Chapter 193 Stains of Blood on the Skirt
"Mr. Smith..." Layla's voice echoed in the room as she stood at the threshold, her hand still gripping the doorknob. A furrow of irritation marred her otherwise troubled countenance as she reiterated, "This really isn't an opportune moment."The audacity of a man forcing himself into a woman's room was repugnant to her."What's so inconvenient about it?" Mr. Smith retorted, his lips curling into a smile. He behaved as though he was the most anticipated guest, already uncorking the wine bottle with a flourish."We're colleagues, and our being alone could spark unnecessary rumors.""We're all here to relax, what's the harm in a friendly conversation? Unless, of course, you're hiding something," Mr. Smith remarked, pouring wine into two glasses. "If you're concerned about being seen, simply shut the door."After a moment's hesitation, Layla acquiesced, closing the door reluctantly, all too aware of her colleagues in the adjacent rooms."Come on, have a drink.""I don't consume alcohol.""Why so uptight? I promise I won't bite."Mr. Smith's crude jest made Layla feel as though she'd ingested a fly—immediate disgust washed over her."I simply enjoy absorbing some youthful vigor from you youngsters. I'm quite trendy myself; there won't be any generational gap in our conversation. Come, have a seat.""Mr. Smith, I'm weary from the long drive this morning. I'd prefer to retire early.""Don't fret, I won't detain you. Come," Mr. Smith coaxed, lifting his wine glass and taking a sip. "This bottle cost two grand, it'd be a shame not to savor it."Despite his efforts, Layla remained unmoved."Layla, you've noticed how Giovanna and Jane are targeting you, haven't you? They disrespect you because they believe you lack experience. And there's going to be more of this. We're looking at a minimum of two more years on this project, and as a young woman on your own, you won't outmaneuver them. Who knows? They might even succeed in getting you expelled one of these days."That's why you need an ally. I'm the chief of the Eilish Group project. I'm the one who makes the decisions here. With me on your side, you can rest assured – no one will dare to cross you. Besides, you're the kind of young woman that naturally attracts people. I must admit, you're my favorite."Mr. Smith's gaze intensified, his intentions becoming unmistakable.The implication was as clear as day.Layla hadn't been in the workforce for long, but she was familiar with the adage: there's no such thing as a free lunch. Every favor had a price.Suppressing the urge to eject him immediately, she responded with cool politeness, "Thank you, Mr. Smith, for your high esteem. I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities.""Doing your job is expected, but it's not sufficient. There's no dearth of talented youngsters out there. Standing out won't be a cakewalk."Mr. Smith reclined, crossing his legs, his casual posture a stark contrast to the professional setting, "You're a novice. It's normal to utter naive statements like that. Soon enough, you'll realize how foolish it sounds. I'm merely providing you with a heads-up on what you'll eventually comprehend, to save you some detours. After all, I'm quite smitten with you.""Layla, my position here keeps me occupied. I don't usually pay this much attention to every young individual. I'm just particularly intrigued by you. Do you understand what I'm implying?"Layla did – and it was making her stomach churn."Mr. Smith, it's late. Please depart. You're disturbing my rest," Layla stated, her expression turning stern."What? You think I'm too old? It seems you don't appreciate the charm of a mature man. There's no shortage of young women vying for my attention. I've just been rejecting them. All those youngsters can offer you are empty promises. What I can provide are tangible benefits."This project is highly lucrative. Secure your position as the lead designer, and you're looking at a bonus of over half a million. I could even increase that for you. How many fresh graduates do you know who can earn that much? You'd better seize this opportunity."Layla retorted frostily, "My boyfriend wouldn't appreciate this.""Is that your concern? Don't worry. I'm not looking to steal anyone's girlfriend. We'd just be helping each other out.""I'm not interested. Please leave!" Layla swung the door open. "Being seen by a colleague would tarnish your reputation, considering you're the project director."Mr. Smith's forehead creased in disapproval, "You're being shortsighted, and you'll regret it sooner or later.""I'm young. I can handle a few hardships.""You'll regret this," Mr. Anderson warned coldly, his face darkening as he slammed his drink down and exited with a sour expression.
"Mr. Lee..." Layla stood at the door, her hand still clutching the knob. A frown of annoyance crossed her troubled face as she repeated, "This really isn't a good time."
Forcing himself into a woman's room, what a creep!
"What's inconvenient about it?" Mr. Lee countered with a smile, as if he was the most welcomed guest, already popping the cork on the wine.
"We're colleagues, and being alone together could lead to rumors."
"We're all here to unwind, what's wrong with a friendly chat? Unless, of course, you have something to hide," Mr. Lee said, pouring wine into two glasses. "If you're worried about being seen, just close the door."
After a few seconds of hesitation, aware that her colleagues were in the nearby rooms, Layla reluctantly shut the door.
"Come on, have a drink."
"I don't drink alcohol."
"Why so tense? I'm not going to bite."
The middle-aged man's greasy joke made Layla feel like she'd swallowed a fly—immediate revulsion.
"Me, I just enjoy soaking up some youthful energy from you guys. I'm pretty hip myself; there'll be no generation gap in our chat. Come over, have a seat."
"Mr. Lee, I'm exhausted from the long drive this morning. I'd like to rest early."
"Don't worry, I won't keep you. Come over." Mr. Lee lifted his wine glass, took a sip, and added, "This bottle cost two grand, it'd be a waste not to enjoy it."
Still, Layla didn't budge.
