Chapter 38 Sent Her Away In the end, William didn’t respond to Ellas‘ suggestion. Instead, he continued drinking until way past midnight Elias spent the night at Westward Club while William had one of the servers drive him back to Eastbay. being the clean freak he was William was nearly drunk at this point. He stumbled even as the server carefully helped him upstairs. William then lay on the couch, resting his aching head on his hand. The server was afraid William might fall ill if he left just like that. He didn’t want to bear such a burden, so he asked William hesitantly, “Mr. Middleton? Do you need me to call your housekeeper over? Or do you have any hangover medicine at home? I can help you.” William grew irritated by the server and tossed him his phone. “Call Emelie Hoven and tell her to come over.” The server flipped through William’s call history and called Emelie’s number. The first call went unanswered. The server surmised Emilie had fallen asleep by now, given it was nearly 2: 00 am. The server called again. This time, someone answered the call just before it ended. The speaker was a woman. She sounded like she had just been roused from her sleep. “Who is this?” “Hello, is this Ms. Emelie Hoven? Mr. Middleton is drunk and requested your presence over here in Eastbay,” the server hurriedly said. Emelie paused briefly and looked at her phone screen. It really was William. She didn’t check who it was as she had answered the call on instinct. She The server continued, “Are you still there, Ms. Hoven?” Emelie then hung up the call. The server was taken aback. He quickly called Emilie’s number again, only for the operator to inform him that the call didn’t go through. The server turned awkwardly to William and swallowed nervously before saying, “Mr. Middleton, Ms. H- Hoven doesn’t appear to be coming over.” William slowly looked up, his gaze cold and dangerous. The server tensed up. He was about to say something else when William uttered, “Leave.” The server did so immedjately. Meanwhile, Emelie found herself unable to fall asleep after hanging up the call. She felt frustrated. Chante de Sent 1ler Avede Why did William still think he could instruct her to take care of him now that things had come to this? Was it because he was used to it? Whenever William got a hangover or a headache back then, Emelie would always find a way to deal with… it for him as long as he gave her a call. It didn’t matter if she was outstation. She would always rush back to see him first thing after her work was over. In retrospect, Emelie felt like she’d been blinded back then. Her behavior had been both foolish and lowly. The next morning. Emelie continued job–hunting. She’d already surveyed the available jobs, but this time, she was considering the non–local ones first. Emelie had never considered leaving Capebatt City because she was a local here. She lived her entire life in Capebatt City, save for studying at a college in another city. People often found it hard to part with their hometowns, after all. Capebatt City was also one of the major metropolises in the world where one could make big progress. Emelie shouldn’t downgrade herself by leaving town just because she’d ended a job and a “relationship“. But what William said at the Spencer residence last night began changing Emelie’s mind. She truly felt that it was better to leave and to stay the hell away from William Middleton. Several non–local companies had contacted her already. Emelie considered all her options before deciding on two similar ones. A couple of days later, Mona suddenly leaned into Emelie while she was putting makeup on for an interview and asked, “By the way, do you know what happened the other day, Emelie?” Emelie replied flatly, “What happened?” “Mr. Middleton Senior sent Daphne away.” Emelie’s hand trembled slightly in the middle of drawing her eyeliner.
Category: Winning Her Heart Back
Winning Her Heart Back
When Emelie Hoven was hopelessly in love with William Middleton, she almost ended up losing her life. But to William, she was only someone convenient who he thought couldn’t live without him. And so, she decided to stop loving him. William didn’t like that Emelie was too calm, too rational, and too independent. Later, his wish came true- he got to see her relying on someone and being gentle. He wasn’t the recipient, though.
On the day of Emelie’s wedding, she smiles brightly as she sits on a chair and waits for her groom and his groomsmen to pass the test she and her bridesmaids have set up for them. The atmosphere is lively. Suddenly, William shows up out of nowhere. He gets on one knee before her and holds her hands, looking like he’s almost worshipping her. “Leave him, please. Come with me. You loved me first, didn’t you?”
