Chapter 192 The Guests
Spectators circled around, eager for theThe crowd of spectators formed a ring around the scene, their faces alight with anticipation for the unfolding drama and . Fingers were readily pointing fingers pointed at Layla as the culprit behind the push, leaving her with no defense while Gioanna loudly threatened, accusing her of being the instigator of the incident. She stood defenseless as Gioanna's voice rose above the murmurs, threatening to callinvolve the cops.
police.Jane was about to dial on her phone, but on the verge of dialing the authorities when Susan stopped her.
"Come on, isintervened. "Is it reallytruly necessary to escalate such a minor incident like this?" Susan was seasoned in handlingquestioned, her voice steady. She was a veteran when it came to navigating workplace dynamics and had little patiencetolerance for such disruptive behavior.
"This is no smallfar from a minor matter," Gioanna fumed.retorted, her anger palpable. "She pushed me into the wishing fountain. What if I'dI had hit my head? She'dShe could never be able to compensate for that, and I can't even swim!"
"Yeah, how Jane chimed in, her grin mischievous, "How is that any different from murder?" Jane incited with a mischievous grin.
Alice, however, stood in Layla's defense. "Layla would never do that, stop blaming her. Forsuch a thing. You're quick to blame her, but for all we know, you might've jumped in there on purpose," Alice chimed in with support.
intentionally."Gioanna's anger flared at their words. "You're all a nest of rats," she accused Gioanna, pointing, her finger pointed at the two.
women."Mrs. Susan, I've kept my cool every time you covered for tolerated your favoritism towards her in the past, but this is too much even for me. I can't takebear it anymore. It doesn't matter any longer. Regardless of what you say, I'm calling the cops."
"You..."
police."Before the situation could escalate further, Mr. Smith stepped in. "Everyone just cool it, will ya? Stop fighting," Mr. Lee intervened, pulling, let's calm down," he urged, helping Gioanna out of the wishing wellfountain. "We're all colleagues here, and taking this to the cops isn't going to look good for. Involving the police won't reflect well on the Holland Group. Let's just drop it, okay? Do me this favor."
"Mr. Lee..." let it go, for my sake."Gioanna felt wronged.
"Let it go, just calm down."
In, but in the end, no one called the police. GioannaShe and Jane walked away, grumbling. under their breath. "This is driving me nuts.infuriating. Why can't guysmen ever see through these manipulative women? This injustice is just too hardmuch to swallow."
bear.""Don't worry about it. ," Jane reassured her with a sly smile. "A sly fox always shows its tail," Jane said with a sly smile. ". We'll keep an eye on her, and we'reshe's bound to catch her slippingslip up. Let's see her wrigglehow she wriggles out of that one..."
...
It was...The clock struck nine o'clock at night.
in the evening.After a barbecue with her colleagues, Layla returned to her hotel after a barbecue with her coworkers.
Changingroom. She changed into a comfortable nightgown, she and sprawled out on the bed for a bit, missing, her thoughts drifting to the man she left back home, and decided. Deciding to video call him.
"Ring... Ring..." It , she dialed his number.The call connected after just two rings.
Samuel was appeared on the screen, dressed in a suit, gesturing for silence with his finger pressed to his lips.
Layla then realized signaling for silence.Realizing he was in a meeting and, Layla playfully stuck out her tongue to signal hanging up, but, indicating she would hang up, but Samuel gestured for her to wait and stepped out of the conference room.
"Sorry"I'm sorry, I didn't knowrealize you were in a meeting. You can hang up," Layla said.
offered."If I hang up now, my little bunny is going to go will be hopping mad."
," Samuel teased."Since when am I that petty?" Layla said, laughing.
laughed."Petty? I wouldn't want you gettingto get suspicious."
"As if I'd ever doubt you."
"Oh"Really? That much trust? Is it because you've got me all figured out, or do you think your man lacks charm?"
Layla couldn't help but laugh in laughed, a hint of annoyance. in her voice. If Samuel lacked charm, then there wouldn't be a man in the world who could be called charming. This thought made her think she ought to worry, but for some reason, she just had confidence in him.
"Because I trust my man," she affirmed.
What else wascould she supposed to do? Keep him tied up at home so the chicks out thereother women wouldn't get their claws ininto him?
"You"Are you sure I'm trustworthy?" LaylaSamuel teased with, a sly smile.
on his face."My heart is with you; how can I not be? Though, I do hope you'll get a little jealous sometimes."
...
Is this what...Such words from a commanding CEO would say?made Layla's heart melted instantly, wishingflutter. She wished she could jumpleap through the screen and smothershower him with kisses.
