Chapter 15
Liam dropped a bombshell on Lianne.
Lianne thought Zane acted harshly toward her because he questioned her shady personal life like everybody else.
In fact, she a**umed the opportunity to investigate and shed light on the truth was only a sympathetic move from her superior.
Lianne would not have dreamed that Zane had faith in her innocence from the start. He wanted her to find proof just so she could fight back with concrete evidence.
During the incident in the past, only her grandmother, Ty, and Sierra trusted her wholeheartedly.
Zane, a revered figure and a leader of the finest conglomerate firms, had absolute trust in her. It was as if she was family even though she was only his subordinate for a month and three days.
For that alone, Lianne decided to lay her loyalty to Zane even without the high income. She would become his most faithful and capable employee.
Back at the dinner table, Zane had started on his appetizer. Lianne sneaked a glance at him.
No one could carry poise like Mr. Atlas. The image of him sipping on soup could be framed in the Louvre Museum
Zane noticed her gaze “What are you looking at?”
Lianne curled her lips and sucked up to Zane. However, she meant it. “I think you’re the world’s greatest
boss”
Liam gave her a nudge, reminding her that Mr. Atlas cared more about the competence of his employees. Flattery would not work on him.
Not reacting to her pandering. Zane curtly said, “No talking at the table.”
Lianne nodded her head. “Sure.”
It did not take long before the employees arrived at the cafeteria in droves. The loud chatter and laughter soon came to a stop at the sight of an eye-catching figure in the middle of the room. They could not look more serious at work
Nevertheless, everybody could not take their eyes away from that table.
Lianne was struck with another bold a**umption.
For Zane to have lunch at the cafeteria even though he had never been there, was he trying to send a message to everybody in the office that she was still his executive a**istant despite all that happened? Lianne whispered the question in mind, “Mr. Atlas, are you having lunch in the cafeteria to help me?” Zane put down his cutlery and pulled out a napkin to elegantly wipe his mouth before replying in a flat voice, I’m not helping you. I merely saw your value by the way you handle the matter efficiently.”
His reply came off impersonal, but it was the best validation of Lianne’s competency.
Although Zane never said the nicest things, he never once doubted her and even offered her support. It was the biggest kindness Lianne received today.
Lianne spoke from the heart, “I just want to thank you, Mr. Atlas.”
Zane impatiently looked at her, catching the burn on her ears and neck. For some reason, it stirred unrest
within him “Dr Leah will be here later. Get some medicine from her.”
It was only then the scalding pain along her neck started to kick in “Sure”
Lianne returned to the office after lunch. Before Lianne could contact her, Dr Leah arrived with her
medical kit
Without asking Lianne about her situation, Dr. Leah took out two tubes of ointments and applied them to Lianne’s neck “You have blisters. You need it to pop. Apply these two on your skin once during the day and at night it will be itchy when the blisters pop, but don’t scratch the affected area.”
The cooling layer of medicine over her skin made Lianne feel a lot better. She smiled. “Thank you, Dr. Leah.”
Dr. Leah gave her hair a shuffle. “We’re all on the same team. Don’t mention it.”
Lianne said nothing as she kept in mind all the help and kindness she received today.
That afternoon, Lianne pulled herself together and attended an international video conference with Liam and Zane
There was much to talk about during the meeting, so it was off hours by the time the conference was
over
Lianne and Liam compiled a summary of the conference and went to hand in the report at the CEO’s office when Zane was on the phone
The person on the other line said something, prompting a curt reply from Zane. “What? Do I need to go down there and show you how to do it?”
Not only was his voice eenly gruesome, but the menace in his eyes made their hair stand too
Liam and Lianne exchanged glances, giving each other curious looks as to what had happened to Mr Atlas during their short time away
“Can’t you go to the address if she’s not picking up her phone?” Zane then terminated the call and turned to Lianne with a sour face. “Get me a cup of coffee”
“Sure.” Lianne fled the scene.
Zane glanced at his phone on the desk. His attorney just informed him that he could not get in touch with
his wife
It annoyed Zane that he could not cut ties with the woman who betrayed him. Loosening up his tie, Zane lit a cigarette and puffed away.
Zane was still smoking when Lianne came back with the coffee. She put down the cup and retreated to a
corner.
While Zane flipped through their work report, the phone on the table started ringing.
Lianne watched as Zane took the call, and the scowl on his face deepened. Zane called the person on the other end out for their incompetence before slamming the phone on the desk.
It scared the hell out of Lianne. The CEO had lost it today.
Zane had lost his cool, all right. His attorney just told him that the woman was not at the address and asked if she had moved.
What on earth was the woman trying to pull?
Did she expect him to contact her himself?
Zane angrily grabbed his personal mobile phone and sent Lianne a text message. “I’m Caleb Hill, the guy who got married to you a year ago. We should meet soon and talk about our divorce.”
Lianne’s phone for personal use in her pocket beeped in the dead silence of the office.
“You’ve got one new message.”
Zane turned his attention to her.