Chapter 37 Have A Child William wasn’t a promiscuous man. At the very least, Emelie had been the only woman he’d ever been with during the three years she worked for him. So right now, William could only seek her out when he couldn’t get released from Daphne out of respect for Daphne’s traditional values. Emelie recalled how William had praised Daphne for being well–raised when he was talking about her values the other day. Emelie wasn’t as “well–raised” as Daphne was. Emelie wouldn’t have slept with and stayed by William’s side for three years in an ambiguous relationship with him otherwise, and ultimately being tossed aside by William like a used doll. It was a good thing Emelie left him earlier so she didn’t get in the way of him having a family of his own. At the thought of family, Emelie placed a hand on her abdomen, tears welling in her eyes as sadness overwhelmed her. “Be careful on the way home. Get some rest,” William said to Daphne after dropping her off in her neighborhood like usual. Daphne nodded and unbuckled her seatbelt before opening the door. The moment she took a step outside, she turned back to William, biting her lip. “Can you walk me home, Mr. Middleton? One of the streetlights outside my house is spoiled, so it’s dark there.” William was somewhat distracted. “Is that all you want me to do?” l Daphne blushed. “It’s so late already. You’ll be exhausted by the time you reach home. Why don’t you stay the night. Daphne couldn’t be more obvious about her intention. William gazed at her. “Didn’t you say your mother raised you not to be so intimate with men?” Daphne replied quietly, “But didn’t you say you’d marry me, Mr. Middleton? There’s no reason not to be intimate if that’s the case, right?” William continued gazing quietly at Daphne until she began growing uneasy. She had only made it known to William that she wasn’t the kind to sleep around because she wanted to create an impression. Men loved it when women played hard to get, after all. Yet right now, Daphne had a strange feeling that if she didn’t take the next step with William tonight, she’d no longer be able to be close to him, even though he’d said he’d marry her earlier. “Mr. Middleton, I…” “Go back inside. Use your phone’s torchlight if it’s too dark. I’ll have someone come and fix the light tomorrow,” William said flatly. Daphne nodded and said nothing more. She got out of the car, shutting the door behind her. William didn’t leave night away. He opened the car window and smoked a cigarette to destress. When it wasn’t enough, he decided to have a drink Jayden was outstation, so he hadn’t attended Troy’s party earlier. William gave Elias a call instead. Elias hadn’t been to the party because he genuinely disliked events like those. “Wanna have a drink?” William asked. “Sure. Westward?” “Alright.” William and his friends were regulars of Westward Club, founded by some of his friends. Elias arrived first and got some hostesses to join him. William sat down alone on a couch when he arrived. All the hostesses knew William’s ground rule, so none dared to flirt with him as they did with Elias. They just topped up his glass once it was empty. Elias munched on some grapes. “Lyle is coming back soon, right? He’s been gone for more than a month.” “Probably,” William replied dryly. Elias chuckled. “I know all about what happened at the party earlier. Who are you upset at right now? Your Dad, Troy, or Emelie?” William shot Elias a look. “Did Troy tell you?” Itallion me how you tale “Yeah. Troy was sobbing his girl.” William chuckled. “Who stole whose girl now? Troy is lucky I didn’t hurt him for trying to pursue Emelie in the first place.” Elias smiled and nodded. Troy was indeed lucky. Elias pressed … Read More “Winning CHAPTER 37” »
Chapter 36 I Agree Troy marched out of the room and began telling the guests downstairs, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have an important announcement to make! Eme-” Emelie clung onto the door frame with all her might before flinging Troy’s hand away. Troy instantly fell on his ass out in the hallway. The guests downstairs quickly peered up to see what was going on. Emelie swiftly retreated further behind the door so none of the guests could see her. After composing herself, she snapped quickly, “That’s enough, Mr. Troy!” She continued, “Neither of us knows one another very well, so marriage is out of the question! I don’t want to marry you, nor am I interested in you. If you’re still confused about how I feel, I can repeat myself to all your guests out there right now.” Emelie’s words were undermining the Spencer family’s pride. Troy scrambled up from the floor, reaching