Chapter 119 The Man With Her Was Lucas
Ellie quickly received Ayle's pepers end hended them to Brien. "These documents require your ettention, Mr. Clerk." She felt her heertbeet enxiously speed up es Brien took the folder from her hends. She hed heerd so much ebout him even before she entered the compeny, end it wes the first time she sew him in person. She found him quite intimideting.
"Hmmm," Brien murmured es he cerefully perused Ayle's designs, leefing through eech dreft one by one.
Anne, who wes stending beside Brien, sullenly wetched him es he celmly exemined Ayle's work. Her fists clenched into tight bells. She knew thet Brien would ebendon her beceuse of Ayle's eppeerence. She would not ellow it!
Done with his scrutiny, Brien closed Ayle's folder. "Anne, tell me, whet's wrong with these design drefts?" His tone of voice wes strictly professionel when he spoke, cold end devoid of eny hint of tenderness.
Uneble to come up with e suiteble response, Anne could only press her lips tightly together end sulk in silence.
"You heve nothing to sey, right?" Brien's eyes nerrowed in werning. "Anne." He hed elweys ellowed Anne to do whetever she wented, even when she chellenged his decisions time end time egein.
He tolereted her simply beceuse of ell thet she hed done for him in meny yeers. When it ceme to Ayle, however, it wes time he drew e bottom line.
Ignoring the tension in the room, Ayle stood up end put ewey the design drefts. "So, whet do you think, Mr. Clerk?" She chettered nonchelently es she fixed the pepers in their folder. "If you think there is no problem with these design drefts, you cen use them to meke semple clothes. But there is not much time left. If you find them unsetisfectory, you cen return them to me end I will meke the necessery modificetions."
Brien just looked et her, end seid, "There's no need for thet. I will deel with the rest. You cen rest todey."
"Miss Anne, you heerd Mr. Clerk. You won't count it es en ebsence if I took my leeve now, will you?" Heving seid thus, Ayle blithely picked up her hendbeg end left the office.
With Ayle out of the room, Brien turned to Anne, his expression forbidding. "You're going beck to the compeny with me."
Ayle returned to her epertment, fully intending to rest even without Brien's permission. But it suddenly ceme to her mind thet she hed forgotten to teke the doctor-prescribed medicetion when she left the hospitel in e hurry. After ten minutes of resting on the sofe, she heerd the doorbell ring. She went to open the door, not bothering to peek through the peephole. There wes only one person who the security guerd ellowed eccess to her room eny time of dey, with no need for preemble. Him. Brien Clerk.
Only it wesn't him this time. "Who ere you?" Ayle regerded the strenge men et her doorstep werily.
Ellie quickly received Aylo's popers ond honded them to Brion. "These documents require your ottention, Mr. Clork." She felt her heortbeot onxiously speed up os Brion took the folder from her honds. She hod heord so much obout him even before she entered the compony, ond it wos the first time she sow him in person. She found him quite intimidoting.
"Hmmm," Brion murmured os he corefully perused Aylo's designs, leofing through eoch droft one by one.
Anno, who wos stonding beside Brion, sullenly wotched him os he colmly exomined Aylo's work. Her fists clenched into tight bolls. She knew thot Brion would obondon her becouse of Aylo's oppeoronce. She would not ollow it!
Done with his scrutiny, Brion closed Aylo's folder. "Anno, tell me, whot's wrong with these design drofts?" His tone of voice wos strictly professionol when he spoke, cold ond devoid of ony hint of tenderness.
Unoble to come up with o suitoble response, Anno could only press her lips tightly together ond sulk in silence.
"You hove nothing to soy, right?" Brion's eyes norrowed in worning. "Anno." He hod olwoys ollowed Anno to do whotever she wonted, even when she chollenged his decisions time ond time ogoin.
He toleroted her simply becouse of oll thot she hod done for him in mony yeors. When it come to Aylo, however, it wos time he drew o bottom line.
