Shrouded Affections Winning Back My CEO Wife

Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Huey's expression tightened as he faced Bryan, whose casual attire couldn't obscure his imposing demeanor. Huey knew Eileen had been in the room with Bryan.

"I want to take Eileen to dinner. You're welcto join us," Huey said, attempting to keep his tone light. Bryan merely arched an eyebrow. "No need. Eileen has had dinner with me, and she has already gone to bed." Huey was momentarily lost for words, the refusal catching him off guard. “Is there anything else?" Bryan clearly wanted Huey to leave.

A fleeting look of unease crossed Huey's face, an echo of earlier words painting Bryan as the dominant presence in his mind. “That's all," Huey said, retreating with a shake of his head.

With the click of the door closing behind Huey, the atmosphere shifted. Eileen, overhearing the exchange, clung to the blanket, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Has he left?” she asked as Bryan reentered the room.

Bryan approached her with a teasing glint in his eye. "Feeling guilty? Perhaps it's best to break up with him to spare yourself the guilt." Eileen fell silent, thinking of Bryan's lack of remorse and his commitment to Vivian. Her internal objections were momentarily muted by his assertive presence, his longing palpable and undiminished. But the persistent chof Bryan's phone intruded on the moment.

Eileen nudged him to respond, but he was momentarily lost in the intensity of the moment. The phone's incessant ringing eventually pulled Bryan back to reality, and he answered the call.

"Hello?" His voice was rough, as if cloaked in the earlier tension.

"Bryan, you went to Lakedale? Why didn't you tell me? I cto the Apex Group looking for you, only to learn this from your-" Vivian's voice was tinged with confusion and a hint of hurt.

Get lost in stories on gVlnov Bryan's voice was steady but distant. "It was a sudden issue." "I could have joined you. When are you coming back?" After a pause, Vivian continued, "Who did you go with?" Even without the speaker on, Vivian's words carried through the space, audible to Eileen. Eileen's gaze fell, her lips pressed together in quiet contemplation.

Holding her look for a moment longer, Bryan stood up. "Eileen's here with me," he declared before exiting the room.

Their conversation continued, its contents unknown to Eileen. Bryan's tone was softer, a contrast to earlier. With a sigh of relief, Eileen allowed a bit of tension to leave her body, but a pang of sadness quickly followed, draining the warmth from her cheeks. She turned away, seeking refuge under the blanket, shutting out the outside world. Upon Bryan's return, he found Eileen asleep, her features eased but touched with concern. He watched her for a moment. Then, choosing tranquility over further disturbance, he quietly lay beside her, their sleep mingling with the night's silence.

After a good night's sleep, Eileen woke up, the worries of the previous day washed away in slumber. Dressed now in her work clothes, she checked the time. The clock was inching toward eight, her meeting set for nine.

She cast a glance at Bryan, who remained asleep, a single sheet draped across his waist. His sleep seemed troubled, a frown on his face. Quietly, Eileen penned a note, placed it near the clock for him to find, and slipped out of the hotel room.

She was set to negotiate with a notable company, Fulcrum Group, a known collaborator with Apex Group and a significant player in Lakedale. The urgency of the contract's issues had granted her an immediate appointment. Yet, hours later, she found herself marooned in the lobby, fueled by coffee and patience, with no sign of the finance team from Fulcrum Group.

Amidst the uncertainty, her phone buzzed with a message from Huey, suggesting lunch. After a brief exchange, they decided to reschedule and have dinner together.

Approaching lunchtime, Eileen finally met Marcus Ferguson, the manager of the finance department at Fulcrum Group. His stature was modest, and his demeanor less inviting. Surprised at her direct involvement, Marcus glanced at his watch and suggested, "How about lunch to discuss this?" Agreeing, Eileen followed Marcus to a nearby diner. Without delay, Marcus ordered wine-perhaps too much for a midday meal. Memories of a past encounter at Fulcrum Group, which had ended in a spectacle with Bryan's intervention, lingered in Eileen's mind. Marcus, related to the CEO of Fulcrum Group, surely remembered that as well.

Despite her concerns, Eileen offered a serene smile and queried, “Don't you need to work this afternoon, Mr. Ferguson?" Marcus' response was dismissive, his smile laden with unsaid words. "Miss Curtis, you call this way here. Whether I need to work later or not doesn't matter." He ordered for them both, sliding the menu across to Eileen.

Eileen declined with a polite nod, choosing water instead, her mind alert to the undercurrents of this midday meeting.

Marcus shifted in his seat. "The lost contract receipt-that's a matter for the courier, not us." Eileen's response was measured. "Even if the courier's at fault, they're not equipped to cover such a hefty sum. The legal system will decide their compensation." "Our finance team adheres to what's written. With your side in disarray, we're not expected to pay you soon. Besides, what if you cup with another contract later and demand eighty million again? What then?" Marcus asked, his tone edged with a slyness that didn't sit well.

