Rejected By Her Family, Claimed By The Masked CEO

Chapter 20: Micheal

"Michael?"

The name escaped Abigail’s lips before she could stop herself. For a moment, she genuinely thought she was seeing things.

It was really him. With the expression that always made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Years had passed, but Michael somehow looked the same.

No. That wasn’t true!

He looked better, mature, more good-looking and.... dangerous!

His gaze landed on her and stayed there. Abigail immediately felt uncomfortable.

The worst part? She hated the fact that her heart recognised him before her brain did.

"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly.

Michael raised a brow.

Abigail folded her arms immediately. "And don’t even dare look at me that way. I can’t go back to the past."

For a brief moment, something flashed across his face. It disappeared so quickly she almost thought she imagined it.

Michael nodded, "I didn’t come for that."

Abigail clenched her fists.

Good! Because she definitely wasn’t interested either."Anyway, forget it," she said immediately. "You’re rejected. No negotiation."

She turned around. The interview was over. Or at least she wanted it to be.

Unfortunately, Michael’s voice followed her. "You just put yourself in your enemy’s trap."

Abigail stopped walking. A frown appeared on her face. Slowly, she turned back. "Are you threatening me?"

Her voice was cold. Because if there was one thing Abigail hated, it was being threatened.

Michael remained calm, and a small smirk appeared on his lips.

That only annoyed her more. Abigail hated herself for noticing how attractive it looked.

"I owe you a lot," he said quietly. "Helping you will make me feel less guilty." His gaze remained steady. "I’m not here for your money."

Abigail rolled her eyes, of course. Men always said that before asking for something.

Michael continued anyway. "Hire me for one month."

"No."

"Or until I fix the problem I noticed."

Abigail narrowed her eyes. "How do you know I’m having problems?"

Michael glanced around. That single movement answered everything. Abigail understood immediately. And she hated that she understood him immediately.

She gritted her teeth. Then turned around. "Follow me."

Michael followed without hesitation. Abigail immediately regretted saying it.

She walked ahead toward one of the private meeting rooms. The entire journey felt strange. She could feel his gaze on her back, because she knew Michael so well... Her brain automatically assumed exactly where he was looking.

Her ass! The fact that she can imagine his expression drove her crazy.

Her face heated instantly. She clenched her fists and increased her pace. By the time they reached the meeting room, Abigail opened the door and stepped inside.

Michael followed behind her. Then paused the moment she left the door open.

His expression changed. "You thought I wanted to hurt you?"

Abigail dropped her bag onto the table. "Yes." The answer came immediately. She didn’t even bother pretending. "So go on."

Michael actually looked hurt, but he wasn’t angry. The expression lasted only a second before disappearing.

Then he got straight to the point. "A picture of you in a hotel with Draco was sent to a news company yesterday."

Abigail’s brain stopped working. "What?" Abigail stared at him in disbelief. Waiting for him to say it was a joke.

Michael watched her reaction carefully. That annoying look appeared again. The one that always made her feel transparent. As if he could read everything she was thinking.

Abigail looked away first. "Who sent it?"

Michael leaned against the table. "That’s difficult to know. I have a friend who works there."

Abigail blinked. "You have a friend?"

Their eyes met. The silence lasted three seconds.

Then she rolled her eyes dramatically. "What? How am I supposed to know whether you’re lying or not?"

Michael looked genuinely speechless. "Abbie...." he cleared his throat. "I have friends."

"You?" Abigail doesn’t remember him having one.

Michael rubbed his forehead. For some reason, that only made Abigail feel better.

Good. Let him suffer. He deserved it. After all, he had disappeared years ago and suddenly returned looking handsome and mysterious. Nobody liked people like that.

Michael sighed. "My friend sent me the photos because he recognised you."

His tone became serious again. "I told him to delay the report."

Abigail frowned. "Delay?" The statement sounded normal.

Unfortunately, it sounded suspicious when it came from Michael. Everything about him sounded suspicious. "But the person who submitted the photos still has the originals."

Abigail’s expression darkened.

Michael reached into his briefcase. Then handed her a tablet. "See for yourself."

Abigail accepted it. The moment she opened the file, her stomach dropped.

The first picture showed her entering the hotel. The second showed her speaking with Joshua.

The third showed her entering the private elevator.

The fourth was worse. Someone had zoomed in deliberately. Anyone looking at it would think she was sneaking around with Draco.

There were more. Every possible angle. Every picture is carefully chosen to create a misunderstanding.

Abigail felt anger rising inside her. This wasn’t accidental. Someone had planned this and wanted her reputation destroyed.

The funniest part was that Draco would probably be fine.

The internet loved powerful men. They would even praise or admire him. Create fan pages for him.

Meanwhile, she would become the villain. The gold digger. The desperate woman is using a man for power.

Abigail hated it already. She returned the tablet and took a deep breath. "I don’t even want people thinking I’m one of those women."

Michael looked at her quietly. The statement clearly bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

After a moment, she sighed and handed the tablet back. "Whoever did this deserves to be sued." "For invasion of privacy." frёewebηovel.cѳm

She folded her arms. "And for being stupid."

That finally earned a small laugh from Michael.

Abigail glared at him immediately. "What’s funny?"

Michael shook his head. The corner of his lips twitched again, revealing his attractive, deep dimples.

Which only made Abigail more annoyed. She pointed at him dramatically. "See? You’re doing it again."

Abigail sighed dramatically and dropped into her chair.

A powerful CEO was blackmailing her into marriage.

A mysterious enemy was spreading photos.

Her family was useless.

And now her ex-boyfriend had appeared out of nowhere, acting like some undercover detective.

What kind of terrible luck was this?

Across the table, Michael watched her quietly. "Don’t worry, we’ll find the person responsible."

Abigail looked up. "We?"

Michael raised a brow. "You already told me to follow you."

Abigail opened her mouth. Then pointed toward the door. "Don’t get comfortable." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Michael looked at her and smiled.

For some reason... That smile made her even more nervous than Draco ever had.