"Jullian, you were so generous in helping my cousin. But I don't think she is qualified to be your secretary."
Leah hurried to reason it out. Despite how annoyed she was that Jullian showed interest in Eunice, she pursed her lips with a smile. He had only met her once, but Eunice seemed to bewitch him already.
'She's really a witch! But if she thinks she can snatch Jullian from me, she is wrong! There's no way I will allow her to get close to my fiancé. Jullian is mine!'
Eunice has been stealing everyone's attention since joining the school Leah attended. Even the boys she had a crush on confessed to Eunice, which is why Leah hated her so much.
"Jullian, what are you thinking about?"
Jullian did not reply but remained to stare at her. It was the first time he looked at her this long. Thus, she could not hide her blushing cheeks.
'Perhaps my effort finally bore fruit!'
She had a regular appointment with the best derma clinic in the city to maintain a flawless look.
Most of the time, Jullian would not spare a look at her, but she was totally fine with it as long as she was allowed to stand by his side and acknowledge her as his fiance.
And so, things may change after they get married and share a bed. By then, she will ensure that Jullian falls in love with her.
With this thought, Leah felt a lot better. She smiled shyly and said, "There is no need to be concerned about Eunice. I have a perfect job for her in our company."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes?" Leah's voice was skeptical. She doesn't understand what his point is.
Jullian seemed to have changed all of a sudden. He spoke more words than when they were together, except if it was work-related appointments, but most of the time, they were not alone.
"Would your mom and uncle allow Eunice to work for the company?" said Jullian, who took Leah aback.
Jullian was correct. Her mom would not allow Eunice to set foot in the company. 'Even so, I would not let her join Lopez Group either!'
"I will talk to Mom. And if she disagrees, I have plenty of friends I can ask around."
"Why bother to ask your friends?" said Jullian with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "After we get married, Eunice will also be my family. Therefore, I should watch after her on your behalf, my Mrs. Lopez."
Leah's eyes twinkled. She was over the moon!
Initially, she was irked that Jullian was doing a favor for Eunice. But to hear him calling her "My Mrs. Lopez," she almost melted, and her ill feeling faded.
"Jullian, you were so kind!"
"No need to mention. If Eunice agrees, she can report to my office tomorrow."
"Alright. I'll go make a phone call." She'll listen to Jullian for now. But when she officially becomes Mrs. Lopez, the first thing she will do is fire Eunice.
Elated with the wild thoughts running through her head as she imagined walking the aisle soon, Leah fished out her phone inside her purse. She walked to the corner just then to realize she had no contact with Eunice.
'I don't think Eunice is active on social media.'
Leah browsed her phone but found no account with which she could contact Eunice.
"Mom, do you have Eunice's contact information?" She has no choice but to ask her mom.
Miranda answered angrily, "Huh? Why would I save that bastard's phone number? What are you doing, Leah?"
"Don't worry, mom. Just trust me."
"Leah, tell me. Have you and Jullian already shared a bed? Are you coming home tonight? Last time you just returned home the following morning?"
"Mom, just don't ask, could you? Jullian and I are getting married soon. What are you worried about? We are both adults. Alright, I am hanging up now. Jullian is waiting for me."
Leah didn't admit it or deny it. Thus, Miranda believes the two already have an intimate relationship and is delighted with her presumption.
"I think I will be a granny soon."
Miranda was having dinner with nouveau riche wives, trying hard to be social like her. Even though there is no confirmation yet, there is no difference since her daughter is getting married to Jullian next month.
"Congratulations, Miranda! No wonder Jullian wanted to marry your daughter as soon as possible."
"That's right! Everyone was shocked when an announcement was made that Jullian had proposed to your daughter!"
"The two were actually expecting!"
"Of course, Jullian was enamored with my daughter's beauty," Miranda replied, her head held high, so proud that Leah was the most fortunate woman in Claire City. "Why will they take longer to get to know each other when they love each other so much? My daughter is brilliant. She is a perfect daughter-in-law for the Lopezes!"
"That's right! Leah and Jullian are both good-looking! Their children would be as beautiful as their parents!"
Miranda smiled smugly. Her ears were filled with high praise from her so-called friends.
Miranda's socialite friends beamed and agreed to her statement. Of course, she will become in-laws with the Lopezes. Hence, they compliment Miranda and admire Leah, masking the malicious interest in their eyes.
'In the future, I can ask Miranda and Leah to introduce me to the Lopezes.'
They can bridge getting a business deal with the Lopez Group.
~
Back in the hotel, Leah approached Jullian and returned to her seat.
