"Good morning, Mr. Knight. I've completed the schedule for the upcoming project, and I've sent it over for your review" Avery said after coming into Ethan's office room. They were now in the eye of the headquarter of the knights Group, the CEO's office.
"Thank you, Avery. I'll take a look at it as soon as possible. Your efficiency is always appreciated" Ethan said in a calm voice, maintaining the same professionalism that Avery was maintaining because they were at the office. She had firmly warned him before they entered the office this morning that they should be professional and strict in office. Ethan agreed because she could be quite scary when needed.
"Sir, you have a client meeting at 3 pm. Should I prepare a suit for you?" Avery said while biting the pen with her red lips, her eyes focused on the notepad. Ethan's eyes turned dark for a moment but that went unnoticed.
"No. Alex already prepared one. Rather than that I want you to check this, come closer." He told Avery in a very serious demeanor.
Avery stepped forward with confused eyes and bent down to look at the file. There shouldn't be any mistakes, she had checked twice before handing them over.
"Got you" a thick voice reached her ears and as she turned her head toward the source, she felt a warm sensation on her lips.
"I told you! Not at the office!" Avery scolded him while touching her lips. But the man before her turned a deaf ear to those words. He touched her warm blushing cheeks with his cold big hand before kissing her again. This time it lasted until she was out of breath.
Ethan put a soft kiss on her forehead before releasing her face.
"Are you okay?"
"Hmm" Avery nodded while taking long breaths.
"And how about last night? Is your body okay?" Ethan asked her with a concerned expression. It was her first time and he didn't want her to endure pain.
"Great."Avery said with a shy smile that made him fall for her all over again.
"... You have a great talent for testing my patience." Ethan sighed before clinging to Avery once again but she pushed him away.
"I'll get going then Sir and any unofficial business have to wait until office hours." She playfully said before leaving the room.
She crossed the hallway, while greeting back the other junior colleagues. The way they looked at her with admiration with a hint of flattery reminded her of when she was a newcomer.
She smiled at them warmly but at that moment a woman caught her eyes. She was a bit overdressed for office work and her rich girl aura wasn't something to be overlooked. She must be someone new at work, Avery thought so and walked straight to her office.
But soon after someone interrupted her work. It was that woman.
"Who are you?" Avery asked the rude girl who walked straight into her office room and sat on the top of her table.
The woman scoffed before raising her chin high and looking down at her.
"I'm Ethan's fiance, Lilith Foster." She announced proudly.
"I see." Avery's breathing stopped in surprise for a moment before she replied dryly,looking at her as if asking if she had nothing more to say she could leave. Avery knew she was lying.
Lilith frowned at her nonchalant reaction but soon calmed herself down. She had underestimated Avery.
"You look nice." Lilith said while scanning her from top to bottom.
"Thanks." Avery thanked her with a kind smile, still maintaining her professional mask.
"Is it because you are poor? You give men the pleasure of being the hero in shining armor rescuing Cinderella." Lilith said with a disdain expression on her face.
"I apologize if I ever offended you ma'am but my job gives me quite a big chunk of money so even if I want to I don't have the fortune to be a Cinderella. But it's not too late for you ma'am. You can be Cinderella as long as you stop depending on your parents' money. " Avery said with a smile on her lips. It was a part of her job to deal with her boss's admirers and if she couldn't even retort back when needed then she would have long lost her job.
As she expected, Lilith's face turned bright red in rage and finally exploded.
"Who do you think you are?!!I can make you a homeless beggar, do you know that?!" She screamed on the top of her voice, making many of her colleagues alert outside the transparent glass door of her office room.
"Ma'am, calm down. I think it's better if we finish our conversation here." Avery politely said while getting up from her seat to escort her back. Her every movement executes elegance even though she was about to practically drag someone out.
"You think you are some big shot just because you are able to get a good job? Stop dreaming! Just like how your father abandoned you and your mother many years ago, Ethan also wouldn't waste any time in getting rid of you when you are useless."
"You investigated me?" Avery asked, a sharp look replaced her kind mask. Her rose face was now completely white while she clenched her fists.
"I had to, dear. Because you have something that's mine." Lilith said while smiling.
"What?" Avery asked with pure confusion. She really wanted to do what she had done so wrong to gain this crazy woman's enmity.
"Ethan." Lilith's reply stunned her, how did she know about them when it hasn't been 24 hours since they started dating.
Avery closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Since this woman already knew, she will also say what she has been holding back.
"Ethan? Yours? There is a limit to delusions." Avery said with a disgusted expression, making the woman blow off.
"I'm not the one with delusions. It is you who are!" She screamed before raising her hand to slap Avery but she caught her hand.
"What do you mean?" Avery asked looking deep into her eyes. Those words weren't just told in anger, this woman knew something, she could sense that.
"Oh dear, stop pretending. We both know you spread your legs before money and social status but still pretend to be innocent. You have become Ethan's wife? Well done! But I'll let you know you are just a pawn in his hand, he can discard at his whims." Avery's head went completely blank after hearing those words. Ethan's wife? What was she talking about?
"He is getting married just so he can inherit his properties,so stop any delusions you have. After he completely inherits his grandfather's properties I'll be the one who will marry him. As for you, I was the one who gave him the idea to make use of you. You are easy and cheap to use. So know your position." Lilith said before petting her on the shoulder and leaving.
As Lilith turned to leave, Avery's façade of composure crumbled. She sank onto a nearby chair, tears streaming down her face. The weight of Lilith's words pressed down on her chest, a suffocating mix of doubt and heartbreak. That one person whom she could trust and love unconditionally was no more.