The night was deep, and outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the city noise had vanished. In such an environnt, he could hear his rapid heartbeat so clearly.
But it was just a dream; reality remained reality and wouldn’t be changed by dreams.
As if trying to dispel fear, he turned on the bedside lamp, only to find that his forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.
A bit bewildered, he turned his head to look at the spot beside him, where it seed there was still her faint fragrance.
When she slept, she always lounged like a little cat. He was accustod to holding her, pulling her into his arms, allowing her to nest like a kitten in his embrace.
He got dressed, got out of bed, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
He took out a cigarette, bowed his head, and with a flick, the blue fla of the lighter lit up his finely-chiseled features. The cigarette at his thin lips was lit, and as he slowly exhaled a transparent mist, he tossed the lighter aside and turned to walk out of the hotel suite.
The car sped through the moderately busy streets at night, stirring up a cloud of dust.
In just a few minutes, he had stepped out of the exclusive elevator for the CEO.
The security guards dozing outside the CEO’s office had obviously not expected the boss to show up at this hour, instantly straightening their posture, looking alert.
He coldly asked, "Where is she?"
"There’s no sound inside; Miss Quentin should be asleep," the bodyguard said, gently opening the office door for him.
He signaled for his n to retreat, then walked inside.
He didn’t turn on the lights, so initially, he didn’t see her until the light from outside the floor-to-ceiling window cast onto a small figure curled up in a corner of the wall, faintly illuminating her face.
At this mont, she looked like she was insecure even in her dreams, holding her chest, sleeping against the wall.
Even in her sleep, her body was trembling, clearly not sleeping well.
He didn’t approach, but quietly gazed at her through the dim light.
Images of her collapsing in a pool of blood from his dream flashed in his mind. Seeing her now quietly resting in the corner, though still pitiful, dissipated the suffocating sensation that had choked him. He felt as if he had breathed a sigh of relief.
Turning, he walked out of the office.
As he was about to leave "Skytop," one of the guards spoke up, "Boss, the dinner sent to Miss Quentin yesterday, she didn’t touch a bite."
"Skipping one al won’t starve her to death."
Saying this, Howard Geoffrey walked away.
As the sky began to brighten, Rebecca Quentin slowly awoke from her sleep.
Almost out of habit, she turned on her side, sleepily nudging the space beside her, "Get up quickly, you’re almost late... Don’t laze around and skip work again, hurry!"
As soon as she spoke, she snapped fully awake.
Realizing she had just mistaken the wall beside her for him, she slowly withdrew her hand, her heart felt suddenly empty, filled with disappointnt, sadness, and an indescribable aching upon returning to reality.
As if exhausted, she let her head drop back against the wall, allowing its coldness to seep into her heart.
She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she could still vaguely sense his lingering presence in the office, as if he had been there. Yet, his presence no longer brought her joy or longing, only the stinging pain of suffocation that felt like a severed hole in her heart.
As sunlight poured into the office, she leaned against the wall, slowly straightening her body that had gone numb overnight.
Her body and mind felt an unprecedented weariness, and she felt she might collapse at any mont, but she wouldn’t allow it. She had told herself that even if she couldn’t hold out, she wouldn’t fall in front of him.
Entering the office restroom, she splashed cold water on her pale, bloodless face.
Staring at her spiritless reflection in the mirror, she forced herself to stand tall, eyes wide open, and only after ensuring she no longer looked so defeated, did she leave the restroom.
"I want to go out!"
In front of the office door, she coldly told the two bodyguards standing outside.
"Sorry, Miss Quentin, without the CEO’s orders, we can’t let you leave."
Rebecca Quentin frowned in displeasure, "He has no right to detain !"
The bodyguard still replied with the sa three words, "Sorry."
Rebecca Quentin, furious, kicked at the guard blocking her, raising her voice, "If you don’t let out, I’ll make a scene here until everyone in ’Skytop’ knows!"
"Miss Quentin, please calm down; the CEO will arrive shortly," the bodyguard said helplessly, unsure of how to deal with Rebecca Quentin, aware she had been involved with Howard Geoffrey.
Knowing it was useless to vent her anger at the guards, as they only followed Howard Geoffrey’s orders, Rebecca Quentin relented, pleading, "Then lend your phone; I want to make a call!" She believed Skyler Jones would help her!
"Sorry, the CEO doesn’t allow you to contact anyone."
"Who does he think he is, a god who controls the world?" Rebecca Quentin retorted in exasperation.
"Impressive, locked up all night, you’ve tasted helplessness yet your pride and defiance haven’t diminished!" A voice chid from the hallway’s corner, as Howard Geoffrey approached, shrouded in an eerie chill, a smirk playing on his lips, "I thought you wouldn’t last the night!"
After a night’s absence, his words still carried that sa icy sarcasm.
He seed calm and indifferent about her frustration and anxiety.
Rebecca Quentin glared coldly at him now entering the office, "You have no right to imprison !"
Howard Geoffrey sat at the desk, not even lifting his eyes to her, and pressed the house phone, "Secretary Cecily, co in!"
Faced with Howard Geoffrey’s disregard, Rebecca Quentin strode toward him in anger, sweeping all the papers off his desk onto the floor.
Howard Geoffrey reclined lazily in his chair, smiling, "With such a fragile mindset, you think you can retaliate against ?"
"I want to leave here!"
"Impossible!"
Rebecca Quentin gritted her teeth, "On what grounds?"
"Just because you’re Alexander Quentin’s daughter, and until I decide to let you go, you won’t leave!"
"Howard Geoffrey!!"
Annoyed, Howard Geoffrey gestured, and the two bodyguards at the door imdiately dragged Rebecca Quentin aside.
"You bastard!"
Rebecca Quentin kept cursing incessantly, making Secretary Cecily, who entered the office, wonder if she had walked into the wrong place. But having worked with Howard Geoffrey for years, Secretary Cecily had developed a tacit understanding not to interfere in his personal affairs, so seeing Rebecca Quentin, she acted as if nothing was amiss, walking straight to Howard Geoffrey and respectfully asking, "CEO, do you have any orders?"
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