"Layla, you can see that Giovanna and Jane are gunning for you, right? Bottom line, they don't respect you because they think you lack experience. And there's going to be a lot more of this. We're looking at at least two more years on this project, and as a young woman on your own, you're not going to outplay them. Who knows? They might even manage to get you kicked out one of these days."
"That's why you need someone to watch your back. I'm the head honcho of the Eilish Group project. I call the shots around here. With me in your corner, you can breathe easy – no one will touch you. Besides, you're the kind of young woman that just draws people in. I have to say, you're my favorite."
Mr. Lee's gaze became unmistakable – intense and charged.
The implication couldn't be clearer.
Layla hadn't been in the workforce long, but she knew the saying all too well: there's no such thing as a free lunch. Favors come at a price.
Suppressing the urge to kick him out on the spot, she responded with detached politeness, "Thank you, Mr. Lee, for your high regard. I will do my job to the best of my abilities."
"Doing your job is a given, but it's not enough. There's no shortage of talented young folks out there. Standing out isn't going to be easy."
Mr. Lee lounged back, crossing his legs, a casual pose throwing professionalism to the wind, "You're a newbie. It's normal to say naive things like that. Soon enough, you'll see how silly it sounds. I'm just giving you a heads-up on what you'll eventually understand, to save you some detours. After all, I'm quite taken with you."
"Layla, my position here keeps me busy. I'm not usually this attentive to every young person. I'm just particularly interested in you. You catch my drift?"
Layla did – and it was making her stomach turn.
"Mr. a decisiveLee, it's late. Please leave. You're disrupting my rest," Layla said, her expression turning serious.
"What? You think I'm too old? Seems like you don't appreciate the allure of a mature man. There's no shortage of young women looking to get close to me. I've just been turning them away. All those kids can offer you are sweet nothings. What I can give you are tangible benefits."
"This project is highly profitable. Secure your position as the lead designer, and you're looking at a bonus of over half a million. I could even up that for you. How many fresh grads do you know who can make that much? You'd better seize this opportunity."
Layla replied icily, "My boyfriend wouldn't be happy about this."
"Is that what you're worried about? Don't. I'm not looking to steal anyone's girl. We'd just be scratching each other's backs."
"I'm not interested. Please leave!" Layla swung the door open. "Getting spotted by a colleague would harm your reputation, after all, you're the project director."
Mr. Lee's forehead knitted in disapproval, "You're being shortsighted, and you'll regret it sooner or later."
"I'm young. I can handle a few hardships."
"You'll regret this," Mr. Anderson said coldly, his face dropping as he slammed his drink down and left with a sour expression.
Layla locked her door with a click.
A sarcastic , Layla secured her door. A laugh escaped, tinged with sarcasm, slipped past her lips.
Did he really think The audacity of the man to believe he could take advantage of exploit her? As if he was laughable. He stood ano chance.
against her. If he only he knew that her boyfriend was Samuel, he'dhe would be cryingbegging for mercy.
...
...In the middledead of the night, Layla was sleeping soundly.
"Ding-dong, ding-dong—"ensconced in a peaceful slumber. The persistent ringing of the doorbell, a relentless "ding-dong, ding-dong," shattered the tranquility of her peaceful slumber.
"Ding-dong—"
sleep. "Layla, Layla open up, please..." came a a sobbingtearful plea.
echoed through the silence. Recognizing the voice, Layla muttered, "Alice?" Layla glancedShe squinted at the clock. One o'clock in the morning. What could have possibly happened? She at this hour? With a sense of urgency, she scrambled out of bed, flicked on the light, and rushed to the door.
"Layla…" Alice fellcollapsed into her arms, crying inconsolably.
her tears flowing freely. "What's wrong? What's happened?" Layla asked, feelingher heart pounding with a sense of urgency.
"Why is there blood Her eyes fell on yourAlice's dress?"
Alice was wearing, a white sundress, now marred by a stark spot of blood,. "Are you hurt?"
"I... I'm not hurt," Alice stammered between sobs, her world seemedseeming to be collapsing,crumble around her. "Phillip... Phillip, he..."
A dreadful thought flashed through Layla's mind, anddraining the color from her face turned pale.
. "Did he...?"
"What do I do? I'm such an idiot. I regret everything..." Alice wailed like , her voice echoing the despair of a lost lamb.
Alice criedAlice's tears flowed for what seemed like an eternity. When Layla pressed forDespite Layla's persistent attempts to extract details, she just cried and wouldn't respond.
After calming Alice down enough to getcould only cry, her to sleep, Layla grew more anxious andwords lost in her sobs. After managing to soothe Alice into a fitful sleep, Layla's anxiety spiked. She decided to confront Phillip directly.
"What's going on so late?" Phillip stood at the door in his robe, surprisingly alert.
"What did you do to Alice?"
"Come inside, and we'll talk," Phillip tugged her inside.
"Don't touch me! Just tell me, what did you do to Alice?" Layla demanded, her fists clenched, her anger more fierce than if she had been wronged herself,."Come inside, and we'll talk," Phillip suggested, reaching out to guide her in."Don't touch me! Just tell me, what did you do to Alice?" Layla demanded, her voice echoing her fury. "Did you force her...?"
"Phillip I doesn't need to force any woman," Phillip replied tersely,. "We had a few drinks, things happened."
"You—"
"Don't blame me. She's so into me, and I merely obliged. When I kissed her, she didn't resist. It all happened naturally... I didn't force her, it was consensual. But I didn't expect her to be a virgin," Phillip frowned.
"Don't project your despicable behavior onto adults. Alice is a good girl, and you need to take responsibility for your actions."," Layla retorted, her voice firm and unyielding.
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