Donovan discreetly signaled his employees to leave, then he followed Milane to her desk.
"Hey, do I have the honor of treating you to dinner?" Donovan asked, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness.
Milane hesitated for a moment before replying, "Erm... I'm sorry, I can't. I still have work to do."
"Come on, Milane. It's 6 PM already. You shouldn't be working at this hour," Donovan countered, his tone lightly persuasive.
"But... Mr. Leedon is still in the office," Milane explained, gesturing towards Lucas's office.
Donovan chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, if I were you, I'd be grabbing my bag and making a swift exit. We just witnessed something extremely personal for him. I doubt he's in the mood to face any of us right now."
Milane nodded thoughtfully, the truth in Donovan's words sinking in. "You have a point, but work-wise..."
Donovan's grin widened. "That's an easy fix. Just let him know I invited you to MiFuture to discuss the details of our next meeting. Technically, it's work-related, right?"
Milane gave him a relieved smile. "You know what? You're right. Besides, I don't think I can face him right now without thinking about what happened."
"Then it's settled. Dinner it is," Donovan said, extending his hand in a chivalrous gesture.
Milane, however, skillfully side-stepped the offered hand, politely excusing herself, "I appreciate that, Donovan, but I just need a minute to pack up my things."
Donovan nodded, leaning casually against a nearby desk.His eyes lingered on her with a fondness that went unnoticed.
——
While seated in his car, Donovan posed the question to Milane once again, his tone earnest, "Are you truly not considering joining MiFuture and working under my wing?"
Milane let out a sigh, a touch of exasperation evident in her voice as she responded, "Seriously, you're bringing this up again?"
"I just believe it's worth discussing. At MiFuture, I wouldn't expect anyone to work overtime, and if they do, they'll be compensated fairly," Donovan emphasized, attempting to stress his point.
His words paused briefly, as if he were searching for a more eloquent expression, but then he continued with an air of conviction, "And... is your boss a pervert?"
Milane couldn't help but burst into laughter at his remark, "Well, I can't vouch for his character, that's for sure."
"Exactly! There's a time and place for everything. Yet this guy decides it's office-appropriate?" Donovan chimed in incredulously.
"Definitely a case of sexual harassment, don't you think? I'm worried about your safety, Milane. Come to MiFuture," Donovan urged.
"I really don't think it'll escalate to that point. Besides, as I mentioned before, I'm not looking to change jobs right now," Milane explained.
"Can we change the subject then? Just know that if I ever leave Leedon, MiFuture will be high on my list of potential employers," Milane added.
"Fair enough. Just remember, there'll always be a spot for you at MiFuture," Donovan sighed.
Milane playfully quipped, "What if I'm not even qualified for the job? Would you abuse your authority to shoehorn me in?"
Their banter was momentarily halted as the traffic light ahead turned red. Donovan came to a stop and turned to gaze into Milane's eyes.
With an unwavering demeanor, he stated without hesitation, "There's no one more qualified than you..." The words 'to be my wife' remained unspoken, residing solely within his heart.
His tone bore a hint of gravity, an undercurrent of emotion that Milane couldn't quite grasp in that moment. She averted her gaze, responding with a lighthearted tone, "Well, thank you. I wasn't aware I held such high regard in your eyes. I'm truly flattered."
"You've always been the best," Donovan murmured softly, his words nearly a whisper, barely audible amidst the surroundings.
——
After a delightful dinner, their cheerful conversation made Milane realize that she had misjudged Donovan. It became evident that he held no grudges against her; his concern for her well-being felt genuine and sincere.
As he drove her home, the need to clarify any potential misunderstandings between them prompted Milane to broach the topic. Given the upcoming company collaborations, it seemed only wise to address any lingering tensions.
"Hey Donovan, do you still harbor any resentment toward me?" Milane asked, her words chosen with care.
"Resentment?" Donovan responded, his eyes widening in surprise. He let out a chuckle and continued, "Why on earth would you think that?"
