Chapter 33 Rivalry Start
A friendly smile was plastered on Bruce’s face, but his eyes were sharp, as if he could read Elliot’s mood.
Elliot straightened up, masking his surprise with a fleeting smile. "What are you doing here?" Elliot asked abruptly as he tucked his hands into his pants pockets.. He thought the new room wouldn't be ready until next week.
Bruce stepped closer, is friendly smile remained, annoying Elliot further. "I heard our room is almost finished. Thank you for handling everything so well. Audrey has been very helpful."
Hearing Audrey's name leave Bruce's mouth in such a casual way, Elliot's eyebrows slightly knit together. He stared at Bruce more intensely. "She is just doing her job as a secretary. Nothing special."
Bruce shrugged, a small smile still playing on his lips. "Of course. But still, I owe her. Audrey has always been quick on her feet, even back then."
"Back then?" Elliot was immediately bothered by the phrase.
Bruce seemed unaffected, looking like he was enjoying the situation. "Oh, yes. I forgot. Audrey and I are old friends. We went to the same high school and college, although we weren't in the same major."
Finding out their history spanned longer than he'd assumed made Elliot feel deeply unsettled. He managed to hide it behind a poker face. "I am not interested in my employees' past."
"Well, there aren't many exciting stories. But they are still valuable to me." Bruce smiled faintly, as if knowing Elliot was restraining something.
Their eyes met in an intense stare, as if each man was measuring the strength of his opponent.
"Then I expect this collaboration to run smoothly without disruption," Elliot finally stated, cold and firm.
Just as Elliot was about to leave before completely losing control, Bruce's question halted him. "Are you sure you don't want to know about Audrey's past, Mr. Harrington? Even if our relationship was more than just friendship?"
Elliot turned around, staring sharply at the man who was smiling meaningfully.
He struggled to keep his expression controlled, unwilling to show that Bruce's comment had successfully riled his emotions.
"Your personal relationship with Audrey has no bearing on the work here at MGC."
Bruce smiled like a player who knew he was leading the game. "Of course. I just felt the need to explain, since we will be working together frequently."
The air between them crackled with unspoken challenges, the sterile hallway suddenly feeling like a battlefield.
Elliot didn't respond immediately. His jaw tightened, and his gaze looked like it wanted to penetrate Bruce's composure. "For us, only the results matter. Nothing more!"
Bruce nodded casually, unfazed by Elliot's intensity. "I guarantee that."
Then, quickly, he added, "But sometimes, the past has a funny way of resurfacing, doesn't it?"
Elliot's blood ran cold. Every instinct screamed at him to wipe that knowing smirk off Bruce's face, but he forced his hands to remain clenched in his pockets, nails digging so hard into his palms he could almost feel the skin break.
The casual threat in Bruce's words hung in the air between them, more dangerous than any direct challenge.
But Elliot didn't want Bruce to see that the words had tangled his thoughts even further.
Calmly, he adjusted his jacket, looking at Bruce coldly, matched by a cold smile. "I expect you to remain focused on your responsibilities here, Mr. Miller. Don't let the past be the reason for future failure."
Bruce's small smile still adorning his face. "Of course, Sir. Thank you for the advice. But having relationships outside of professional ones is also the right of an MGC employee. Isn't that right, Mr. Harrington?"
Elliot cursed inwardly countless times over Bruce's attitude. His jaw clenched, hearing the last comment.
The man in front of him clearly wouldn't back down!
Elliot looked at Bruce with a nearly piercing stare. "I told you, personal relationships must not disrupt work productivity. That is MGC’s principle. And I hope you understand that."
Bruce nodded, still with that small smile that seemed to make Elliot's blood boil. "Of course, Sir. I'm just speaking generally. But I'm glad you care so much about this matter."
Elliot didn't respond, his gaze remaining sharp, signaling that he wanted to end the conversation. But Bruce didn't seem finished.
"Oh, and one more thing, Sir," Bruce said, his tone sounding more serious. "I hope no one feels threatened by my presence here. I just want to collaborate as best as possible with everyone at MGC, including Audrey."
That name again!
Elliot felt a surge of heat within him. He held himself back, taking a long breath before replying. "Your presence here is a management decision, not a personal issue. Just focus on your tasks, Mr. Miller. That's more important."
Bruce smiled faintly, stepping back with a small nod. "Certainly, Mr. Harrington. Thank you for your input."
Unwilling to continue a conversation that only inflamed his emotions, Elliot immediately walked away without another word.
It felt like a cold war had just begun.
Bruce was playing him, and Elliot hated that he was falling for it. Every word from Bruce was a carefully placed trap, and he was walking right into it.
Elliot grumbled, taking a deep breath before returning to his office with a mind more jumbled than ever.
But seriously, he wouldn't surrender! For God's sake, he was Elliot Harrington!
Behind him, Bruce watched Elliot walk away. His friendly smile slowly faded as his face turned serious.
His mind flashed back to his meeting with Audrey a few nights ago at the cafe near her place.
After light conversation exchanging stories about their lives, Bruce finally dared to ask a more private question. "How is your mother?"
Audrey, who had seemed cheerful, instantly froze. Her smile looked strained as she lowered her head, pretending to sip her black iced coffee.
Bruce watched her for a moment before sighing softly.
Audrey's parents were the reason she gave when Bruce expressed wanting to get serious with her. She claimed Henry didn't like him, nor did her mother.
With a heavy heart, Bruce backed off, though they never cut off their friendship, which only grew more awkward. Eventually, they drifted apart because Bruce graduated first and became engrossed in his career.
Bruce put his friendly smile back on. "Ah, I'm sorry. If that's too personal—"
"Mom passed away a year ago," Audrey quickly stated, her head still lowered.
The friendly smile vanished from Bruce's face, replaced by worry. Deep worry. "What? How—"
Audrey lifted her head. She looked like her usual self again, smiling easily. "She was quite ill."
Bruce was stunned by the quick change. He was certain sadness was still deeply rooted in Audrey.
Driven by sympathy, the man moved his hand, intending to offer support by grasping Audrey's hand.
But again, Bruce was shocked because just as he was about to touch her, Audrey pulled her hand away first, hiding it under the table.
'Is she still drawing that line?''
"Your father—"
Audrey looked ready to stand up. "If there's nothing else to discuss, I think I need to leave—"
"My firm proposed that our team work at MGC!" Bruce quickly interjected, not wanting their meeting to end so soon.
For God's sake, it had only been 20 minutes!
Bruce successfully grabbed Audrey's attention, and she slowly sat back down. And well, that was the beginning of how his team got an office on the 11th floor, followed by other conversations without touching on her personal issues.
Yet, the question about Elliot and what Audrey's relationship was with him had been on the tip of Bruce's tongue that night. But he had to push it aside to spend more time with her.
"Your behavior is too obvious, Mr. Elliot Harrington," Bruce muttered, almost a whisper, doubting whether Audrey wasn't aware of it.