Chapter 2 Would You Consider Becoming Mrs. Hayes?
Emma had Ryan drop her at an intersection a short walk from the office. No way was she arriving at work in the boss’s car and handing the gossip mill fresh meat.
Unsure whether Liam had used protection, she slipped into a nearby pharmacy to buy emergency contraception.
Just as she swallowed the pills, her phone buzzed.
Caller ID: Ben Turner.
She stared at the name, a mocking curve tugging at her lips.
They had been together since college. Five years. She’d even skipped grades to end up in his class. Two years ago, she’d moved overseas for further studies, and the long-distance relationship began.
In return, he’d cheated on her with her best friend.
Emma had swallowed her rage and played the patient game, waiting for the perfect moment to strike back.
She hung up. As she was about to lock her screen, a Facebook message notification slid down.
Liam: \[Add me on WhatsApp.\]
She blinked, thrown.
Why is he asking? As my boss, or as a one-night stand?
Unable to figure it out in three seconds flat, she simply ignored the message.
A work notification popped up next.
Design Department Notice: \[Assemble in the conference room in ten minutes.\]
Emma hurried toward the office and stepped into the elevator lobby.
“You always hated business suits. What’s with the skirt suit today, Emma?” Fellow designer Iris Blackwood eyed her up and down, curiosity written all over her face.
“Well, I need to flaunt my figure to showcase my professional strengths,” she said, straightening her skirt with forced nonchalance.
“Haha…” Iris openly assessed her curves, then gave her backside a playful smack. “Your man is going to be very lucky.”
The slap landed squarely on last night’s bruise.
Emma clenched her teeth, choking back a cry of pain.
Just as the elevator doors were about to slide shut, a hand shot out to block them.
Ryan stepped aside to make room, and Liam walked in.
Emma instantly shrank into the corner. Her throat worked as she swallowed, nerves tightening when Liam took the spot right beside her and Iris stood directly opposite them.
The faint scent of pine wood drifted from him, exactly like last night. In the cramped elevator, his presence pressed in on her, thick enough to steal her breath.
She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay calm.
At last, the elevator chimed and the doors opened onto the 28th-floor design department. She and Iris slipped out as if they were escaping a crime scene.
“That scared the life out of me,” Iris muttered, patting her chest. “I saw a woman in Mr. Hayes’s car last night. She was hugging his neck and kissing him, and he didn’t push her away. They might’ve already slept together.”
“Really?” Emma’s cheeks flamed.
“I asked Ryan, but he didn’t spill a thing.” Iris adjusted her ID badge and gathered her notebook.
Ten minutes later, everyone was assembled in the conference room.
The meeting was mainly a review of recent projects.
Ethan Reed, the design department’s resident heartthrob, took the lead, confidently predicting the campaign’s success. No one doubted he’d walk away with this year’s performance bonus.
“Special thanks to Emma,” he added, turning his gaze her way. “Our most popular designs this year are hers, including the best-selling series…”
Emma maintained a polite smile, already numb to the praise after hearing variations of it all through last night’s celebration banquet.
The meeting had barely wrapped up when a knock sounded on the conference room door.
“Mr. Hayes requests your presence in his office, Emma,” Ryan announced.
“Got it,” Emma replied under her breath.
The room went dead silent as more than a dozen pairs of eyes turned on her, each one burning with curiosity.
“Ryan, is something wrong?” Ethan asked.
All eyes turned to Ryan.
“I don’t know,” he replied, shaking his head.
“You don’t look well, Emma. Do you need to take the day off?” Ethan asked. His gentle concern for every subordinate had long since become habit.
“No need. If I don’t return, consider the office manuscripts your inheritance,” Emma said softly. She picked up her meeting notes and walked out.
She followed Ryan into the elevator.
After he unlocked access with facial recognition, the elevator slowly ascended.
The CEO’s office was on the 30th floor, a forbidden zone almost no one ever entered. Wrapped in rumours, it was known as “Hell.” Supposedly, the last department director who came out had a broken arm. Before that, Liam’s former assistant had been carried out with a fractured left leg.
“Did Mr. Hayes say why he wanted to see me?” Emma asked.
“He didn’t specify, but he seemed to be in a good mood,” Ryan answered.
A good mood? Of course he is.
Who knows how much pleasure he took last night.
Ryan knocked on the door three times.
“Come in.”
Emma pushed the door open and stepped inside. Behind her, Ryan quietly pulled the door shut.
Liam had taken off his suit jacket. His black shirt had the top two buttons undone, his tie tossed aside. The faint hickey on his neck was clearly visible.
Leaning back in his office chair, he radiated a lazy, unrestrained charm.
He glanced at her standing by the doorway, then turned his attention back to the screen.
Silence pooled in the room.
After a while, he rose and walked toward her.
Each step tightened her pulse.
“Mr. Hayes…” she murmured, lifting her gaze to meet his blue eyes, trying to look composed.
“Sit.” He turned toward the sofa.
She chose a seat about two metres away from him.
“Come closer.” He patted the spot beside him.
After a brief hesitation, she moved closer.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked, his eyes fixed steadily on her.
She froze, then gave a small shake of her head.
“What are your thoughts?” he pressed.
Her gaze drifted to his collarbone and the faint hickey at his throat.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hayes. I was drunk—” she whispered.
“No need to apologise.” He cut her off, leaning back against the sofa as he studied her profile.
“I initiated things last night,” he said calmly. “You only kissed me. Everything after that was my doing.”