out to grab her. But Emelie swiftly dodged him, only to end up bumping into someone behind her. She turned around. William quickly stood in front of Emelie and said to Troy, “Don’t you think you’ve embarrassed yourself enough?” Henry sneered. “Wasn’t Emelie beneath you? Why does her marriage concern you then?” Troy grumbled, “Exactly! Didn’t you say you want to marry Daphne? Let me marry Emelie, then! With one for each of us, we’d be even!” At the mention of “One for each of us,” Emelie swallowed and asked uncomfortably, “What do you take me for, Mr. Troy? A piece of meat?” “Hey!” Troy was about to argue with her when William cut in. “Go on then. Let everyone hear about how you’ve been rejected by a woman.” Troy was still upset. William shot Emelie a look before glancing at his father. “I may not want her as a wife, but she’s still mine. I get a say over who or when she marries for the rest of her life.” William’s words felt like a threat of imprisonment to Emelle, which was a worse fate than having her marriage decided for her. She quipped, “If I remember correctly, my contract with Cloudex Corporation was for three years of employment only, not to sell my soul to you. Don’t misunderstand, Mr. Middleton.” Emelie couldn’t stay there anymore. She made sure to save her pride by saying, “Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party, Mr. Troy. I haven’t properly wished you a happy birthday yet.” “You…” Troy began saying. Emelie quickly clarified herself. “We made it clear that things would be even between us if I attended your party tonight, which I did. Now that we’re even, I’ll be leaving Goodbye.” She then sidestepped William and walked downstairs, ignoring Troy’s outstretched hand. Emelle ignored the other guests‘ curious looks and left the Spencer residence right away. She then put on. her coat and got into the nearest taxi by the road. The driver soon left the area once Emelie told him her apartment’s location. The Spencer residence quickly disappeared from view Only then was Emelie able to heave a long sigh. She closed her eyes and calmed herself down. William’s words echoed in her mind-“Her? She’s beneath me.” Even though she’d long lost faith in him, she’d still felt pain when she heard him say that. All of a sudden, Emelie realized why William had behaved the w
Chapter 35 Lover Everyone immediately looked at Emelie. Emelie stood there with a blank expression, like some frozen statue. Mikhail Spencer and his wife, Linda Grabel, were actually quite fond of Emelie, especially after seeing how capable and sociable she’d been tonight. They knew Troy was not cut out for managing a business, so they had hoped to find a woman capable of doing so for him. Emelie’s lack of wealth of influence was actually advantageous to them, as it meant they could easily manipulate and control her. They were concerned that if Troy’s wife came from a wealthy or influential family, she might divert the company’s profits to her own family. Linda clasped Emelie’s hand and smiled kindly at her. “Yes. I think Emelie is a fine young woman, too.” Emelie immediately pulled her hand away, shocking Linda. Emelie then said calmly, “Mrs. Spencer, please don’t misunderstand. Mr. Troy was just fooling around. We’re no more than friends, so there’s no way marriage would be involved.” Troy exclaimed in a panic, “Emelie!” as a Emelie continued swiftly, “You’ve misunderstood my feelings, Mr. Troy. I’ve only ever treated you a normal friend, nothing more.” “That doesn’t matter! What matters is that you can treat me as more than a friend now, right?” Troy said adamantly. “I don’t care! It’s you I want! You need to marry me because I said so! Today’s my birthday. after all!” Emelie said, “Are you forcing me now, Mr. Troy?” “Yes, I am,” Troy grumbled. Mikhail was clearly the wiser one compared to his son. The Middleton family was clearly fond of Emelie. Even if William didn’t marry her, she’d still be his implied “lover“. It wasn’t uncommon for influential families to adopt such a system. The Undvike family was a prime example. The Spencers couldn’t afford to take Emelie away from the Middletons. So Mikhail said sternly, “Be quiet, Troy. Stop fooling around. You can’t force Ms. Hoven if she isn’t willing.” Henry glanced at William before sneering. “You have such poor taste, unlike some people.” William remained expressionless, though his jaw was pulled taut. Henry gave it some thought before steadying his glass on the table again. He said suddenly, “I’ll give you a dowry if you marry Troy, Emelie!” “Sir!” Emelie exclaimed in shock. Linda immediately piped up, “Ahem, Troy is just childish at times, but I’m sure you