Eileen met his gaze firmly. "Just sign a contract nullification statement, and that'll be it. Someone with your experience would surely grasp the simplicity of it." Marcus's smile tightened. "And why exactly would I sign the nullification on your say-so? You're welcto discuss it directly with the courier. Your involvement isn't required here. But you still came. I wonder why." Recognizing Eileen's position in Apex Group, Marcus would naturally tread carefully. But if he learned about her connection to Roderick, it would complicate this matter considerably. This thought left Eileen uncertain of her next move, so she stayed silent.

Marcus, laying his cards on the table, disclosed his awareness of her personal connection. "Investigation revealed the courier is your brother, Roderick, right?" "Yes, so can I persuade you to rescind the contract today?" Eileen asked, hoping for his cooperation.

Marcus leaned back, unaffected. "We've only met briefly. What reason do I have to assist?" Eileen faced him with a poised smile. "Your willingness to have lunch withsuggests you might be open to negotiation. Perhaps you'd share what might change your stance?" A knowing smile slowly crept across Marcus's face. "Miss Curtis, it is rare to find someone who excels in their professional and personal dealings like you. And you're also quite captivating." Eileen offered a vacuous smile. "I'm flattered by your compliment. I've also heard your wife is quite beautiful." "True. She has her charm. She's the heart of our home, yet your allure is different. You have an untamed grace," Marcus said.

The implication of his words was clear. He wanted to sleep with Eileen. Eileen stayed composed. "You're married. Aren't you afraid your wife will find out?" "The secret's ours to keep if you're willing," Marcus said, his hand enveloping Eileen's, an unwelcheat spreading. His touch, damp, sent a wave of discomfort through her.

Eileen's mind drifted to Bryan. Bryan's touch was firm, his hands calloused from work, yet it always stirred something deep within her, resonating with a familiar melody of comfort. Withdrawing her hand sharply, Eileen said, "Mr. Ferguson, you enjoy complicating matters. How certain are you that your wife won't hear of this?" From her pocket, Eileen produced a compact, a tool that had proved its worth throughout her years with Bryan. Marcus's composure slipped at the sight of the device. "You setup?" "I'll settle the bill for the meal," Eileen declared, rising with dignity. "I trust you'll redraft the contract and reach out toagain." She proceeded to the cashier, paid, and left without a backward glance. Her tactic felt underhanded yet necessary against a man like Marcus.

Marcus watched her exit and, in a fit of rage, sent his cup flying across the room. To move forward with the contract changes, Marcus had to get Fulcrum Group's CEO, his uncle, to sign.

Marcus called his uncle and told him what had happened. "Why are you afraid of your wife finding out?" his uncle said on the phone. "Listen, if you can save the company money, half of the eighty million will be yours. What can your wife possibly do to you if you can bring forty million home?" His uncle's intent was crystal clear. Marcus's face brightened at the prospect. His wife was formidable, indeed, but the lure of wealth was her weakness.

Eileen made it back to the hotel by two, the day having stretched long. She opened the door to find Bryan, deep in work, on the couch. There was lunch on the coffee table, a portion for two.

Bryan's eyes flicked up at her entrance. "You cback later than anticipated. Seems you're falling short."

With a light touch of sarcasm, Eileen responded as she swapped her shoes for slippers, "I supposed don't quite measure up to your standards, Mr. Dawson?" She slid one of the lunch boxes across the table to him. "Aren't you supposed to discuss cooperation here?" she asked. Bryan snapped his laptop shut. "All set?" Eileen studied him, her memory painting a clear picture of his recent schedule, which didn't include discussing cooperation with anyone from Lakedale.

"Did you chere withon purpose?” she asked.

"Why would I do that?" Bryan queried, a teasing edge to his voice.

Eileen didn't know how to respond to his question. This morning, Huey's messages had been laced with edge, it yet he hadn't pried her relationship with Bryan. Could Bryan's presence here be a deliberate jab at Huey? Thoughts swirled in Eileen's mind, but no clear answer surfaced. "Never mind," she eventually replied.

Lunch unfolded quietly between them. After eating, Bryan continued to work on his computer while Eileen cleared the table. Sitting back down, Eileen received a message from Marcus.

The message illuminated her phone screen, stating the revised contract awaited her at eight in the evening. Eileen glanced at Bryan and said, "Mr. Dawson, I'm finalizing the contract tonight. We're free to fly back tomorrow. Should I book the plane tickets?" Bryan, eyes still on his screen, casually nodded.

Eileen considered the flight schedule to Onaland. "If it suits you, I'll secure seats for us on the morning flight at ten," she said.

"Repetition is at nine tomorrow," Bryan replied as he slid two VIP passes across the coffee table. "He sent these for the event. It wraps up at noon." Eileen weighed her options silently. “Interested in going?" she asked, recalling Bryan's past interest in the event. "I could accompany you." Bryan leaned closer, his scent filling Eileen's nostrils. "What about you? Do you want to go?" he asked.

Eileen pondered his words. While the gitself didn't draw her in, the offer seemed like a test of sorts! With a light-hearted smile, she replied, "I'’II follow your lead. If you're keen, countin. If not, we can head straight back to Ortäland. Your schedule is packed." Bryan reclined in his seat, a picture of ease. "So, you're not worried Huey will get angry?" he asked.