Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 48 Chapter 48: Upon returning to her office, Eileen received sdocuments from Karla. As they engaged in a bit of light- hearted gossip, Eileen learned what had caused the cheerful atmosphere in the company.

The cause was the money Vivian had shared in the company group chat to celebrate her birthday, sparking waves of gossip when she disclosed that Bryan had gifted her a necklace. But this was no ordinary necklace—it was a limited edition piece, valued at a million dollars.

This revelation sent ripples through the office, with many envying Vivian and sharing in the excitement as if they too were the recipients of Bryan's extravagant gift.

"Worth a million!" Karla couldn't help but exclaim, pondering aloud the amount of hard work required to amass such wealth.

Eileen, however, found herself lost in the documents handed to her by Karla, a subtle tremor in her gaze. She couldn't shake off the thought that, despite everything, the most expensive gifts she had received from Bryan were valued merely in the hundreds of thousands. The disparity was stark.

Upon hearing that, Karla left, leaving Eileen to her thoughts. Once Eileen had cleared her backlog of work, her schedule finally freed up, and she managed to have lunch on time.

By sheer coincidence, she ended up at a restaurant near the Apex Group office where Vivian and a few others, including Judie, had gathered.

Judie, sitting next to Vivian, lavished Vivian with praise. Upon noticing Eileen, she gave a knowing smile and beckoned her over.

"Hey, Eileen. Cover and join us,” Vivian called out cheerily, explaining that if it weren't for Bryan's meeting, she would have missed this opportunity for lunch together.

The invitation, coupled with the swift accommodation made by those around, left Eileen with little room to decline.

Latest uploaded gVlDespite the fact that she knew Vivian was putting on a facade now, Eileen placed her order and took a seat among them.

Catching a glimpse of the necklace adorning Vivian, Eileen offered a casual compliment. "Your necklace is beautiful." Vivian, basking in the attention, tilted her chin up to afford a better view of her prized possession. "Isn't it lovely?" she said, sharing that it was a gift from Bryan, something she had long desired.

Eileen had the distinct feeling she had heard these words before, perhaps dozens of times. Just yesterday, Jacob had echoed a similar sentiment, and Karla had said the stoday.

Now, listening to Vivian express the same, Eileen couldn't help but find a bit of humor in the repetition. Yet, she listened to Vivian, maintaining her composure as if this were all routine, before skillfully commenting, "Mr. Dawson really treats you well." Vivian was momentarily caught off guard by Eileen's reaction. She turned to face her, expecting to see a trace of jealousy or discomfort, but finding none, her disappointment was palpable.

After her meal was served, Eileen ate with a speed that betrayed her intention to return to work posthaste. "Enjoy your meal, but I must get back to work now," she announced, pushing her chair back to stand up.

At that moment, Judie's voice halted her. "Eileen, it's a rare treat for us to share a table with Miss Warren. Why the rush? You wouldn't want others thinking you're avoiding Miss Warren on purpose, would you?" Eileen paused, weighing her response. She recognized Judie's attempt to flatter Vivian and had no desire to interfere. But she couldn't allow Judie to mock her to please Vivian.

"Perhaps I should speak with Mr. Dawson about reducing your lunch hour? It might help you focus more on your tasks rather than spending ton gossip. It seems your productivity could use a boost," she suggested, her tone firm.

This critique wasn't just aimed at Judie but served as a broader commentary on the group's priorities. Many people here seemed more invested in courting favor than in their professional responsibilities.

Eileen's departure was swift, leaving a tense air that hastened the conclusion of the lunch. Vivian, feeling slighted, simmered with rage. "Eileen, how could you?" she muttered under her breath.

Unbeknownst to Eileen, her pointed remark to Judie had sown the seeds of a grudge in Vivian. As the day waned into evening, Vivian seized an opportunity for retribution. She burst into Eileen's office, a stack of documents in her hands.

"These arrived from various departments this afternoon. I was tied up assisting Bryan and only now remembered to deliver them to you," Vivian explained. "Fortunately, there's still ample tfor you to address them." Eileen's gaze lingered on the documents sprawled across her desk. She arched one brow in realization. It made sense now why the afternoon's expected materials had never shown up.

Vivian exited swiftly, not pausing for a reply, leaving Eileen to tackle the mound of paperwork alone. Roughly thirty minutes past the end of the work hour, Bryan appeared, his expression turning to concern at the sight of the documents cluttering Eileen's workspace.

"Staying late to work?" he inquired, frowning.

With a simple nod, Eileen replied, "Yes." From the doorway, Vivian's voice carried in, tinged with a hint of satisfaction. "Bryan, I've been saying Eileen's swamped with work. Looks like it's just for dinner!" She flashed Bryan a smile, clutching her purse.

"Tell us to leave now. Let's not waste the reservation," she added.

Bryan agreed, albeit distractedly, his response trailing off as he and Vivian walked away. Eileen, catching only a glimpse of their departing figures, felt a flutter of emotion she quickly quashed. She turned her focus back on the work at hand.

She didn't leave the office until the clock marked eleven, the night deepening as she finally stepped into her hpast midnight, the absence of Bryan echoing in the quiet, the remnants of his scent a faint comfort. Sleep proved elusive for Eileen, who only found rest as dawn approached, her slumber interrupted soon by Bryan.