"Jullian, I'm sorry. Eunice seems busy tonight. I think…" She trailed off the rest of her words. Even though she would mention nothing, what she wanted to say was obvious. Eunice is probably entangled in bed with Christian. "Don't worry, Jullian. I'll visit her tomorrow morning and bring her to you."
Jullian didn't reply. He seemed to be in deep thought. Noticing that nothing was wrong, Leah went on.
"Thank you for doing this for my cousin. I know she will be happy to know she has a decent job. Erm, if you haven't heard yet, she struggled back in Switzerland. I heard she was going to college in the afternoon while doing a corporate job in the morning and an extra job at night. It was the reason I convinced her to return home before her illness got worse."
"Illness?" Kurt raised a brow upon murmuring this. He was only asking himself, but his voice was loud enough to reach both Leah and his boss.
Leah was elated that Kurt was listening to her story. She masked her delighted face and saddened her eyes as she replied,
"Well… It's the illness you get from having inappropriate relationships with different men. But don't think badly about my cousin. I'm sure she is only doing that because of her struggles financially."
Leah glanced at Jullian and studied his reaction upon hearing that. Sure enough, she noticed him sharing a meaningful look with Kurt.
Leah was pleased. She had a few people she ordered to check on Eunice, and the news she received was that she was having a regular checkup at a hospital.
Although she isn't sure what illness Eunice had, it must be that kind of disease from having sexual intercourse with random men, and she wants to warn Jullian.
This way, Jullian would change his mind about hiring her as his secretary. But to her surprise, Jullian seems to have another plan.
"Jullian, what are you saying?"
"I'm telling you, Lopez Group has the best insurance and hospitalization benefits. Once Eunice signs a contract with us, she can avail herself of all of it as long as she works diligently."
"You—you're just kidding me, right?"
This is not what she expected from Julian's response to her lies. Despite how she slanders Eunice, Jullian is still willing to hire her!
'I could not believe it!'
Leah wanted to persuade Jullian, but his phone suddenly rang.
Without checking the caller ID, he rose from the sofa, walked toward the floor-ceiling window, and answered the call.
"Speak."
"Sir, we have received new reports just now."
"All right. I'm on my way."
Jullian, hang up the call. He returned to the sofa and instructed Kurt to send Leah home.
"Where are you going? I'll accompany you." Leah told her mom that she would stay with Jullian. If she goes home now, she doesn't want to explain anything.
On the other hand, she didn't notice that Jullian was dissatisfied with her behavior. She isn't Mrs. Lopez yet, but she sure is clingy already.
"Miss Dela Cruz, there is important work unrelated to the Monterrazas project that Mr. Lopez has to finish." Seeing the indifference exuding from his boss's body, Kurt stepped forward hurriedly.
"Oh, alright. I'll see you tomorrow." Feeling awkward, Leah smiled before she followed Kurt to the elevator.
~
Jullian left the hotel by chopper. He notified his men to pick him up, and it wasn't long after he landed at the Lopez Group rooftop and headed straight to the Archives Hall, just below the top floor, his office.
Lopez Group is erected at Southport, Claire City—a 62-floor tower overlooking the island.
"Welcome back, Major Lopez!"
The men immediately rose from their seats and placed their right hand on their foreheads to greet their superiors.
"At ease," he commanded as he strode toward the head chair and sat down.
"I already forwarded the report to your computer," said Larry, the head of his IT experts working with him.
In fact, they were not just ordinary computer geeks in the guise of Lopez Group IT workers and were watching the company's security system. They were trained soldiers like him in the past ten years.
"Is this all?" he asked Larry after reading the information he had sought for years.
"Well, that's all we can gather."
The recent report did not meet Jullian's expectations, leading to his disappointment.
"Jullian, in my opinion, a powerful family is protecting her."
Jullian leans back and looks at Larry, waiting for the rest of his statement. "Go on…"
"I think it was the Meier family. They were powerful enough to suppress anyone to dig up someone's information."
Jullian's gaze narrowed upon hearing that. "Are you coming to this conclusion because she had dinner with Christian?"
"Affirmative."
Jullian had fallen into deep thought. He clasped both his hands and rested his chin on them. "Then you were telling me that their relationship isn't simple."
Larry nodded in confirmation.
For some reason, Jullian felt uncomfortable in his heart. His sharp eyes stared at the woman on the monitoring screen that occupied the entire wall.
He clenched his jaw as his eyes couldn't tear away from her innocent smile.
'Who really are you, Eunice Tsui?'