Chapter304 Go to Hell, Teresa
"Hello, Miss. May I ask who you're here to see?"
Lauren had been booted out of the Willow Heights mansion and forbidden to set foot inside again. She had tried everything to reach Liam, but Diana and Thomas had cut her off completely, ignoring her attempts to contact them.
Out of options, on Monday, she went straight to the Evans Group office building.
The security guard, seeing Lauren's unfamiliar face following others slyly, quickly intercepted her.
"I'm here to see Liam. He's expecting me," Lauren told the guard, masking her unease.
"Mr. Liam? You're here for Mr. Liam?" the guard asked skeptically. "Why don't you have Liam's secretary come down to get you?"
"I had an appointment with Liam directly. Why bother Diana or Thomas? They're busy. I don't need them. I'll just head up," Lauren insisted, mentioning Diana and Thomas to reassure the guard.
The guard studied her for a moment, still hesitant, then said, "Just wait here I'll have the reception call the CEO's office to check. If you're right, you can go up."
The guard headed toward the reception desk. Seeing her chance, Lauren swiftly made her way toward the elevators.
"Hey, Miss, hold it right there!" The guard, quick on his feet, spotted Lauren headed for the elevators and chased after her, catching her by the arm.
"Let me go!" Lauren struggled and jerked her arm free. "I told you, I have an appointment with Liam. If you keep me here and he blames you, can you, a mere security guard, afford to take the fall?"
Lauren's outburst immediately drew the attention of others in the lobby.
The guard, visibly uncomfortable yet persistent, said, "Just give me a minute to have the reception call the CEO's office. It won't take long."
"Are you out of your mind? I already told you..."
"So, you wanted to see Liam?" Lauren's words were barely out when a poised and elegant voice, neither too high nor too low, cut in.
Lauren and the security guard both started, turning toward the voice.
"Miss Faith," the security guard said immediately, with a respectful nod.
Faith approached with her bodyguard in tow, gave a slight nod to the security guard as a greeting, and then turned her gaze to Lauren.
Confronted with Faith's forthright and proud stare, Lauren felt exposed like a malignant tumor in the sunlight, promptly averting her eyes in guilt.
"Lauren, is it?" Faith asked, her voice steady and her smile unwavering, exuding an air of authority. "You want to see Liam, right? Let me take you up to him!"
"No... No, I've changed my mind," Lauren said, avoiding eye contact and shaking her head as she turned to leave.
"Come on, Lauren," Faith said swiftly, stepping in front of her to block her way. "If you don't want to see Liam, how about we have a chat instead?"
"No, I have nothing to talk to you about." Lauren glanced at Faith and tried to leave again.
"Stop her!" This time, Faith commanded her bodyguard directly.
The bodyguard quickly moved to block Lauren's path again.
"Lauren, it's just a talk. I'm not going to do anything to you," Faith said, turning to Lauren with the same serene smile and impeccable grace.
Everyone in the lobby watched Faith and Lauren it became instantly clear what the connection was between Lauren and Liam.
Lauren looked up, glanced at Faith, and then at the eyes that were on her as though she were a rat crossing the street. Feeling trapped, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.
With a smile, Faith led the way out.
"After you, Lauren," said Faith's bodyguard, gesturing politely for her to follow.
Biting her lip, Lauren had no choice but to follow.
...
In the CEO's office on the top floor.
Lauren had just left with Faith when Diana received a call from the reception desk on the ground floor.
After hearing the situation, she hastened to ask for Liam's opinion without delay.
Arriving at his office door, she found Liam in a conversation with two executives.
Diana hesitated for a moment before knocking.
"What is it?" Liam looked up at the sound, and both executives turned their attention to Diana.
Diana furrowed her brow slightly, quickly approached, and whispered the situation to Liam in a voice for his ears only, then asked what they should do.
Liam's gaze darkened slightly upon hearing the update, but he casually instructed, "It's okay. Go on with your tasks."
It was apparent that Faith had been aware of Lauren's existence well before today—it was just that their paths happened to cross this time.
What he hadn't anticipated was Lauren's unyielding determination to cling on. It seemed he had misjudged her before his affection had been wasted on someone undeserving.
Considering Faith had known about Lauren all along and never mentioned her, it clearly showed that she didn't see Lauren as a threat.
Taking advantage of this occasion to let Faith firmly put Lauren in her place, to make her give up completely, didn't seem like such a bad idea.
"Yes, Mr. Nelson." Diana, reassured by Liam's words, nodded respectfully and made her exit.
Once Diana had left, Liam went back to business, discussing matters with the executives as if nothing had happened.
...
Faith, eager to meet with Liam, decided not to dwell on Lauren any longer and headed straight to the café on the ground floor of the building next to the Evans Group headquarters.
"Lauren, please take a seat. May I offer you something to drink?" Faith asked gracefully as she settled at a table and watched Lauren slowly follow.
"Can we get straight to the point?" Lauren said firmly, attempting to hold her ground as she sat across from Faith.
