. At least it wasn't much, and Elizabeth was still sober.
"What's going on with you?" Mabel nudged her arm. "Drinking to forget?"
Elizabeth smirked. "Not forgetting. Just unwinding."
Still, she couldn't shake the question—why did Armando suddenly want her gone? It wasn't happening. Leaving would mean letting Sherry off the hook.
Mabel relaxed. "Good. Drinking here is boring. Come on, I'll take you somewhere."
Elizabeth let her lead her out. As they stepped into the hall, they almost ran into Timothy.
He rubbed his brow, looking tired.
"Armando!"
"Mr. Robinson, wait!"
The first voice was Mabel's; the second, sweet and lilting, belonged to Emma.
Emma, in a vintage dress, hurried over, smiling at Mabel and Elizabeth before taking Timothy's sleeve. "Mr. Robinson, I'll go with you."
Mabel approached. "Armando."
Elizabeth glanced at them, then walked ahead to press the elevator button. The doors opened, and she stepped inside, hitting the button for the first floor. Mabel joined her.
Emma and Timothy entered next, Emma still holding onto him. Elizabeth leaned back against the mirrored wall, her gaze falling on Emma's fingers curled around his sleeve.
The elevator ride was short. Timothy and Emma exited into a waiting car; Elizabeth and Mabel took another, heading in a different direction.
As her car pulled away, Elizabeth distracted herself with a game on her phone—until a message popped up from Yosef: [Armando wants me to fire you.]
At West Wealth Restaurant, Yosef tossed his phone onto the table after sending the text. Arms folded, his expression was sharp. "Mr. Johnson, I have to ask—why?"
Armando didn't answer the question. "Ten percent of the profit from the new R&D project, if you let her go."
Yosef's brow arched. "Generous. All I have to do is fire Elizabeth, and I get ten percent? That's a hell of a deal for me, Mr. Johnson. You must really want her gone."
Elizabeth stared at the message on her phone, lips pressed together. So Armando wanted her out of Silverlight City entirely.
"Elizabeth, you're zoning out. We're here." Mabel's hand landed on her shoulder.
Elizabeth sent a reply before getting out of the car: [You're my boss. If you want to fire me, you can do it anytime.]