can see how kind he is, right? He’s a fine young man and reputable in Capebatt City, too. He’s still a good choice for you, isn’t that right, Ms. Hoven?” There was no way that Troy was a good choice for her. Emelle wanted to counter, “Mra. Spencer, I. “Emelle.” Henry cut in. He began playing matchmaker for Emelle and Troy’s marriage. “I can vouch for Troy’s character. I’ve watched him grow from a child to the man he is today” Linda hurriedly added, “And you can always develop your love for one another later on. Why don’t you two get engaged first? Then you can strengthen your relationship and arrange for n wedding.” Troy grew excited. “That’s a great ideal Why don’t we just announce the engagement right now to all the guests out there? It will be a wonderful surprise for them!” Without so much as waiting for Emelie to respond, Troy dragged her outside to announce this news. None of them had given her any chance to voice her opinion. Emelie stumbled behind Troy. She hadn’t been too concerned when it was just Linda and Troy talking about marriage. But when Henry. began supporting it, fear and panic immediately overcame her. Emelie was certain they were very much capable of making a marriage between her and Troy come true. C
Chapter 34 Marry Her The guests stopped when they recognized Emelie. “Oh, didn’t you hear, Ms. Hoven? Mr. Middleton Senior nearly got into a fight with Mr. Middleton earlier!” Emelie was stunned. How could this be? William was such a calm and composed man, How could he have gotten into an argument with his father at such a public event? “Is that true?” she asked. The other guest added hurriedly, “No, no. He’s just exaggerating things. It was more like Mr. Middleton Senior took on a very displeased expression. There was no arguing. “See, right there. That was where Mr. Middleton Senior spoke to the secretary Mr. Middleton brought along tonight. Mr. Middleton soon came and defended his secretary. I’m not sure what he said to his father then, but the latter grew pissed in an instant.” “Good thing Mr. Mikhail came over just in time and asked them to take things upstairs. We don’t know what happened afterward.” Emelie’s brows furrowed. The guest asked curiously, “You know Mr. Middleton best, Ms. Hoven. Could you tell us whether that secretary of his is actually his girlfriend? They didn’t get into a fight because Mr. Middleton Senior disapproved of her, did they?” That was most likely the case. Why else would William get so upset with his father? Henry clearly did not like Daphne based on how he behaved during dinner last time. Emelie’s lips twitched. “Why don’t you hurry upstairs, Ms. Hoven? Mr. Middleton Senior looked really angry earlier,” continued. the ques Emelie was hesitant. Frankly, she didn’t want anything to do with William anymore. But the Middletons had always been kind to her. They even sent Emelie a box of local sweets from Beauville when they’d gone on vacation last year. Not even her parents doted on her so much. Henry Middleton, William’s father, had hypertension, too. In the end, Emelie decided to go upstairs. Only then did she realize that William, Daphne, Troy, and Troy’s parents were present in the room as well. None of them looked particularly glad to be there. Emelie wasn’t too sure what they were discussing right now, so she wondered whether she should ask. In the next instant, William pulled Daphne to his side with a cold sneer. “Sure, I can marry. Daphne will be my bride. We can have the wedding as soon as possible, as long as you allow it. You can have your first grandchild by the end of the year.” Everyone present was shocked by William’s words. Emelie’s ears began ringing. Henry slammed his glass down on the table beside him. “You bastard!” “Haven’t you been doing all your best to urge me to marry and give you an heir? Aren’t you pleased with my choice of bride?” William retorted. Henry roared, “Yes, I want you to marry, but not to someone as indecent as her! I won’t force you to mingle with all the other family’s heiresses. If you want to marry someone, then at least marry Emelie!” Emelie was shocked by Henry’s words. William glanced at her before replying flatly, “Her? She’s beneath me.” Emelie didn’t react at all. “I disagree with you, Will. Emelie is amazing! She’s not beneath me at all!” Troy grumbled, then turned to his parents. “Mom, Dad, haven’t you been asking me to find someone to settle down with? I’ve found her! It’s Emelie!” Emelie was stunned. Troy wrapped an arm around Emelie’s shoulder. “See, even Uncle Henry likes Emelie, so she must truly be wonderful. Why don’t we tie two knots today? Will can marry Daphne while I marry Emelie!”
