Ellison And Joycelyn: A Love Beyond The Rules

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

The office buzzed with a mix of tension and routine when Selene broke the monotony with her signature cheeky grin Leaning forward conspiratorially, she teased. “Joycelyn, the way you were acting just now–if I didn’t already know you had a boyfriend, I might have thought there was something going on between you and Mr. Grant”

Joycelyn’s heart skipped a beat, the playful accusation hitting too close to home. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly averted her gaze.

Her thoughts whirled in a chaotic loop.

I need to stay away from him from now on. Selene’s already picking up on something–I can’t let my guard down now! Joycelyn resolved silently.

Before Joycelyn could respond, Aurelia Finch, their no–nonsense team leader, glanced over with a wry smile. “Selene, quit stirring the pot. Poor Joycelyn looks like she’s about to faint. Next time, how about I assign you to present to Mr. Grant directly! Give you a chance to get close.”

Selene immediately waved her hands in protest. “No, no, no! Aurelia, please spare me. I’m terrified of him!”

Joycelyn finally let out a small laugh, though it was more from relief than amusement. “Next time, I’ll gladly pass the honor to you,” she said, half–joking.

Anything to avoid him, she thought to herself, the mere idea making her stomach tighten.

The office was unusually quiet that afternoon until a sharp chime broke the monotony.

Linda Lorne, their ever–demanding department head, had suddenly issued a new directive in the group chat: [Plan a grand birthday party. Everyone must draft a detailed proposal.]

[Submission deadline: Before tomorrow noon.]

Joycelyn frowned as she read the message, irritation flickering across her face.

It was the first time Linda had reached out in days, resurfacing after her latest debacle.

The collaboration Linda had worked so hard to secure had been unceremoniously shut down by Ellison, and the involved partner company was now embroiled in legal trouble. Joycelyn didn’t need details to know Ellison’s handiwork was all over it.

Still, Linda had escaped relatively unscathed–apart from her authority being halved and shared with Aurelia. Yet here she was, back to assigning busywork.

Jocelyn remembered overhearing Ellison on the phone that morning. His voice, calm but firm, carried through the corridor. “The surveillance in the private room has malfunctioned,” he had said. Although it was merely a passing comment, Joycelyn could deduce that this was why Linda escaped relatively unscathed.

She didn’t dwell on it for long. After all, the incident had been her own slip–up, and Ellison stepping in to handle the fallout was a gesture she hadn’t expected. If anything, she felt grateful–he had taken the trouble to protect her dignity and settle the score on her behalf.

As for Linda, her direct supervisor, that was a different matter altogether. Their relationship, strained yet functional. required careful balancing. Linda was far from someone Joycelyn could challenge or risk alienating. For now, diplomacy was her best weapon, even if it meant swallowing her pride and playing along.

Chapter 40

“A birthday party? Linda’s snagged another side gig through her connections, and now she wants us to pitch in for her benefit Selene was the first to speak, her voice tinged with annoyance.

It was clear she wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of added workload.

After all, no one among the working class would willingly play the lackey.

That was, until Linda dropped the bombshell: It was a party for Ellison’s birthday, and they were all expected to make extra effort:|

to herself, ‘Ellison’s birthday?”

Ellison displayed on the screen. “Our Mr. Grant?”

years and had never once heard

in, always

born this month, although I’m not sure of the exact date,” Aurelia remarked. “He’s always been quite private when it comes to personal details”

lasted only a second before two thoughts

succession.

a gift? Joycelyn couldn’t ignore the thought. It lingered, tugging at her with a strange

all, she’d caused him

resources and capabilities made it impossible

fate seemed to have

grin, Joycelyn unlocked her phone and quickly searched online: Best birthday gifts for men.

She blinked at the questionable suggestions flooding her screen, the faint

to suck Mr. Grant and claw her way back

ty to

stuck as her grunts, Joycelyn said dryly, earning a dramatic groan from Selene.

cut sharper than a knife!” Selene clutched her chest in mock despair. “If only I had connections! If I’d studied

the fact that Linda’s assistant, Anna

You’re destined to be nothing more than her underling,” Anna shot back sharply,

she lived solely to execute her

Rie, 11 Feb

Chapter 40

eyes. “Oh, please. Like you’re any better. At

you, who lacks Joycelyn’s charm o Aurelia’s experience.

521

an assistant–you’re a bootlicker. Save your drama for someone

interjected with a calm smile.

a couple more birthday proposals for your dear Director Lome. Her tone was measured, but the hint of sarcasm in her words landed

a smug grin. “Of course, you can’t compare. The CEO never celebrates his birthday, and only those close to him would know the date. When the time comes, you’ll all be left green with ey Her words hung in air, brimming with self–importance, as she cast a condescending glance around the room

understanding passing between them. Without another word they chose not to

air shifted, as they moved on, uninterested in wasting any more energy on her

resist, Joycelyn quickly typed out a message to Ellison: [When’s

hand, and he glanced down to see Joycelyn’s name flashing on the

never cared much for birthdays had, for once, opened his calendar and replied: [In two days.]

she quickly sent a shocked emoji followed by

to be direct and asked: [What do you want for your birthday?] Ellison read her message, his gaze lingering on it

replied in a matter–of–fact tone: (I don’t like

awkward, and before she could

hovered over the screen, uncertainty hanging in the air.

put his phone down, getting back to his work with little

to her own tasks, focused on the project that had her burning the

in the birthday planning that Linda had mentioned; instead,

that