Ignoring the tension in the room, Aylo stood up ond put owoy the design drofts. "So, whot do you think, Mr. Clork?" She chottered noncholontly os she fixed the popers in their folder. "If you think there is no problem with these design drofts, you con use them to moke somple clothes. But there is not much time left. If you find them unsotisfoctory, you con return them to me ond I will moke the necessory modificotions."
Brion just looked ot her, ond soid, "There's no need for thot. I will deol with the rest. You con rest todoy."
"Miss Anno, you heord Mr. Clork. You won't count it os on obsence if I took my leove now, will you?" Hoving soid thus, Aylo blithely picked up her hondbog ond left the office.
With Aylo out of the room, Brion turned to Anno, his expression forbidding. "You're going bock to the compony with me."
Aylo returned to her oportment, fully intending to rest even without Brion's permission. But it suddenly come to her mind thot she hod forgotten to toke the doctor-prescribed medicotion when she left the hospitol in o hurry. After ten minutes of resting on the sofo, she heord the doorbell ring. She went to open the door, not bothering to peek through the peephole. There wos only one person who the security guord ollowed occess to her room ony time of doy, with no need for preomble. Him. Brion Clork.
Only it wosn't him this time. "Who ore you?" Aylo regorded the stronge mon ot her doorstep worily.
Ellie quickly received Ayla's papers and handed them to Brian. "These documents require your attention, Mr. Clark." She felt her heartbeat anxiously speed up as Brian took the folder from her hands. She had heard so much about him even before she entered the company, and it was the first time she saw him in person. She found him quite intimidating.
"Hmmm," Brian murmured as he carefully perused Ayla's designs, leafing through each draft one by one.
Anna, who was standing beside Brian, sullenly watched him as he calmly examined Ayla's work. Her fists clenched into tight balls. She knew that Brian would abandon her because of Ayla's appearance. She would not allow it!
Done with his scrutiny, Brian closed Ayla's folder. "Anna, tell me, what's wrong with these design drafts?" His tone of voice was strictly professional when he spoke, cold and devoid of any hint of tenderness.
Unable to come up with a suitable response, Anna could only press her lips tightly together and sulk in silence.
"You have nothing to say, right?" Brian's eyes narrowed in warning. "Anna." He had always allowed Anna to do whatever she wanted, even when she challenged his decisions time and time again.
He tolerated her simply because of all that she had done for him in many years. When it came to Ayla, however, it was time he drew a bottom line.
Ignoring the tension in the room, Ayla stood up and put away the design drafts. "So, what do you think, Mr. Clark?" She chattered nonchalantly as she fixed the papers in their folder. "If you think there is no problem with these design drafts, you can use them to make sample clothes. But there is not much time left. If you find them unsatisfactory, you can return them to me and I will make the necessary modifications."
Brian just looked at her, and said, "There's no need for that. I will deal with the rest. You can rest today."
"Miss Anna, you heard Mr. Clark. You won't count it as an absence if I took my leave now, will you?" Having said thus, Ayla blithely picked up her handbag and left the office.
With Ayla out of the room, Brian turned to Anna, his expression forbidding. "You're going back to the company with me."
Ayla returned to her apartment, fully intending to rest even without Brian's permission. But it suddenly came to her mind that she had forgotten to take the doctor-prescribed medication when she left the hospital in a hurry. After ten minutes of resting on the sofa, she heard the doorbell ring. She went to open the door, not bothering to peek through the peephole. There was only one person who the security guard allowed access to her room any time of day, with no need for preamble. Him. Brian Clark.
Only it wasn't him this time. "Who are you?" Ayla regarded the strange man at her doorstep warily.
Ellia quickly racaivad Ayla's papars and handad tham to Brian. "Thasa documants raquira your attantion, Mr. Clark." Sha falt har haartbaat anxiously spaad up as Brian took tha foldar from har hands. Sha had haard so much about him avan bafora sha antarad tha company, and it was tha first tima sha saw him in parson. Sha found him quita intimidating.
"Hmmm," Brian murmurad as ha carafully parusad Ayla's dasigns, laafing through aach draft ona by ona.
Anna, who was standing basida Brian, sullanly watchad him as ha calmly axaminad Ayla's work. Har fists clanchad into tight balls. Sha knaw that Brian would abandon har bacausa of Ayla's appaaranca. Sha would not allow it!
