Chapter 41 Exposed for All to See!
No sooner had she sat down than Sarah and Harper Sloan, another usually quiet coworker, approached.
“You and Ryan…”
“What is it?” Emma was confused.
“Are you and Ryan together?”
“Ha…” She laughed, finding it amusing.
“How could I possibly be with him? You’ve got the wrong idea.”
“But you were so close to him, chatting happily. He took time off for you, waited in line to buy you dessert, and you didn’t refuse,” Harper ranted on.
“…”
“Everyone in Design knows,” Sarah whispered.
“!” Emma stared at the dessert in front of her, suddenly losing her appetite.
“What’s going on with you and Ryan, Emma?” Harper pressed.
“He used to be my classmate. Now, he’s my work partner. He’ll always be my friend,” Emma said.
But no one believed it. More and more people were discussing them behind their backs.
⸻
“Are you and your husband doing cosplay?” Iris asked, watching Emma bury her head in her dessert.
“Seriously, I still don’t even know his family.”
“Haven’t you met his family?”
“No, not formally.”
“He’s so rich. Does that pressure you?”
“It’s fine. I’m not after his money.” Emma tossed her empty wrapper into the trash.
“Then what are you after? Hmm?” Iris grinned.
Emma’s face flushed instantly. She gave a faint smile but didn’t answer.
“Someone is blushing…” Iris picked up the meeting notes and nudged her arm. “Come on, let’s go to the meeting.”
“Okay.”
⸻
Emma pressed the button, waiting.
“Ding.”
The elevator doors opened.
Everyone froze, some gasping aloud.
Emma dropped her documents and stared blankly at the scene inside.
Luke knelt on the elevator floor, cradling his right hand with his left. A pen had pierced his right palm, and blood was flowing freely. His face was contorted, and his neck was covered in bulging veins.
The stench of blood was heavy and sickening.
Beside him was Liam.
He was wiping blood from his glasses with a tissue; a few splatters dotted his shirt and abs.
Emma scanned him from head to toe, and their eyes met.
His eyes were cold.
⸻
No one dared to speak until the elevator doors slowly closed.
“What did Luke do to deserve this?”
“Is our boss really this ruthless?”
“Our boss has eight-pack abs! He’s so handsome!”
“What a shame. Should’ve taken a picture.”
“I heard he was bullying Emma earlier. Lily and Jack caught him.”
“The boss wouldn’t go that far with an employee, would he?”
“Did the boss take a liking to you, Emma?”
“Are you okay, Emma?”
Everyone’s eyes were on Emma, waiting for her answer.
“I… I’m not good…” She stammered, her heart pounding. “You guys go up first. Call in sick for me.”
“Okay.”
Everyone watched her with concern. Another elevator door opened nearby, and they stepped inside one by one.
Seeing her pale face, Iris quickly supported her.
“Go ahead with your work, Iris. I’ll go check it out. Call me if anything happens,” Emma said.
“Okay.” Iris nodded.
After the elevator doors closed, Emma quickly picked up the documents from the floor and headed toward the other elevator.
Reaching the 30th floor, the bloodstains on the floor stretched from the elevator entrance all the way to the CEO’s office.
Emma rushed over, finding a pool of blood on the desk, along with a gaping hole.
She could picture it clearly—Liam pinning Luke’s hand to the desk and driving the pen straight through.
…
Police cars and ambulances were parked outside the entrance.
Medical staff were applying pressure to Luke’s wound.
The lobby wasn’t crowded; only two receptionists were taking photos with their phones.
“Do you have any wet wipes?” Emma asked calmly, tapping the reception desk with her knuckles.
The two snapping front desk staff hurriedly pulled out a pack from the drawer.
“Thank you.”
“Liam.” She ran over.
Liam, standing by the door, looked perfectly composed.
When he saw Emma running toward him with his coat in her arms, the look behind his glasses visibly brightened.
“Are you hurt?” She grabbed his arm and scanned him up and down.
He spread his arms wide, twisting slightly to show her he was fine.
She exhaled in relief, pulling out a wipe to clean the blood from his chest.
“Aren’t you worried people will see?” he murmured, watching her wipe his abs, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Then wipe it yourself,” she frowned, meeting his gaze.
“As you wish,” he chuckled.
There wasn’t much blood, and it wiped clean quickly, though a faint metallic scent lingered.
“Put your clothes back on,” she said.
“No need. They’re filthy.”
“No?”
“Not—”
“Do or not?”
“Okay… I’ll wear it,” Liam said, finally relenting.
Emma pulled out the shirt and helped him put it on, buttoning it before slipping on his jacket.
“I need to go to the police station,” he said.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Alright.”
She returned to the front desk and warned them not to distribute the photos.
The two women only nodded.
Ryan followed the ambulance to the hospital while Liam got into the police car.
Emma drove her own car there.
…
At the police station, Liam admitted to assaulting Luke.
Emma waited outside, her heart heavy with unease.
He must have found out what Luke had done to me.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted so impulsively.
Her hands clenched together, guilt gnawing at her.
Six o’clock.
Luke appeared at the station. His hand was wrapped in layer upon layer of gauze, the injury looking severe.
Within ten minutes, Liam was released.
Emma was baffled. Luke hadn’t held Liam accountable at all, brushing it off as a misunderstanding and ending it there.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, she hesitated to start the car.
“I’ll drive,” Liam said from the passenger seat, noticing her hands still trembling.
He walked around to the driver’s side, took her hand, and guided her to the passenger seat.
“Why did you follow me? Scaredy-cat,” he asked.
“If you’d really gone in there, I’d be single,” she murmured.
“You really don’t know your husband,” he teased, chuckling.
“But you’re going too far. He just pulled me,” she protested, still annoyed.
“Why didn’t Luke pursue you?” she pressed.
“He embezzled over two million dollars in public funds. Breaking his hand was meant to teach him a lesson,” he said, offering an explanation.
“…”