Chapter 96
Still fuming, Layla turned to Sally and said, “Don’t listen to him.”
Stephen and Layla’s strained relationship might just be rumors.
The staff at the sales office began to realize that the rumors about Stephen and La
The concem Stephen showed for her and the indulgent affection in his eyes when he looked at her, and Layla’s natural tendency to act spoiled around him. suggested that their relationship was sweet.
Once Stephen, the walking source of pressure, left, the atmosphere in the sales office immediately lightened. Everyone had been holding their breath while he was there, feeling the tension in the air.
“Layla, I’m sorry about our previous misunderstanding,” a colleague apologized.
Layla asked, “What misunderstanding?”
“You know, the gossip about you and senior executives of the Aetheris Group.”
Layla didn’t seem too bothered. “I didn’t pay attention to any of thaL”
Ever the eccentric, Benson pointed at Layla’s bag. “Layla, so the bag that’s one of the only three in the world is legit! Can I touch it? Just to feel the texture of a royal handbag?”
Layla smacked Benson’s hand away. “Keep dreaming.”
As the morning wore on, the team treated Layla like royalty, refusing to let her do any work and insisting she just relax.
Layle patiently addressed everyone, “Dear colleagues, I appreciate how you’re all looking out for me, not wanting me to time myself out.
“But to leave this place, Stephen’s expectations for me are high. He wants me to be the sales champion So if you keep pampering me like this, it’s like you’re preventing me from eaming my freedom”
Hearing this, everyone handed over their client lists to Layla, but she waved them off. “I’ll handle my own deals. The ones you’re giving me don’t count.”
At lunchtime, her colleagues made sure she adhered to the Clean Plate Campaign, not allowing her to waste any food.
As the pre–sale phase calmed down, things became less hectic. When Stephen came to pick her up in the evening, everyone immediately started complaining to him
“Layla only ate half her lunch and gave the rest to Benson
“She only had bread and milk for dinner, no stomach–friendly congee.”
Layla grabbed a tissue from the table, crumpled it up, and threw it after her colleagues, shouting, “Traitors!”
Stephen just laughed and led her away for a supplementary meal.
April had always been said to be the best time of the year. The spring weather was mild and lovely, and the sunshine paired with the breeze was gentle.
The terrace of a cafe on a downtown skyscraper was filled with fashionable young men and women.
They all had impeccable makeup and stylish outfits. Everyone had started wearing their spring outfits with the arrival of April.
“That’s weird. Layla hasn’t been coming to our gatherings lately. I can’t seem to reach her either. She’s busy whenever I call, and when she does appear in our group chat, all she says is that she’s tired,” said a woman in a cream–colored suit on the couch, resting her head on her hand.
“Same here. I feel like I haven’t seen Layla in almost a year. When I text her, she takes ages to reply. She doesn’t join in any of our girl squad activities anymore.
“What do you think Mr Yates has done to upset her again?” a girl in a black dress asked, glancing at her phone.
Skyler raised her phone. “I texted her at 9:00 am about the meeting this afternoon, and she just replied that she’s busy.”
The group began discussing Layla’s absence. “How busy can the Murray Group be? We can’t even get her to hang out during the weekends.”