Observing her seriousness, Donovan decided to address her inquiry. "If you're referring to our breakup, no, I don't hold any grudges."
A soft sigh of relief escaped Milane, "Thank goodness."
"But..."
Milane's heart skipped a beat at the pregnant pause that followed.
"But what?" she pressed, her curiosity and anxiety both peaked.
Donovan's voice broke the silence, his words carrying a hint of regret, "However, I did feel I deserved an explanation or some closure. Being ghosted like that, it didn't seem fair."
Milane's suspicions flared, "So you do hold some grudges against me! I knew it! I must have been really harsh back then, right?"
Donovan hastened to clarify, "No, Milane, I hold no grudges. I just wished you would have communicated your concerns, given me a chance to address them before ending things."
Her remorse was palpable, "I'm sorry…"
The car's atmosphere grew heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions.
Donovan, attempting to diffuse the tension with a touch of humor, and secretly longing for her explanation, joked, "Well, can you finally reveal the reason behind my grand breakup, my dear Milane?"
She complied with a gentle smile, "I felt we weren't compatible. Perhaps I had consumed one too many dramatic soap operas at the time. I believed love should be passionate and intense, yet our relationship was more like a tranquil river. I was just flowing along."
"I thought... maybe you weren't that interested in me after all," Milane began.
"Oh, Milane... please believe me, that couldn't be further from the truth. I was completely infatuated with you," Donovan confessed sincerely.
Milane couldn't help but chuckle, "You're really exaggerating! I mean, with your perpetually serious expression, it was hard to tell if you were actually having a good time with me."
"Milane..." Donovan attempted to continue, but she cut him off.
"Ah, this is my house right ahead. You can stop here," Milane directed Donovan as they approached her residence.
Donovan brought the car to a halt. She swiftly unbuckled her seatbelt, ready to escape as she sensed that whatever Donovan was about to say might not be what she wanted to hear.
Opening the car door, she offered her goodbye to Donovan.
Yet, before she could step out of the car, Donovan caught her wrist, halting her departure.
"Just a moment, Milane. Please," Donovan implored.
"Donovan, it's getting late... can we discuss this some other time?" Milane attempted to pull her wrist from his grip, her other hand reaching for the door handle.
Swiftly releasing his own seatbelt, Donovan gently grasped her shoulder, creating a gentle barrier between her and the car door.
"Milane, can you grant me a second chance to court you? I'm still in love with you," Donovan confessed, his words sincere.
Milane felt her heart racing in response.
"You mentioned how I seem disinterested, how I lack the passion you desire. Well, I'm going to prove to you that I'm not," Donovan declared, his gaze locking deeply with hers.
A flush of red spread across Milane's cheeks, her own heartbeat resonating within her ears.
"I... I'm sorry," Milane apologized, her voice a mix of nerves and reluctance. "I'm not actively seeking a relationship right now."
"Perhaps what you're feeling is just a reluctance to let go. Maybe that's why you're considering reconciliation with me. And, truth be told, with your success and charm, there must be a line of admirers waiting for you..."
Before she could finish, her words were silenced by Donovan's sudden kiss.
Stunned, Milane pushed him away and followed with a sharp slap.
"What are you doing?" she exclaimed.
"I apologize," Donovan quickly responded. "But I wanted you to know how much I truly want to be with you. If you're not ready for a relationship, I'll wait. Just please don't disappear on me again. Allow me the opportunity to court you."
"Please, Milane," he pleaded.
After a moment of contemplation, Milane nodded in response.
Donovan then assisted her in retrieving her bag and phone that had fallen during her momentary struggle.
All of a sudden, he went completely still.
Curious, Milane turned her gaze toward him, seeking the reason behind his sudden freeze. And then, she saw it – his fixed stare was directed at the photo displayed on her phone. What had happened during her struggle was that she had accidentally triggered the notification, leading to her phone's screen showing…
Lu's topless photo adorned with nipple clamps!!!