Sobbing softly, A soft sob escaped her lips. Layla wasn't usuallytypically one to get clingy, but just now, the mere glimpse ofseeing his face unleashedstirred a tidal wave of longing within her.
"I miss you so much," Layla whispered tenderly.
"I miss you too," Samuel responded with a, his voice deep, heartfelt voice that couldn't hide his and filled with emotion.
Through the screen, it seemedwas as if they couldn't get enough of each other, wishing they could etch every detail of the other's face deep into their soulsouls.
"You're likeHe was akin to an addiction. WeThey had only just parted thissaid their goodbyes that morning, and I'myet she found herself yearning for his presence already missing you."
"Missing." what, What exactly do you miss about meexactly? Miss me... physically? Do you miss my physical presence or emotionally?"
"Wow. You're badmy emotional companionship?" he queried."Goodness, you're incorrigible," Layla chuckledresponded with a chuckle, fluffing her pillow.
in an attempt to distract herself."So, which is it?" Samuel's voice grew more husky, took on a huskier tone, his words laced with a tantalizing.
In all honesty promise.Truth be told, Layla's thoughts had been purely innocent until that provocation, and now she washis provocative inquiry. Now, she found herself feeling, well... uncomfortable, a bit disconcerted as her emotions began to stir.
"Ahem, let's "Perhaps we should change the subject."
After all, ," she suggested, attempting to regain control of the conversation.After all, it was often said that seeing without touching doescould be more harmharmful than good.
beneficial."How was your day today?"
"It was great," Layla?" she asked, steering the conversation towards safer waters."It was splendid," she lied, not wanting to pass onburden him with her downheartednessmelancholy. More importantly, she knew howwas well aware of his protective her man was of hernature; she didn't want her colleagues, Giovanna and Jane, to lose their jobs.
because of her."Your eyes tell a different story," Samuel observed Samuel,, his perception always perceptive.
astute."That's justmerely because I miss you so much. ItThings would be better if you were here."
with me.""I'll come over right now."
," he offered without hesitation."Don't, you're. You're in the middle of a meeting. Oh, and get back to itBesides, everyone's waiting for you," Layla suddenly remembered.
suddenly."It's okayfine, let them wait. I want to see you more," Samuel saiddeclared, his loveaffection for her piercing through the screenradiating so intensely through the screen that it almostnearly melted her.
Lips may lie, butWhile lips could deceive, the eyes of someone in love can't, and hisa lover never could. His feelings were spillingpouring out so clearly that she was almostfelt as though she were drowning in them.
"Wait for me to come backreturn, and then we'll start planning theour wedding," Samuel declared.
proposed."That soon?"
"Don't women worryfret about not fitting into their wedding dress if they wait too long?"
"You have a point there. A small wedding would dosuffice, just our close friends and family."
Samuel shook his head in disagreement, "My woman deserves the grandest wedding in the world."
Layla's heart skipped a beatfluttered at the thought, envisioning castle weddings, beachside ceremonies, grand and beautiful feasts... Abroad, with champagne and thousands of roses...
It was every woman's fairytale wedding dream.
"I want to tell the wholeentire world that you, Layla, are mine," Samuel stated.
declared.Deeply moved, Layla had only wanted a small wedding, but she couldn't found herself unable to resist this enticementhis enticing proposal and nodded, "Okay in agreement, "Alright, we'll start planning as soon as we're back."
Her mind was already brimming with fantasies…
Ding-dong—The doorbelltranquility was shattered by the tranquility.
sudden ringing of the doorbell."Who is itcould that be?" Samuel askedinquired immediately.
"Probably Alice. I texted her to come over and keep me company."
"No way. You're only sleeping beside me."
His words were laced with a hint of jealousy.Layla chuckled with a smirk, "Typical JustinSamuel, jealous even when I'm in bed with another woman, huh?"
Samuel snorted with faux arrogance.
"Alright, enough joking around. Get some rest after the meeting and steer clear of those sketchy places. Bye-bye."
Goodbye."After hanging upending the call, Layla hopped out of bed to answer the door.
"Alice..."
But However, the person waiting on the other side wasn't Alice.
Her smile froze instantly.
"Mr. Lee?" Layla stammered, her hands instinctively smoothing the fabric of her skirt.
"I figured you hadn't hit the sack yet. You youngsters love to burn the midnight oil, don't you? I can't sleep either. Mind a little chat?" Mr. Lee Smith suggested, lifting a bottle of red wine with a smile that Layla found rather sleazy.
"I was just about to turn in."
"Just a quick chat, a sip of wine might actually help you sleep."
"Mr. LeeSmith, this isn't a good time."
The last thing she needed was colleagues getting the wrong idea...
Layla leaned against the door to keep him out, but Mr. Lee Smith ignored her protest and forced his way into the room.
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