Power, Loyalty, and Ambition
Eva smiled brightly, her face radiant, and then suddenly turned icy. "No way," she said, her tone cold.
"..." The speed of her expression shift caught the wealthy young man off guard. Embarrassed, he didn't know how to handle someone so unpredictable.
"It's break time now. You're free to spend it however you like," Charlie Lee said calmly, directing his words to Eva before turning on his heel and walking further inside. His gaze had already landed on the monk and others gathered at the far end of the bar.
Eva remained rooted in place, her eyes following Charlie's retreating back, filled with an unspoken longing and a touch of confusion.
"Does this mean I have a chance now?" The rich heir standing next to her remarked thoughtfully, glancing between Charlie and Eva. He seized the opportunity to invite her out again.
"I want to drink," Eva said abruptly, heading toward the bar without sparing him another glance.
"Of course, it would be my pleasure," the young man replied, quickly following her.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the bar, Charlie Lee approached his group. The monk and the others, mid-conversation, noticed him and stood up quickly.
"Boss," they greeted respectfully, putting their drinks aside.
"Sit wherever you like," Charlie said with a small smile, gesturing for them to relax.
"Boss, about Miss Eva…" The monk started, his eyes drifting to where she was seated by the bar with the eager young heir.
"I said it's free time," Charlie replied dismissively. His tone was casual, but his underlying message was clear.
It wasn't that Charlie didn't notice Eva's allure. She had proven herself as a valuable asset, both at the Los Angeles branch of Aegis and in the skunk operations he orchestrated. Her capability was the very quality that made her indispensable to him.
However, Charlie had a rule: never mix business with pleasure. Relationships like that could only lead to complications, and he wasn't about to risk losing her trust or diminishing her value to the team.
Besides, if Charlie wanted companionship, he had no shortage of willing admirers. He saw no need to complicate things by indulging in workplace relationships, let alone setting a precedent for others in his secretary room.
"Boss, what about that guy—"
A commotion suddenly erupted near the bar.
"Stay away from me!" Eva's voice cut through the noise, her words sharp.
Charlie looked up to see the rich heir drenched in what appeared to be the contents of Eva's drink, his expression livid.
Recognizing the situation, Charlie gave the monk a subtle nod. The monk immediately strode toward the bar.
"You little—! I'll teach you a lesson!" The heir, his face dark with fury, reached out to grab Eva's hair.
CRACK!
The man's wrist was twisted unnaturally before he even realized what had happened. A cry of pain escaped his lips as he cradled his broken wrist, his face pale with shock.
"Miss Eva, are you okay?" the monk asked, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather.
"I'm fine," Eva replied coolly, brushing her hair back. She wasn't the least bit rattled. After all, working in Charlie Lee's organization, she was well aware of the Aegis Bureau's reach and the skill level of the people around him.
The monk, without another word, grabbed the young heir by the collar and dragged him toward Charlie.
"Boss, he's all yours," the monk said, throwing the trembling man at Charlie's feet.
Charlie glanced briefly at the disheveled heir, then turned to Eva. "You didn't like him, so you threw a drink all over him?" His tone was light, almost amused.
Eva, still seated at the bar, tilted her head. "Am I not attractive?" she asked, her voice low but steady.
Charlie blinked, slightly taken aback. He shook his head.
"Am I not beautiful?" she pressed on, her gaze unwavering.
Again, Charlie shook his head, indicating that her looks were not in question.
"Then why?" she demanded, her voice tinged with frustration.
Charlie met her eyes and said plainly, "Do you like me?"
Eva froze, stunned by the bluntness of his question.
"Do you?" Charlie repeated, his tone now patient but firm.
Eva struggled to find an answer. Her earlier anger stemmed from a complex mix of feelings—insult at being pushed toward someone else, insecurity over her own desirability, and frustration at Charlie's indifference.
"Look," Charlie continued, his voice pragmatic. "You don't like me, so why does it matter what I think? I didn't tell you to date him; I just said it's break time. That's your choice to make."
Charlie sighed inwardly. Women, he thought. They were often torn between craving independence and seeking validation. It wasn't a judgment—just an observation born from years of experience.
But Eva wasn't done yet. "It's not that simple—" she began, only to be interrupted by Charlie.
"I'll make it simple," he said, cutting through her protest. "If you want Jesse's lifestyle—the luxury, the status, the jewels—I can give that to you. But there's a price: you'll have to leave the secretary office. You won't work for me anymore, and you'll lose everything that comes with this position."
Eva stared at him, her eyes wide.
"Why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Because I make the rules," Charlie said, his tone unyielding. "And as the boss, you follow them."
Eva's eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she quickly blinked them away.
"How much do you make?" Charlie asked abruptly, his question catching her off guard.
"$1,500 a month," Eva replied automatically.
Charlie pointed to a woman sitting across the room—a well-dressed lady with a forced smile, trying to conceal the cracks in her once-glamorous facade.
"For a third of your salary, I could have her in my bed tonight," Charlie said flatly. "Do you believe me?"
Eva's gaze shifted to the woman, then to the elegant lady sitting opposite her—a picture of wealth and confidence. The contrast was striking.
"Who do you want to be?" Charlie's question hit Eva like a bolt of lightning.
In that moment, Eva's illusions shattered. She realized she had been chasing a mirage—a life that wasn't hers to begin with. Her envy of Jesse, her obsession with Charlie's approval, all seemed trivial now.
"Thank you, Boss," Eva said quietly, a faint smile gracing her lips. For the first time in weeks, she felt free.
As they left the bar, the monk stayed behind to have a "cordial" conversation with the rich heir.
"Do you know who I am now?" the monk asked, his voice low and menacing.
The heir nodded furiously, his face swollen and streaked with tears.
"Good. If I hear about you bothering anyone again, I'll make sure you regret it," the monk warned, his grin more terrifying than comforting.
When Charlie and his entourage walked out, the heir lay on the ground, vowing to himself to never cross paths with these people again.
As the wooden door swung shut, the bar returned to its usual hum of activity. But for Eva, it marked the end of her doubts and the beginning of a clearer, brighter future.