Chapter 20

Chapter 20:

Bryan extinguished his cigarette, the scent still lingering as he approached the window and drew the curtains. Looking over his shoulder, his voice carried a hint of reprimand. “I thought I mentioned breakfast was just for me; Vivian’s not up yet.”

Eileen’s reaction was muted, a clear acknowledgment of her overstep.

“Never mind, I’m tired from last night; I might as well eat for two,” Bryan said, catching her expression. He sat down and ate with a certain finesse.

A tightness formed in Eileen’s throat, making her words waver as she excused herself. “I should get going. Call me if you need anything.”

Without another glance, she departed, not catching the slight lift of Bryan’s gaze, which bore a complex mix of emotions.

As the door clicked shut behind her, a sigh escaped Eileen, a mix of relief and an ache spreading inside her. The experience, inevitable as it was, left her feeling more hollow than she had prepared for. The proximity of Bryan and Vivian weighed heavily on her chest, hard to ignore.

Forgoing the idea of returning to her room for rest, Eileen decided instead to seek reprieve in the fresh morning air. She stepped outside, taking a moment for herself—a rare indulgence in light of recent events.

With her colleagues out on the mountains, the resort grounds offered a tranquil refuge. Eileen found solace under the branches of a flowering tree while the nearby lake’s surface danced with the wind. Her mind was awash with thoughts she couldn’t quite place.

Time slipped quietly by, and with the approach of noon, fatigue nudged her toward the hotel’s restaurant. She decided to eat and rest in her room afterward.

It was there she noticed Bryan, Vivian, and Kian gathered at a table. Vivian beckoned her over with an eager wave. “Eileen, join us!”

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With a brief hesitation, Eileen made her way to them, offering a simple greeting to each of them.

Vivian’s lighthearted grumble broke the air. “I’m famished. Bryan here didn’t bother waking me for breakfast, and he finished everything you brought on his own.”

Bryan offered a half-hearted glance Eileen’s way before replying to Vivian, his voice tender. “You needed the rest, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Having steeled herself against the turmoil inside during her morning outdoors, Eileen managed a measured response. “Well, Miss Warren, make sure you have a hearty meal now.”

the exchange, his gaze landing on Eileen thoughtfully, adding an unspoken depth to the casual lunch

shoulder, her contentment was palpable.

arrived, Bryan rose to pour water, prompting Vivian to straighten. She seemed unfazed, simply reaching for her utensils to

leisurely affair, and he thoughtfully offered Vivian bites of food cut from his plate, one being a

a subdued spirit, Eileen rose, pushing the plate toward Vivian with a courteous smile. “I’m not particularly hungry. I’ll retreat

“You’ve barely touched your food. Are you sure you’re not

just not hungry now,” Eileen replied. Seeing that Bryan kept eating, she felt her heart sink. She quickly

enclosing her in solitude. As they sealed shut, Bryan’s voice reached her faintly, full of gentle prompts for

She believed she and Bryan were over now. She could deceive herself and accept that Bryan was in love with another woman. But she couldn’t accept the fact that he had

shape within her—once the team-building event concluded, she would resign. Maybe Bryan would ask her to leave before she could find the chance

its arrival, and there stood Jacob, his

quivered in an attempt at response, but cheerfulness eluded her. “Yes, I’ve eaten. You should hurry. Mr. Dawson and everyone else are downstairs,” she

concern was evident. “You look a bit off. Was our noise

Eileen

in Bryan’s room,” Jacob replied. “It was pretty loud. Did we keep

contrasting sharply with her previous assumption, a laugh broke from Eileen’s

He seemed oddly distracted last night. Even when Vivian mentioned being tired, he ignored her request to end the game and go to sleep. It’s almost as if

dismissed the insinuation with a gentle shake of her head. “You’re reading

you’re not charmed by

that, he stepped into the elevator. Eileen walked away without a backward glance. Jacob’s comment about heartlessness

washing her face and changing into pajamas, she lay on the bed and fell

in a game, he knocked on the desk and inquired about access

reply came with a hint of annoyance. “I don’t

aside his game and checked the information on the computer. “Sir, the records don’t list you as the occupant of 8809,” he informed Bryan. Indeed, the system showed a

authority, Bryan said, “I’m the CEO of Apex Group. We’re here for a corporate retreat. We’ve reserved

He promptly retrieved the key card for room 8809 from the drawer and handed

and departed. The young man remained absorbed in his game, his agile fingers dancing across the screen. Suddenly, a realization struck him: “Wait! Apex Group?

phone away and swiftly searched for the guest’s check-in details on the computer. Soon, he located the information for

never imagined he would bump into his blind date, Eileen, while temporarily summoned to the resort for assistance. The burning question now was… Why did Bryan, Eileen’s boss, need her room card? Thinking about this, Huey’s sharp eyes gleamed

in the room, Eileen slept soundly. Suddenly, she felt a weight on her head. A man’s warm lips trailed from the corner of her eye to

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