Blinking awake, she found him sitting beside her, a cascade of gentle kisses marking a path across her face, stirring emotions she struggled to comprehend in her drowsy state.

"Am I late?" she murmured, dodging his advances with a slight turn of her head.

"Not at all," Bryan reassured her. "I've brought breakfast. You can have it downstairs and then go to the branch office for inspection." With care, he helped her to her feet, guiding her through the morning routine with an attentiveness that bordered on coddling.

Overwhelmed by his sudden show of affection, Eileen found herself being chauffeured to the neighboring city, Bryan having thoughtfully provided an eye mask and a blanket for her comfort.

Two hours into their journey, the car pulled up to the branch office's entrance. Maurice Layton, the general manager here, briskly approached and extended his hand to open the passenger-side door.

Caught in the act of opening the door herself, Eileen paused, her hand suspended in mid-air, a wave of awkwardness washing over her as her eyes met Maurice's.

Maurice, taken aback for a moment, glanced towards Bryan, who remained seated behind the wheel. "Mr. Dawson, Miss Curtis, welcome," he said before moving to Bryan's side of the car to open the door.

The inspection proceeded in a straightforward manner, involving reviews and evaluations of reports from the various departments. Eileen's primary task was to document everything and propose necessary adjustments. The routine was abruptly interrupted by Bryan's phone ringing, a call from Vivian displayed on the screen. Bryan's expression turned icy as he declined the call, setting his phone aside. Yet, his phone rang again shortly after, silencing the room filled with company executives mid-report, all hesitant to proceed under the tense atmosphere.

It was only after Bryan rejected the call again and muted his phone that the room let out a collective sigh of relief.

However, Eileen's sense of calm was short-lived as her own phone began to vibrate insistently from her pocket. Catching Bryan's eye, she knew he must have noticed the persistent vibrations of her phone due to their proximity.

"Let's take a ten-minute break," Bryan announced as a general executive had wrapped up his report. He stood up and exited the conference room.

Eileen, seizing the moment, retrieved her phone and, stepping out into the corridor, answered Vivian's call. The irritation was palpable in Vivian's voice.

"Eileen, why aren't you at the office?" Vivian demanded.

Responding with measured calm, Eileen explained, “Miss Warren, Mr. Dawson and I are currently inspecting the branch office, as scheduled." Vivian's voice, edged with a sense of entitlement, pressed further. "Then why didn't you bringalong? Did you do this on purpose?" Eileen, maintaining her composure, replied, "Mr. Dawson prefers to depart directly from hfor such inspections. This protocol is outlined in the employee manual I gave you. Secretaries or assistants accompanying Mr. Dawson are to adhere to his travel instructions." The implication was clear-the decision not to include Vivian was Bryan's. Additionally, Vivian's frustration was partly her own doing, having neglected to familiarize herself with the employee manual and choosing to wait aimlessly at the office.

After a brief silence, Vivian's voice, laced with bitterness, broke through. “Eileen, you're quite clever, aren't you? I'm not oblivious to your intentions. You are jealous because Bryan gavea gift, right?"

Eileen's response was cool and detached. "You're reading too much into it," she said, her patience m thinning "It's perfectly normal for him to give you a gift. I'm not upset by it. And perhaps you're too pleased with it since it's natural for him to give you a gift on your birthday." With that, Eileen ended the call, unwilling to entertain any further absurdities from Vivian.

Turning, Eileen's eyes fell on a solitary figure by the window, a cigarette held loosely between his fingers, the smoke curling upwards. Bryan appeared to have been standing there for stime.

Eileen's lips tightened slightly at the sight. "You needn't look so concerned. You're my assistant and she's my secretary. Your handling of the situation was appropriate," Bryan said, his voice neutral.

Doubt flickered through Eileen's gaze. She couldn't shake the suspicion that Bryan had intentionally omitted reminding Vivian about the inspection, preferring to have her accompany him instead.

As the brief pause cto an end, they returned to their duties in the conference room.

Later that day, after their trip and a hurried return to Apex Group for a scheduled video conference, they encountered Kian. Despite the day stretching beyond regular working hours, Vivian was still at her desk. The sight of Eileen and Bryan seemed to stir a tumult of emotions within her, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked toward Bryan. Bryan, carrying his suit jacket, was briefly halted by Kian. "Bryan," he said, "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it tomorrow. I have a meeting now." Kian, with a friendly smile, patted Bryan on the shoulder then turned his attention to Vivian. "What are you waiting for? You've accomplished little all day. Prepare to assist Bryan with the meeting notes. Let Miss Curtis rest." Vivian, hastily gathering her materials, made her way into Bryan's office.

Bryan, brushing Kian's hand aside, threw a glance toward Eileen. "Then you can head hnow," he said.

"Understood, Mr. Dawson," Eileen replied, turning to leave.

While Eileen was waiting for the elevator, Kian made his way over, his gaze tracking the elevator's progress as the numbers climbed. "Miss Curtis, you've been by Bryan's side for three years. Clearly, you're quite skilled. It's no small feat to meet Bryan's standards," he remarked. Eileen offered a small nod in acknowledgment. "I appreciate your kind words, Mr. Warren." "It's nothing. But I've noticed something..."