Chapter 33 Self–Restraint Emelie Immediately felt the dominating presence of the man. “Who are you looking for? Troy? Why didn’t I know you were on such good terms with him? How long have you two been seeing each other behind my back?* “Mr. Middleton? Emelie was stunned. William gazed at her darkly, humming an affirmative. Emelie sighed softly in relief but swiftly tensed up. “Let me go.” “Are you interested in Troy now?” William could read her too well. He knew she was a little interested in Troy the moment she smiled a certain way at him. Emelie silently continued struggling against his grip. She really just thought Troy was adorable in a naïve way. William scoffed and dragged her over to peer through the window in the closet. “See for yourself.” Emelie looked out. Troy was getting it on with a woman in the courtyard behind the house, hips thrusting relentlessly forward. Emelie had only been in the restroom for a couple of minutes, and Troy had already found someone to fuck? Adorable? Naïve? No, this was Troy’s true colors. Emelie looked away in disgust, using the opportunity to shove William away. “You overthink, Mr. Middleton. I’m not interested in Mr. Spencer whatsoever. He’s helped me before, so I’m just repaying the favor tonight. What he chooses to do has nothing to do with me.” Emelie then made to leave. But before she’d even touched the doorknob, William had pinned her against the wall. Emelie was getting angry now. Before she could snap at him, he’d kissed her and pressed his body up against hers. William was relentlessly domineering, running a hand from her shoulders and down to her waist. His hands were tender and cool to the touch. Emelie was shocked at first before rage overtook her. She shoved at William’s chest, but he still remained pinned against her. So Emelie used her nails to scratch his chest and the back of his neck. “William…” Emelie hissed, finally pushing him away with a burst of strength. “Let me go!” William was shoved away and hit the shelf behind him, creating a noise. Someone who was passing by just then leaned near the door and asked, “Is someone in there?” Emelie went from angry to nervous in an instant. Who knew what kind of scandal would erupt if someone spotted her in the closet with William? She didnt want to be plagued with rumors regarding William even efter leaving Cloudex Corporation! Emelle froze to the spot, keeping her breathing soft. Silence filled the narrow space. William touched the back of his neck. How did Emelle muster the courage to scratch him? The person outside the storeroom tried opening the door, but it’d been locked from the inside. Since they didn’t hear a sound anymore, they grumbled to themselves and left. The moment they left, Emelie relaxed. William was no longer in the mood. He began straightening his clothes. Emelie took a deep breath to calm herself before saying, “What are you doing, Mr. Middleton? Didn’t you not like women like me? Isn’t it degrading for you to go for someone who’s not even in your preference? You’re like some mindless beast who only thinks with its nether regions.” “Are you insulting me?” “I’m just reminding you to keep yourself in line, Mr. Middleton.” William wiped away the lipstick at the corner of his mouth and said, “You’d best leave it to myself to decide what I like and don’t like, Ms. Hoven.” “Then kindly restrain yourself and make sure what happened just now never does again, Mr. Middleton. We’re no longer in that kind of relationship. I will call the police if there is a next time,” Emelie said before leaving right away. She went to the restroom to wash all traces of William off her lips. “Jackass!” Emelie cursed. She then heaved a sigh and tidied herself up before reapplying her lipstick. After several minutes of recomposing herself and ensuring she looked completely normal, she returned to the hall. Troy was nowhere to be seen, nor was William. Emelie looked around the place and didn’t bother searching further after a moment. She went to a corner. and stayed there silently, waiting for Troy to show up so … Read More “Winning CHAPTER 33” »
Chapter 32 Preferences Emelie silently walked away from William’s view. Troy happened to come out to the doorway, so Emelle swiftly left with him. Her back was exposed in the dress, showing off her sensual figure and waist. Daphne had clearly noticed the way William looked at Emelle. She then looked down at herself. Daphne was pretty skinny but not curvy in any way. William had gifted her an off–shoulder chiffon dress studded with diamonds and faux flowers, which made her look quite ethereal and youthful. Daphne had thought it was beautiful, but the moment she compared herself to Emelie, she found herself dull“. Daphne couldn’t help but grimace when she thought about how desire had flared in William’s eyes. Daphne murmured, “Ms. Hoven said she and Mr. Spencer were just friends the other day, but their outfits were matching just now, right?” “I think so,” William responded flatly. Daphne continued, “She’s so pretty.” William knew what Daphne was thinking and nonchalantly said, “Too tacky. Women should dress more modestly.” Daphne grinned sweetly at him. She knew William had liked her in the first place because of how modest she was. While William labeled Emelie tacky, everyone else was astounded by how beautiful and striking she was. Emelie instantly commanded everyone’s attention once she entered the hall. Troy felt all the more proud as the men gazed at him in sheer jealousy. He said to Emelie, “You’re truly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, Emelie!” Emelie–smiled. “Oh, stop it, Mr. Spencer.” “I’m being serious. Do you see how everyone has been looking at you since you walked into the room?” Troy believed Emelie lacked confidence because she had been dumped by William, prompting him to launch into a tirade. “Don’t think you’re any less beautiful just because Will dumped you for Daphne. Everyone has their own preferences… “Well, Will’s preferences have never really changed. He’s always been drawn to the type of woman who’s fragile and clueless, constantly relying on him. That’s