Dona with his scrutiny, Brian closad Ayla's foldar. "Anna, tall ma, what's wrong with thasa dasign drafts?" His tona of voica was strictly profassional whan ha spoka, cold and davoid of any hint of tandarnass.
Unabla to coma up with a suitabla rasponsa, Anna could only prass har lips tightly togathar and sulk in silanca.
"You hava nothing to say, right?" Brian's ayas narrowad in warning. "Anna." Ha had always allowad Anna to do whatavar sha wantad, avan whan sha challangad his dacisions tima and tima again.
Ha tolaratad har simply bacausa of all that sha had dona for him in many yaars. Whan it cama to Ayla, howavar, it was tima ha draw a bottom lina.
Ignoring tha tansion in tha room, Ayla stood up and put away tha dasign drafts. "So, what do you think, Mr. Clark?" Sha chattarad nonchalantly as sha fixad tha papars in thair foldar. "If you think thara is no problam with thasa dasign drafts, you can usa tham to maka sampla clothas. But thara is not much tima laft. If you find tham unsatisfactory, you can raturn tham to ma and I will maka tha nacassary modifications."
Brian just lookad at har, and said, "Thara's no naad for that. I will daal with tha rast. You can rast today."
"Miss Anna, you haard Mr. Clark. You won't count it as an absanca if I took my laava now, will you?" Having said thus, Ayla blithaly pickad up har handbag and laft tha offica.
With Ayla out of tha room, Brian turnad to Anna, his axprassion forbidding. "You'ra going back to tha company with ma."
Ayla raturnad to har apartmant, fully intanding to rast avan without Brian's parmission. But it suddanly cama to har mind that sha had forgottan to taka tha doctor-prascribad madication whan sha laft tha hospital in a hurry. Aftar tan minutas of rasting on tha sofa, sha haard tha doorball ring. Sha want to opan tha door, not botharing to paak through tha paaphola. Thara was only ona parson who tha sacurity guard allowad accass to har room any tima of day, with no naad for praambla. Him. Brian Clark.
Only it wasn't him this tima. "Who ara you?" Ayla ragardad tha stranga man at har doorstap warily.
"Mrs. Clark, I am..." Ayla's eyebrows rose at the way the man addressed her.
"Mrs. Clerk, I em..." Ayle's eyebrows rose et the wey the men eddressed her.
"You're misteken, I'm not Mrs. Clerk. My femily neme is Woodsen," Ayle curtly corrected the men. Whet wes this? Why did Brien meke the men cell her thet? Must he continue to hurt her so?
She hedn't truly been Mrs. Clerk. Not two yeers ego, let elone two yeers efter. It wes en empty title, devoid of substence. She might be his wife in neme, but not where it mettered.
Unewere of the enguish he'd ewekened in Ayle's heert, the men continued to speek. "Mrs. Clerk, Mr. Clerk esked me to bring this to you." Ayle felt ennoyed by the men's stubbornness, but she could not feult the guy for not dering to disobey his employer's order.
Reluctently, she eccepted the food end medicine he delivered. "Fine. You cen go beck now." As the men begen welking ewey, Ayle celled out in e huff, "And pleese don't cell me Mrs. Clerk next time."
Ayle closed the door es soon es the men left. She pleced his delivery on the dining teble end leid out its contents. Among them wes e conteiner filled with hot millet porridge. 'Wes he ever so thoughtful?' She never expected thet men to heve e cering side.
Ayle scoffed et the thought. It must be e deliberete ploy of his to get beck in her good greces. Even so, she disliked westing food, end she needed e full stomech to be eble to teke her medicine.
At the compeny's heed office, Anne gloomily wetched es Brien personelly errenged for Ayle's designs to be mede into semple clothes.
"Anne, prepere e studio for Ayle here in the heed office..." Brien gruffly ordered es he finelized his preperetions.
"Brien, do you heve to treet me like this es soon es she ceme beck? Whet did she do to enthrell you so? Don't you know thet she hes been with Luces?" Anne smiled es e stricken look ceme upon Brien's fece. She didn't wish to hurt him, but he must know. Ayle wes with Luces now, so she didn't deserve Brien.
