“Joshua used to be my classmate. Now, he’s my colleague. And in the future, he’ll remain a friend.”
A wave of helplessness washed over Jessica. She didn’t know how to explain things. At this rate, she wished Joshua would hurry up and get married so people would stop gossiping.
After several minutes of prying, her co–workers finally drifted away, but no one really believed her denials. Behind her back, the rumors only grew.
“Are you and your husband playing some kind of role–play?” Lilian asked, watching Jessica
devour her dessert.
She seemed unfazed by the gossip about her.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how many people are in his family,” Jessica said.
“You two haven’t met each other’s parents?”
“Not officially.”
“He’s loaded as heck,” Lilian remarked. “Doesn’t that stress you out?”
“I’m fine with it. I’m not interested in his money,” Jessica said, tossing her trash into the bin.
“Then, what is it you like about him?” Lilian teased, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Jessica’s face flushed. She knew exactly what Lilian was hinting at, but she simply offered a small smile and said nothing more.
“Look at you blushing.” Lilian chuckled, nudging her with a notebook. “Come on, meeting’s about to start.”
the
It was Evelyn’s first meeting in the design department, scheduled on the 29th floor. Part of the team had already gone up, and seven or eight people were still waiting at the elevator.
Jessica pressed the button and stood at the front, her mind replaying what had just happened in the junior suite. Zachary’s words replayed in her mind.
“Tonight, I want to…”
She drew in a deep breath.
The elevator doors opened, and everyone froze. Some even gasped aloud.
Gawking at the scene inside, Jessica dropped her file and notebook.
Ian was on his knees, clutching his right hand with his left. Veins stood out on his neck, and
his expression was contorted in pain.
A ballpoint pen had been driven straight through his palm, and blood was gushing out of the wound. A small puddle of blood had already gathered on the elevator mat, its metallic smell drifting out of the elevator.
Beside Ian stood another man–Zachary.
He wore only dress slacks. The cold gleam of his belt caught the light, sending a chill down their spines.
He was calmly wiping blood off his glasses with a tissue, specks of red tattered across his chiseled abs. His gaze was utterly unreadable.
As Jessica took him in from head to toe, their eyes met.
No one dared speak until the elevator doors slid shut once more.
“What did Ian do?”
“Is Mr. Jones really that intense?”
“Did you see those abs?”
“Such a shame. I should’ve snapped a picture for my screensaver. He’s so hot!”
“I heard Ian cornered Ms. Lockman that night, while Ms. Sutton and Mr. Carrington caught
him.”
“Mr. Jones wouldn’t go this far over an employee, would he?”
“Ms. Lockman, maybe the boss has feelings for you.”
“Ms. Lockman, are you okay?”
All eyes turned to Jessica, hoping she’d spill something juicy.
“I’m a little squeamish around blood,” she managed, her heart racing. “You guys head on up first. Help me ask for the rest of the day off, would you?”
Seeing her pale expression, Lilian hurried to support her.
“Ms. Lockman, we’ll go on ahead.”
Everyone left, though their concerned gazes lingered on her. Another elevator had arrived, and they all filed in.
“Handle your work, Lilian,” Jessica said. “I’ll take a look later. Call me if anything comes up.”
“Alright,” Lilian replied, well aware that Jessica wasn’t faint at the sight of blood.
As soon as the doors closed, Jessica scooped up the papers from the floor and stepped into the opposite elevator.
Once she was on the 30th floor, she saw a blood trail from the CEO’s office to the elevator. She hurried over and grabbed Zachary’s shirt and coat from the chair.
A smear of blood and a hole marred the desk.
She could already picture Zachary pinning Ian’s hand down and driving the pen through without hesitation. A shiver ran through her, and her hand gripping his clothes trembled.
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