pretty lame, right?” Emelle recalled the years spent with William. He’d often bring her to parties and events, both private and public. She couldn’t remember when he slowly stopped bringing her out, though. At some point, William would only bring her along if it was necessary. However, all that came to a complete stop a couple of months ago. That was the time Daphne showed up. So, did William dump Emelie all because she was no longer “fragile” and wasn’t dependent on him anymore? Emelie smiled, finding the whole thing quite hilarious She wasn’t lacking in confidence. She simply wasn’t as mindful of her looks as Troy assumed, so she didn’t react much to everyone else’s astonishme Emelie silently changed the topic. “Why don’t I join you in meeting your guests?” “Yes, please do. You’re far more experienced in these sorts of things, unlike me. I have lots to learn from you tonight. Of course, Emelie knew how to socialize like this. She offered Troy tips as to what to say and how to behave She even introduced a lot of people she knew from working at Cloudex Corporation for three years to Troy Troy’s parents were pleased by this as they observed their son from afar. The quests were curious as to why Emelie was accompanying Troy, however. “Have you switched to working at Spencer Group, Ms. Hoven?” Emelie responded courteously, “No, Mr. Spencer and I are just friends. I’m here to celebrate his birthday with him, that’s all.” “Ah, so that’s how it is.” Troy was all the more fond of Emelie now. He made sure she was well–fed and even drank toast in her stead for fear she would grow ill from drinking. This was the first time in ages someone had done that for Emelie. She thanked him sincerely. “Thank you, Mr. Spencer. Halfway through the party, Emelie needed to go to the restroom. Troy eagerly showed her the way and even said he’d wait for her to come out before returning to the main hall. But Troy was nowhere to be found by the time Emelie walked d out. … Read More “Winning CHAPTER 32” »
Chapter 31 A Dress Troy was now CEO of his family’s company, and his father saw his birthday party as an opportunity to introduce him to his business partners. Troy had his share of women he could choose from to accompany him to the party, most of whom were models or influencers. But given how different the nature of the party won, he needed Emelle by his side In order to not make a fool of himself. Everyone knew Emelie was Cloudex Corporation’s head secretary, after all. She was the most professional person Troy knew. Emelie gave it some thought before saying helplessly, “Okny. Once I join your birthday party, we’re even, right?” “Yup!” The instant Emelie agreed to attend Troy’s party, he immediately shared it with all his friends who were drinking with him. “Ms. Hoven has agreed to come tomorrow night!” Jayden was surprised. “Didn’t she reject you already?” “Women always love playing hard to get. I’ll have someone send her a gown tomorrow and make sure she’s dressed up pretty before joining my party!” Troy exclaimed. Jayden observed his friend. “You’re going the extra mile for her, huh?” “Of course I am!” Troy then looked at William, who was sitting in the corner. “Why are you so quiet there, Will?“. William looked up coldly and wordlessly took a sip of his wine. Elias gestured for Troy not to bother William. “He’s been asked to go back home for dinner. Why else do you think he’d be here?” Even Troy understood what was going on then. William tended to be in a bad mood whenever he needed to return home to face his parents. That was why he’d come and join them for drinks. He wouldn’t have spent the effort to do so otherwise. William had always had a tense felationship with his family. It’d gotten slightly better in the past due to Emelie playing mediator. But now that she wasn’t around anymore, the fights never ceased. William got up after having a drink, not planning to linger longer. He patted Elias‘ shoulder and waved at Jayden before leaving. Jayden raised his glass. I heard Will’s family has been urging him to marry and have children.” Chapte 31 A Dress Elias grinned. “Is his father trying to plant his hopes on a grandson, given he’s lost it in Will?” Jayden shrugged. He didn’t know what William’s father had in mind, but he was certain William would never agree. Troy, on the other hand, said, “Marry? I’d go right ahead if it were mer Emelie received the dress Troy sent her the next day. It was a velvet purple spaghetti–strap dress with a deep neckline, exuding a sensual allure. It wasn’t the kind of dress Emelie would usually wear. Though Emelie was attractive, she wasn’t the kind to show off herself too much. She often preferred dressing modestly. But Emelie still put it on in the end. She didn’t want to go against Troy’s wish, given she would be his companion for the night. If Troy’s outfit matched hers and she went over not wearing it, it’d be embarrassing for him. Troy was the star that night, and he would be busy. So, when he offered to pick Emelie up, she refused. Emelie said she’d go over herself, to which Troy didn’t rebut. Emelie changed into the dress and put on some makeup. After putting on a coat around her shoulders, she got a taxi to the Spencer residence. She took off her coat upon arriving and handed it to the server. She would retrieve it before she left later. Emelie texted Troy, telling him she’d arrived at the door. Troy then said he was coming right out. So Emelie waited. Just then, a car drove over. Emelie took a step back to not block its way. The moment the car window rolled down, Daphne’s demure–looking face came into view. “Hi, Ms. Hoven!” Daphne cooed. She was naturally here with William. He was seated beside her when he glanced out the window and spotted Emelie. William’s eyes swept along her body before finally landing on the pale skin of her breasts. Emelie was voluptuous and slender at the same time. She was truly a marvel to look at, just like Troy said. William’s gaze darkened. After being with him for three years, Emelie had learned to identify what his gazes meant. For example, William was dying to take her right now.
