Chapter 161: The Boss Lady (Part 1)
Upon arriving at the hotel, Aimée slammed the car door shut and strode into the lobby.
She vowed silently, Alison, just you wait. I won’t lose to you.
Meanwhile, Alison returned home, feeling uneasy.
Fiddling with her phone, she hesitated, then finally called Jack.
“Alison, missing me? Want me to pick you up now?” he asked cheerfully the moment he answered.
“No, don’t say that,” she denied hastily, then added, “I feel something bad is about to happen. Be careful these days.”
“Don’t worry, everything’s fine. Why not move in with me? Then you won’t have to be scared,” he suggested.
“No,” she refused.
“Then stop overthinking it. Get some good sleep. I’m coming over for dinner tonight. I want to eat what you cook,” he teased.
“Hey, I just wanted to chat with you. Why are you bringing up cooking again?” she complained.
“Because yours is delicious. I won’t eat what anyone else makes,” he said lightly.
“Jack, could you please stay home these days?” Her unease lingered.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied jokingly.
After hanging up, the unease in her heart grew stronger.
Memories suddenly surfaced.
She hurriedly turned on her computer, opened her email, and found a new message.
Her heart pounded — it had been sent over a month ago.
Only then did she realize she hadn’t checked this account in ages.
The email contained nothing but a skull, sending a chill down her spine.
She quickly closed it, but the image lingered in her mind.
She knew someone was watching her from the shadows.
What did this skull mean? A threat to kill her?
Her heart couldn’t settle. Memories of those old photos surged back — was someone using them to blackmail her?
Hugging her knees on the bed, her eyes vacant, she plunged into boundless terror, all sleep gone.
What should I do? She still had no clue about that person.
Perhaps she should return to work at Rebel.
She closed her eyes, darkness gnawing at her nerves.
The skull burned in her mind.
She desperately wanted to confide in someone, but there was no one she could talk to.
Just then, the sound of a text alert rang out.
She instinctively opened it: [Alison, open the door.]
She leaped out of bed and ran barefoot toward the door.
She hurriedly turned the knob and opened it.
Jack’s arrival eased the panic in her heart.
She threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
For the first time, she clung to him willingly.
She whispered, “Jack, why are you here?”
He held her tightly as he stepped inside, closing the door softly behind them so as not to disturb the sleeping kids.
He carried her into the bedroom, whispering, “I think you must have missed me.”
Her delighted expression told him he was right.
They collapsed onto the bed. He murmured, “Alison, tell me. Did something happen?”
Looking into his eyes, she saw his worry.
“Jack,” she murmured, “I’m fine.”
She didn’t want him worrying — he already had Isabella and Aimée to deal with.
She smiled, easing his mind a little.
“Alison, are you sleepy?” he asked.
“Not at all.”
“You should sleep. I’ll stay with you.” He stroked her back.
Though he sensed something was wrong, he wouldn’t pry.
She snuggled closer, pressing her face against his chest. Closing her eyes, she asked softly, “Jack, are you tired?”
“Not at all,” he replied.
“But you have to work tomorrow,” she said.
“I’m the CEO. No one commands me. I could just take another day off,” he teased.
“No, you should go back. How can you be alert without sleep?” she said gently, knowing she couldn’t keep him by her side.