The next morning Rachel turned up at Leng Group, dressed enticingly and with delicate make-up. She walked in with confidence, still surprised at the size of Leng Group. She regretted leaving Duke years ago. Instead of Belinda, it was she who could have been Mrs. Leng.
Rachel always got what she wanted. She was convinced that she would win Duke over in the end. Seeing the way Belinda dressed, Rachel thought she was no more than an ordinary clerk. She didn't consider Belinda to be a threat. As a graduate from a prestigious university, Rachel had once worked for a successful company as a senior executive. She was certain that in comparison to Belinda, she would make a much better assistant to Duke.
She looked at the exclusive elevator for the CEO with greed, and imagined that one day she would be the one riding on it. Before she knew it, she was moving toward it. She was about to walk into the elevator when a guard stopped her.
"Excuse me, Miss. This elevator is for the CEO only. Please take another one." It was a weekend. During busy times employees were asked to work on weekends as well. The guard wasn't surprised to see Rachel in the office building. Even the CEO had gotten to the office much earlier.
"Oh! Thank you, I didn't notice." Rachel humbly thanked the guard for reminding her, but she cursed him mentally. When she became the CEO's wife, she would sack the guard first. The day before, she had gotten the information that Duke would be in office on the weekend. So she had come too.
Rachel didn't mind that he was married. He could get a divorce, which was very common these days. She would do everything in her power to get Duke back.
Although smaller than FX International, Leng Group was a well-known enterprise that ranked among the top three in the city. The building had a lavish decor.
Rachel took another elevator and arrived on the top floor where Duke's office was located. Realizing that he had been avoiding her, she racked her brains on how to get to him. Eventually she managed to get into the Sales department of Leng Group. However, in such a big company, it was not easy to meet the top management. She had been recruited for a week, but she hadn't seen Duke even once so far. A rare opportunity had come up yesterday, but it was soon ruined by Belinda. She wouldn't miss another chance.
Duke had come to office to work on an important decision. Belinda wasn't feeling well and slept badly at night. She had fallen asleep in the morning. When Duke left for work, she was still sound asleep.
Like Edward, Duke preferred silence at work. His office was a long way from the secretary's. When he worked on weekends, he preferred to be alone. His assistants didn't disturb him unless there was a meeting. So when he heard the sharp knock on his office door, he was puzzled.
"Come in," he said, as he analyzed the plans on his computer. Rachel walked in and saw him focused on work. She gazed at him, caught in his charm. Men who worked hard were remarkably attractive. It was true.
"It's you. Why are you here?" Realizing that the person who had come in wasn't speaking, Duke looked up. He saw Rachel and stared at her grimly.
I heard you would be working today, so I came to assist you. We can work together and finish earlier." Rachel smiled and walked closer. Duke was becoming an increasingly breathtaking man in her eyes. And she was becoming increasingly obsessed.
Rachel, are you always this self-absorbed?" Duke regarded her disdainfully. Belinda had a huge misunderstanding that there was something going on between him and Rachel, and now the latter was in his office. If Belinda knew about this, it would get harder for him to explain himself. He wondered what Rachel wanted from him.
I don't understand what you mean." Duke looked mature and stately. She stared at him with desire. She wished she could reverse time and go back to the day she had dumped him. But that wasn't possible. She wanted him back and it wouldn't be easy. She was determined to beat the odds.
You do. You just don't want to accept the truth. Don't argue with me. I know what kind of woman you are." Duke didn't like vain women. Rachel was one of them. Now that he was married, he wanted nothing to do with her.
"Since you know me so well, you should know that I love you very much. I came back for you," Rachel's voice trembled. She had put on a good act, but Duke wasn't falling for her tricks. What she was doing disgusted him.
"Hah! For me? You want me to believe you are capable of sacrificing for another person? That's hilarious! Everything you do, you do it for yourself. You're like a black widow, and your love is nothing but a load of crap. Save it for someone else. You sicken me," Duke mocked her. He wanted to get her canned immediately, but Belinda had told him she didn't want Rachel to be fired. She wanted to see how things would go with Rachel in the company. Unfortunately, that meant Duke had to put up with her for longer.
Duke, I was forced to leave you. I'm not from a rich family and I have to listen to my parents. These years have been hard for me. But my love for you has never changed." Tears streamed down Rachel's cheeks. The old Duke would have softened upon seeing them, but things were different now. The old Duke didn't exist anymore. There was only the new Duke - whose heart was as cold as ice, especially in the presence of people he didn't care about.
"Rachel, you're a hypocrite. Don't blame it on others. In your heart, money is everything. Don't make me speak harshly. I wasn't born yesterday, I can tell right from wrong." Duke wasn't moved by her pitiful expressions. Bygones were bygones. It was pointless to bring up the past.
"You still hate me for leaving, don't you? That means you still have feelings for me, right?" Rachel was a good performer. Her eyes were filled up with sadness.
"You are not worth hating," Duke said in contempt. He didn't even want to waste energy hating her. How could he possibly have feelings for her?
"Why? Is it because of that woman? She's not the one who should stand beside you. I am! Don't you see that?" Rachel bit her lip with her teeth and decided to forego her dignity. She darted over to Duke and circled her arms around his waist.
Pressing her face against his back, she breathed in his faint scent deeply.
Go away. Don't make me say it again, Duke warned her, recovering quickly. He was caught by surprise for a moment.
No, I won't. You're mine, only mine. You once told me that you wanted to marry me, that you would have nobody else but me. Have you forgotten everything? Rachel could feel the warmth of Duke's body and closed her eyes. She wished time could stop at that moment.