Chapter 30 Playing Hard to Get Emelle silently finished her lunch and decided to stay away from Troy, moving forward. Otherwise, she would just end up running into William. When Troy sitered to drive her back after lunch, Emelie did not refuse. She added Troy’s social media account and scrolled through his posts until she found the one Daphne had mentioned earlier. How could Troy have posted their picture on there with those captions? It was so misleading! When Troy arrived at Emelle’s neighborhood, she asked, “Can you delete that post in your social media profile, Mr. Spencer?” Troy asked, “Why?” “It’s inappropriate. People might misunderstand.” “Really? I think it’s no big deal.” Emelie insisted, “I still think it’s better if you delete it.” Troy clicked his tongue and pulled out his phone. “Fine, fine. I’ll delete it if you want me to.” “Thank you, Mr. Spencer.” Troy then set his phone down and asked excitedly, “Why don’t we have dinner tomorrow night?” Emelie unbuckled her seat belt and said, “I’ve given your job offer some thought, Mr. Spencer, and I’ve decided not to accept it. It’s not compatible with me.” “How is it not compatible? I think it very much is! Plus, you promised me you’d consider it last night. Why are you changing your tune now?” Troy exclaimed, worried. “I didn’t change my tune. I did seriously think about your offer, and have concluded that I’m not fit for the job. I hope you find someone else who is better suited for the job, Mr. Spencer,” Emelie said as she got out of the car. “Thank you again for the offer.” Troy drove off right away, clearly displeased. Emelie hadn’t actually considered working for Troy. She’d only agreed to have lunch with him to avoid offending him. Emelie had wavered last night when Troy helped her, yet the moment she saw his social media post, she’d immediately reaffirmed her stance. Emelie was worried she might land herself in trouble by working for Troy. Now that Emelie had stopped working with William, all she wanted was a stable job with no more unnecessary drama. Chapter 30 Haying Hard to Get After dropping Daphne back at the office, William brought another secretary along with him to meet a crucial client. Given the significance of the meeting, professionalism was paramount. Daphne couldn’t participate this time, not even for training purposes. Jayden, who was also involved in the collaboration, received a call from Troy before the meeting. Troy asked if he wanted to go out for a drink together. Jayden refused right away. “I can’t. I’m busy. What’s gotten into you to be drinking at this hour, by the way? Troy wailed, “Why do all of you have work? I’ve tried searching for so many people already!” Since the client had yet to arrive, Jayden asked curiously, “What happened?” “Ms. Hoven rejected me!” “What’s so alarming about that? Didn’t you see it coming already? Alright. I must go now. Bye.” Jayden put his phone away and entered the conference room. William asked lightly, “Who rejected who?” “Troy got rejected by Ms. Hoven. She’s not going to work for him either.” William chuckled before flipping open his documents. Jayden understood his expression. After all, William had believed from the start that Emelie wouldn’t quit her job and was just throwing a tantrum to get his attention; she was just playing hard to get. Not only was Emelie not keeping her act up, but she had even rejected Troy outright. Emelie believed she had made herself clear, thinking Troy must have understood her after he left angrily. Who knew Troy would contact her two days later to invite her to his birthday party? Without hesitation, Emilie said, “Apologies, Mr. Spencer, but you know my leg is still injured, and I can’t move around freely. I can send you a birthday present if you give me your address.” “Just come! I don’t need you to do anything other than stay by my side. I’ll get you whatever you need throughout the evening!” Troy insisted. That would only exacerbate the misunderstanding regarding their relationship. Emelie didn’t understand why Troy was so persistent about her. They’d never cross paths before. Troy added, “Do you think a thank you and lunch were enough to repay me for helping you the other night? I’ll call it even if you come to my birthday party tonight!” That was why Emelie was apprehensive about owing people favors; they were always difficult to repay. Emelie sighed quietly. “What kind of party is it? A gathering between friends or…” “Of course not. I’ll be hosting it at my place, and there will be a lot of guests. I won’t lie to you. I’m only Chapter 30 Playing Hard to Get seeking you out because I needed extra confidenc
