Chapter 23


    The color drained from Myra’s face. “Myra, I have never been interested in you. Do you want to know


    why?” Sean cackled cruelly, as though he was relishing the moment. “You are a contentious woman


    and it turns men off. Even if I am burning with desire, just looking at you would dampen my mood!”


    Then, he picked up his suit jacket and phone, leaving her without another backward nce. In the


    study, Myra stared at the abandoned thin nket on the couch unblinkingly, her gaze eerily empty.


    “Miss Stark, Miss Hay from the Hay Group is here to see you.” Myra received a phone call from the


    receptionist the moment she arrived at thepany in the afternoon. She was feeling slightly tired at


    that point. “Pass her the phone.” There was a rustling noise and a sweet and crisp voice spoke over the


    line. “Myra, it’s Sasha. I’m at the ground floor of yourpany.” “How can I help you?” Myra wasn’t too


    friendly because she wasn’t close with anybody from the Hays, apart from her mother-inw. Sasha


    I should invite you to lunch, Myra. I’ll wait for you at the Italian restaurant just beside yourpany.”


    Myra wanted to reject her invitation but she thought of something suddenly. In the end, she changed


    her mind. “In that case, hang on for a bit. I’ming down now.” After hanging up on the call, Myra


    checked her reflection in the mirror. However, the woman staring back at her didn’t look great. And so,


    she tried to pump herself up. When she arrived at the restaurant, Sasha was stirring the cup of coffee


    in front of her out of boredom. Her eyes lit up when she saw Myra. Standing up eagerly, she pulled


    Myra over to the round table in a friendly manner. “Myra, why don’t you ever ask me to hang out with


    you? I phoned Aunt this morning and she said that you usually keep to yourself—it must be boring for


    you. I’ll hang out more often with you in the future, alright?” Myra pulled her hand away from Sasha’s


    grasp while regarding thetter’s na?ve and lively expression in silence. She sat across from Sasha


    while replying to her tly, “I’m usually quite busy.” Nevertheless, Sasha didn’t seem to register Myra’s


    distant behavior because she was stillughing happily. “Myra, you are giving Chase Group your all.


    My cousin is truly blessed to be married to a woman like you.” Myraughed mirthlessly deep down.


    Almost everybody from Bradfort City knows that Sean is a yboy. Every night, he is out gallivanting


    with other women; how is that a blessing? Sasha noticed Myra’s silence and she knew that she had


    misspoken. Hence, she rubbed her nose in embarrassment. “How can I help you, since you asked me


    out?” Myra asked directly while picking up the cup of coffee which Sasha ordered for her prior to her


    arrival. However, she only took a sip before putting the cup down on the table because she didn’t like


    cocoa-based beverages. Sasha broke into a grin again when she asked Myra tentatively, “Myra, I


    heard that the Hart Group is interested in the design of the Sunny Bay Project by the Chase Group.”


    Since Myra remained silent, Sasha cleared her throat as herrge eyes blinked several times. “Myra,


    do you know who is in charge of the project in Sean’spany?” After asking that, Sasha paused and


    she took out a pink gift box from her handbag. There was a light gray ribbon tied around the box, and it


    appeared especially intricate and elegant. When Myra turned to look at the box, Sasha pushed it in


    front of her. “I bought this present specifically for you during my trip to Paris, Myra. I figured you would


    not have tried this limited-edition perfume before. Why don’t you try it out?” she asked, a smile on her


    face. Sasha hid the enthusiasm in her gaze very well. All of a sudden, Myra burst into a fit of soft


    giggles and she pushed the gift box back toward Sasha. “I’m sorry Miss Hay, but I do not fancy


    perfumes. It so happens that I am the person-in-charge of the Chase Group for the Sunny Bay Project.


    I wonder if there’s anything else you’d like to know?” Sasha’s initially smiling face froze instantaneously


    and she stared at Myra in disbelief. Then, her gaze shifted toward a work badge Myra had on—‘Leader


    of Team A in the Design Department, Myra Stark’. I heard that a woman named Stark showed up for


    the discussion between the Chase and the Hart Groups. Sasha was stunned into silence. She was


    about to say something but Myra took out a hundred from her handbag and ced the cash on the


    table. “My treat today, Miss Hay. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back to thepany.” With that,


    Myra walked toward the entrance of the restaurant without even waiting for a reply from Sasha. Sure


    enough, Sasha is here to ask about the Sunny Bay Project. Looks like it’s no longer a secret that the


    Hart Group has selected the Hay, Reid and Chase Groups. Myra received a phone call from Eva as


    she made her way back to thepany. “Myra, you did good. Sasha may be my niece but Sean is my


    son, after all. I know that you’ve contributed immensely to the Sunny Bay Project this time. Go ahead


    with what you think is right and I will back you up.” Myra’s tone softened immediately. “Alright, Mom.”


    She paused before adding, “I heard from Greta that your backache has returned. I’ll schedule an


    appointment and apany you for a checkup at the hospital soon.” Eve was pleasantly surprised


    and she could not hide how pleased she was with Myra. “How could I expect you to disrupt your


    schedule for me? I’ll ask Greta to apany me. You should develop your rtionship with Sean if


    you have the time. I know that you are still in love with him. Don’t you worry, Myra. I will never allow


    random women to join the Chase Family.” Myra kept quiet for a very long time before replying calmly,


    “Mom, I’ve arrived at thepany; I’ve got to go.” After hanging up, Myra saw Sean, who was walking


    into thepany, not far away. A group of department managers were following him from behind while


    updating him with current reports along the way. He was wearing a grave expression. He looked down


    at one of the report folders as he marched forward while voicing questions for those who were following


    him from behind. The corner of his suit pped up as the wind blew against it. He looked especially


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    clean-cut and handsome. The female staff, who were walking past him, blushed discreetly. Suddenly,


    he frowned, as though sensing Myra’s gaze. Sean looked up casually and his intense gaze met Myra’s


    absent-minded one. His eyes remained still and he turned away coldly, almost as if she was just


    another stranger walking by. Myra recalled the incident in the morning and her heart clenched in pain.


    And so, she shifted her focus while making her way into the elevator quietly. Once she returned to the


    Design Department, everybody congratted her heartily when they saw her. Myra was slightly


    confused so she asked Tilly about it. It turned out that the Hart Group had eliminated the Reid Group


    from the Sunny Bay Project due to giarism of design. The Hart Group also announced to the public


    that they would no longer be involved in any proposals rted to the Reid Group. In short, it meant that


    the Hay Group was the onlypetitor against the Chase Group. “Miss Stark, the project manager


    from the Hart Group personally gave us a call just now. Initially, the phone call was for you but you


    weren’t around at the time. That is why Miss Foster answered the call instead, but we could hear their


    conversation clearly. Mr. Logan spoke highly of your design draft. You didn’t have the chance to see


    Miss Foster’s face but I can tell you that she was bubbling with jealousy.” Tilly was giggling softly—she


    obviously did not like Elsie. Myra’s lips curled into a smirk when she saw that. Just as she was about to


    say something, a loud woman’s voice interrupted them. “Why are you gloating? You mentioned that you


    did not discuss the project with Mr. Logan; instead, you imed that you spoke with Director Hart. If


    you discussed it with Director Hart, why would Mr. Logan praise you for your elegance and proficiency


    in presenting and your outstanding performance? I wonder how many times you had to entertain Mr.


    Logan in exchange for thatpliment. You’re shameless!” “How dare you?” Tilly hissed as she turned


    and was about to argue. However Myra stopped her while staring calmly at Elsie. “Why do you care


    about how I did it? You should secure a project too if you can,” she mocked.