Free Web NovelChapter 21: Of course you don’t
Abigail remained seated behind her desk long after everyone had left.
The company floor outside had become unusually quiet. The constant clicking of keyboards, ringing phones, and hurried footsteps that normally filled the building had disappeared one after another until only silence remained.
She leaned back in her chair and roughly ran both hands through her hair.
For the first time in years, her head felt completely chaotic. freёweɓnovel.com
Michael, Henry, Michael and Henry!! It was as if the two men had suddenly formed an alliance inside her brain just to torture her.
"Damn! so insane!.." she muttered while staring at the ceiling.
She honestly didn’t know why Henry occupied her thoughts this much.
Maybe because nothing about him made sense. The man had practically forced a marriage contract into her hands, disappeared afterward, then acted as though everything was completely normal.
No explanation or any discussion. Just to sign it? Thinking about it annoyed her even more.
At least in those ridiculous CEO romance novels Madeline loved reading, the male lead usually stayed away from scandals. They were cold, arrogant, rich, and emotionally constipated, but at least they weren’t surrounded by women every five seconds.
But this Henry was different! Nobody knew anything about him. The only woman the public constantly linked to him was Selena.
Abigail frowned.... That Selena... Even thinking about the woman made her feel strangely uncomfortable.
Selena was beautiful... yeah, painfully beautiful. The type of woman that appeared on magazine covers and made people question whether beauty standards were fair.
She came from an influential family. She was rich. Successful and elegant.
Twice richer than Abigail if online estimates were accurate. The entire country practically believed Selena and Henry were together.
Some articles even claimed they had secretly gotten married years ago.
Others claimed they were engaged. The rumors never ended. Which made Abigail wonder.... why her out of all women or out of everyone available.
Why had Henry suddenly chosen her? A woman who spent half her life in an orphanage and the other half fighting investors.
She groaned and buried her face on the desk. The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it became. And that wasn’t even including Michael.
She immediately sat upright. That man was another headache she couldn’t ignore.
Years had passed. Yet somehow he still managed to appear and disrupt her peace within five minutes. She hated how calm he looked.
How mature he looked. How annoyingly handsome he still was.
And worst of all... How naturally he still understood her. That alone irritated her. Before she could continue her internal suffering, the office door suddenly opened.
Abigail jumped. Her heart nearly abandoned its responsibilities. For a split second she genuinely thought it might be Henry. Instead, Michael walked inside carrying several files.
The serious expression on his face instantly told her he was working. Unfortunately for her, that somehow made him look even better.
Abigail immediately looked away. She absolutely refused to admit that. Michael walked toward the desk and placed the files down. "I finished reviewing the partnership documents."
His voice remained calm and professional, so serious or unnecessary conversation. He really meant this business... to protect her?
Abigail secretly appreciated that. "Any problems?" she asked.
"Just few." Michael opened one of the files. "The marketing department is rushing things." He flipped another page. "The legal team overlooked two clauses."
Another page. "And one of your suppliers is overcharging you."
Abigail blinked. "What?"
Michael nodded. "I already marked everything."
She grabbed the report and began reading. A few minutes later she realized he was right.
Again. That somehow annoyed her. Why was he always right? Could he be wrong once in a while?
Just for balance? Michael quietly continued explaining the details while Abigail reviewed the documents.
The conversation gradually shifted completely into work mode.
About the deadlines, meetings, budgets, schedules. The kind of things Abigail normally enjoyed discussing. Without realizing it, time passed quickly.
By the time she finished the final report, Michael had already closed his own file.
The office had become very dark outside except for the city lights shining through the large glass windows.
Michael glanced at his watch. Then he looked at her. "Aren’t you going home?"
Abigail frowned.
Home? She turned toward the window. The sight immediately surprised her.
The sky was pitch black. Streetlights illuminated the roads below. Even neighboring office buildings were beginning to shut down. "Oh."
She genuinely hadn’t noticed.
Michael raised a brow. "That’s your reaction?"
Abigail cleared her throat. "Ahh....that....I was so busy."
"You forgot time existed."
"I was busy!" She scoffed.
Michael looked unconvinced, but Abigail ignored him and stood up. She gathered the reports and placed them neatly inside her bag.
Now that she thought about it, she was both psychally and mentally exhausted, infact even emotionally!
Everything!
She needed food and cold shower. And perhaps several years of uninterrupted sleep.
Michael watched her silently. Then he picked up his coat. "I can drop you home."
"No!" The rejection came instantly.
Michael didn’t even look surprised.
"I have my own car." She said proudly.
"I know." Micheal raised a brow.
"I have a driver and I don’t even need your help!"
" Of course you don’t..."
Abigail narrowed her eyes. Talking to him sometimes felt like arguing with a wall.
A very handsome wall... fгeewebnovёl.com
’A handsome?’
No! She stopped that thought immediately. Michael seemed amused by her expression.That only made her more suspicious. She grabbed her handbag and headed toward the door.
The sooner she escaped, the better.
Unfortunately... Just as she reached the door, Michael’s voice stopped her.
"Why are you still living with your parents?"
Abigail froze. Her fingers tightened around the handle.
The question was simple. Yet somehow it hit directly where she least expected.
The amusement disappeared from Michael’s face as he studied her.
Abigail slowly turned around. For a moment neither of them spoke. The office suddenly felt much quieter than before.
Michael’s gaze remained fixed on her... waiting her response.
And somehow... That made the question even harder to answer.