Chapter 29 Troy Called Daphne Mrs. Middleton When Emelie finished taking her IV drip, the nurse pulled the needle out of her hand. Emelle then texted Mona a reply. Mona had gone back to work right after last night. It was difficult for an employee like her to get leave. Emelie informed Mona that she was alright and that she would be heading home now. But in truth, Emelie still wanted to take a nap. Since the nurse didn’t usher her to leave, she decided to do just that. Emelie slept until midday when a call woke her up. “Who is this?” The caller sounded grumpy. “It’s me, Emelie. Why do you always ask me who I am whenever I call? Didn’t you save my number?” “Mr. Spencer?” “Yeah!” “Apologies, Mr. Spencer. I didn’t save your number in time,” Emelie replied. “Oh well. It’s no big deal to me. Just remember to next time. Troy was very interested in Emelie. He continued, “By the way, you can add me on social media with the same phone number. We can text whenever you’re free.” “Alright. May I know why you are calling, Mr. Spencer?” Emelie asked. “Nothing much. I just wanted to check up on you after last night. You drank so much. Are you feeling better now?” “Yes, thank you. I’m okay now.” “Why don’t we grab lunch together? I’ll come and pick you up right now,” Troy offered. After Troy had helped Emelie last night, she found herself unable to refuse. “Let this be my treat, Mr. Spencer.” “Sure.” Emelie left the hospital after hanging up. She went to buy a new set of clothes from a local department store and changed into it. She even washed up in the public restroom. With Emelie’s good looks and fair skin, all she needed was some lipstick to look good. However, she never expected to see William and Daphne at the same restaurant she and Troy went to for lunch. William had already changed, into a different suit. He’d likely gone to the office for work right after leaving the hospital before coming out for lunch with Daphne. Emelie and Troy were sitting in the corner of the restaurant. Emelie wanted to ignore William and Daphne, but Troy was already waving at them. “Will!” Chapter 20 Troy Called Daphne Mr. Middleton William glanced at Troy and Emelle for a moment. His expression grow cold as he walked over. Troy said with a smile, “What a coincidence to run into you guys here! Are you two having lunch? So are Emelle and I. Why don’t we sit together?” And so, William sat down right across from Emelle. Emelie greeted, “Mr. Middleton.” William responded flatly. “What a busy schedule you have, going on a date the moment you got discharged from the hospital.” Emelle retorted, “I’m afraid I have no idea what you mean.” Daphne sat down beside Emelie and glanced at both her and Troy. She then said with a smile, “I thought I’d mistaken Mr. Spencer when he’d made that post online the other day. Who knew it really was the case.” Emelie immediately realized that Troy must’ve posted something online about her without her knowledge. Troy said right away, “Of course it is. I never fool around, Mrs. Middleton.” Daphne was taken aback by how Troy had addressed her. She bit her lip and glanced shyly at William before saying, “I envy you, Emelie. Mr. Spencer is so devoted to you.” William passed Daphne the menu. “Do you have a reason to be envious of others?” Daphne blushed. “Of course I don’t. I know how kind you are to me, Mr. Middleton. I’m just happy Emelie was able to find someone, too.” Emelie looked down, avoiding eye contact with everyone else. “Ms. Bowen, if you’re unable to differentiate between bluffs and serious matters, I’m afraid you’ll just cause more trouble for people during work. Mr. Spencer and I are only friends.” Daphne was struggling to respond when William cut in, saying, “Don’t worry. I’ll protect Daphne if she ever gets into trouble. Aren’t you about to resign, Ms. Hoven? You don’t need to trouble yourself with work. affairs anymore.” Of course William would protect Daphne. Troy wouldn’t have called her Mrs. Middleton otherwise. Emelie had been curious how William had introduced Daphne to his friends, and now she knew. He’d likely introduced Daphne as his girlfriend.