Chapter 93
Just past the elevator and a short walk ahead was the CEO's office.
Apart from his office, this floor only had a large conference room. When no meetings were held, the entire floor was completely silent.
Ava knocked on the CEO's office door. Hearing a "Come in!", she pushed the door open.
William was working at his desk. Besides James, sitting on the sofa was Abigail Rodriguez, the HR manager who had helped her with the onboarding procedures.
"Ava, please sign this salary adjustment agreement again."
Abigail handed her a document.
Ava took it with confusion and read through it from beginning to end. Her eyes paused when they landed on the salary amount.
Abigail explained with a smile, "The first-place winner in the group design department competition gets double salary. It's standard practice. Congratulations, Ava!"
Ava thanked her.
Abigail handed her the pen. "Go ahead and sign. Two copies."
Ava looked up at William. He hadn't glanced at her once since she entered. She couldn't help feeling disappointed. After signing, she handed the agreement and pen back to Abigail.
"Thanks for your help, Abigail."
Abigail was sharp. Her eyes moved between Ava and William, thinking to herself: this rule has been in the design department for years, but when has signing a document ever required coming to the CEO's office? The relationship between Ava and William must be more than meets the eye.
"No trouble at all, it's my job. Well then, Mr. Morgan, I'll go get this stamped and bring it back once it's done."
Only then did William make a sound of acknowledgment.
After signing the salary adjustment agreement, Ava was about to leave with Abigail when James blocked her way.
"Mr. Morgan, I still have unfinished work to handle. I'll get going."
With that, he pulled the glass door shut, leaving Ava inside.
"Don't want the salary adjustment agreement?"
William finally finished his work. He tossed aside the documents in his hand and casually played with an imported gold-embossed pen, looking at her with a relaxed gaze.
"Huh?"
Ava was confused for a moment, but he had already risen from his leather chair and was walking toward her with large strides, proper yet somewhat dangerous.
"Who would've thought—my wife actually has some real skills, crushing everyone in the design department."
His figure loomed over her. Ava took a step back, her whole body pressed against the door.
William suddenly let out a soft laugh. Looking down at her from above, his gaze fell on her fluttering raven-like lashes.
"Why are you backing away? Tell me, what's with the attitude you've been giving me lately?"
After holding it in for several days, he finally couldn't help but ask what he'd done wrong this time. The gift he'd brought back for her—she wouldn't even open the box. Every day she barely responded to him, and when sleeping, she gave him the back of her head. He'd endured this cold treatment for three full days.
Ava felt suffocated under the pressure of his powerful presence. She licked her lips.
"Let's talk about it at home."
At the company, she didn't want to bring up those annoying matters, and she was afraid colleagues would see her so close to him and start gossiping.
The workplace had never been fair to women. When you achieved something, just talking a bit more with a boss would make people question: "Did she sleep her way to the top?"
She'd heard plenty of comments like that at the company. Though not directed at her, as a woman, it still made her uncomfortable.
William raised an eyebrow. "Talk about it at home when crying then?"
Ava looked up at him. He wore an utterly proper, restrained expression while saying things that made her heart race and cheeks flush.
At this moment, they were standing extremely close. With her back against the glass door, Ava had nowhere left to retreat. She pressed her hand against his chest, afraid he'd come closer.
"Move back a bit. We should keep our distance at the company."
William's chest trembled slightly. "Do you know what your action looks like right now?"
He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Like you're trying to seduce me."
His scorching breath, along with his words, entered her ear. Ava felt a tingling sensation shoot straight to the top of her head. She instantly withdrew the hand pressed against his chest.
"Don't do this. Someone might see."
"So what if they see? You're my legal wife."
Hearing him say "wife," Ava's heart inexplicably trembled.
"You're not afraid of others finding out?"
"How about we make it public right now?"
Ava was pleased by his few words, but reason told her that Sarah still stood between them.
"I heard Sarah broke her leg."
William made a sound of acknowledgment. "Found out three days ago. Already got her the best doctor."
Talking about Sarah, his tone was slightly impatient. He didn't want to mention her at this moment.
Ava roughly guessed the reason for his sudden return. She gave a bitter smile, her expression extremely helpless.
William took the hand that had been pressed against his chest and held it in his palm, gently pinching those pale fingers.
"Ava, is this why you've been ignoring me?"
He asked.
Ava remained silent. She didn't want to admit it, but he'd hit the nail on the head.
She turned her head away, not looking at him.
A cool sensation slid from her fingertip to the base of her finger. William lifted that hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.
Ava saw the ring he'd placed on her ring finger. The little deer in her heart started running wild again—it was the wedding ring he'd once promised her.
He really knew how to handle her. That ring made her surrender once again.
"I bought it back several days ago. Couldn't you have opened it to take a look?"
Ava's cold heart gradually warmed. "You didn't say anything. How was I supposed to know it was a ring?"
William looked at the woman acting so righteous, quite dissatisfied with her words. Did this mean that if it wasn't a ring, she wouldn't have wanted it?
His large hand gently lifted her chin, and he kissed those pink, pouty lips, entangling with her.
A tingling sensation came from her tongue. Ava's reason gradually returned.
"This, this is an office, don't..."
Before she could finish, he blocked her mouth with his.
"Mmm..."
Ava was almost unable to breathe from his forceful kiss.
"Ava, let's leave together after work."
William was breathing heavily.
Ava recovered a bit and looked up at him somewhat incredulously. He was the one who wanted to keep the marriage secret, and he was the one who warned her to keep her distance at the company on her first day.
Now he was inviting her to leave work together.
"I drove here."
He held her hand in his palm again, his finger gently sliding between hers, interlacing their fingers.
"Ava, take my car today."
Ava's heart swayed. Her brain could no longer think normally. This was the first time they'd interlaced fingers like this. He made her heart flutter more now than at any other time.
She felt that he loved her, that their hearts were pressed together.
This was what she'd been hoping for all along since marrying him. This beautiful moment was like a fairy tale coming to life.
After a long while, she finally asked, "Don't you have to work late today?"
He seemed very busy these past few days, still working when he got home.
William let out a soft laugh.
"Don't you know why I've been working late these past few days?"
If there was someone at home caring for him, would he be willing to stay here alone, looking at those boring documents?