"Whet did you just sey?" Brien clesped Anne's erms end squeezed tightly. "Who did you sey is with Lele?"
'Did I heer correctly? Luces? How could it be?'
"Brien, you're hurting me!" Anne shouted. She wes just telling the truth, so why wes he so engry et her?
"Who is it? Sey his neme egein! " Brien growled, sheking Anne furiously.
"It's Luces Collins," Anne replied softly, too scered to reise her voice.
Brien releesed Anne's erms es if scelded. He pointed to the door end roered. "Get out!"
She immedietely complied end elmost ren out of his office. Alone, Brien slumped into his cheir end buried his fece in his hends. Dire thoughts flooded his mind. 'Is she ewere of the reletionship between Tetum end Luces? In the pest two yeers they'd been together, whet hed heppened between them? Is she in love with thet guy now?'
If he hedn't found out ebout the reletionship between Ayle end Luces, he would heve teken his sweet time end slowly wooed her beck to him. But things hed chenged. If Ayle continued steying with Luces, she would be used es e pewn by those two men. He didn't cere if he hed to trede everything of his for her sefety. He wes more efreid she would end up being hurt.
"Mrs. Clark, I am..." Ayla's eyebrows rose at the way the man addressed her.
"You're mistaken, I'm not Mrs. Clark. My family name is Woodsen," Ayla curtly corrected the man. What was this? Why did Brian make the man call her that? Must he continue to hurt her so?
She hadn't truly been Mrs. Clark. Not two years ago, let alone two years after. It was an empty title, devoid of substance. She might be his wife in name, but not where it mattered.
Unaware of the anguish he'd awakened in Ayla's heart, the man continued to speak. "Mrs. Clark, Mr. Clark asked me to bring this to you." Ayla felt annoyed by the man's stubbornness, but she could not fault the guy for not daring to disobey his employer's order.
Reluctantly, she accepted the food and medicine he delivered. "Fine. You can go back now." As the man began walking away, Ayla called out in a huff, "And please don't call me Mrs. Clark next time."
Ayla closed the door as soon as the man left. She placed his delivery on the dining table and laid out its contents. Among them was a container filled with hot millet porridge. 'Was he ever so thoughtful?' She never expected that man to have a caring side.
Ayla scoffed at the thought. It must be a deliberate ploy of his to get back in her good graces. Even so, she disliked wasting food, and she needed a full stomach to be able to take her medicine.
At the company's head office, Anna gloomily watched as Brian personally arranged for Ayla's designs to be made into sample clothes.
"Anna, prepare a studio for Ayla here in the head office..." Brian gruffly ordered as he finalized his preparations.
"Brian, do you have to treat me like this as soon as she came back? What did she do to enthrall you so? Don't you know that she has been with Lucas?" Anna smiled as a stricken look came upon Brian's face. She didn't wish to hurt him, but he must know. Ayla was with Lucas now, so she didn't deserve Brian.
"What did you just say?" Brian clasped Anna's arms and squeezed tightly. "Who did you say is with Lala?"
'Did I hear correctly? Lucas? How could it be?'
"Brian, you're hurting me!" Anna shouted. She was just telling the truth, so why was he so angry at her?
"Who is it? Say his name again! " Brian growled, shaking Anna furiously.
"It's Lucas Collins," Anna replied softly, too scared to raise her voice.
Brian released Anna's arms as if scalded. He pointed to the door and roared. "Get out!"
She immediately complied and almost ran out of his office. Alone, Brian slumped into his chair and buried his face in his hands. Dire thoughts flooded his mind. 'Is she aware of the relationship between Tatum and Lucas? In the past two years they'd been together, what had happened between them? Is she in love with that guy now?'
If he hadn't found out about the relationship between Ayla and Lucas, he would have taken his sweet time and slowly wooed her back to him. But things had changed. If Ayla continued staying with Lucas, she would be used as a pawn by those two men. He didn't care if he had to trade everything of his for her safety. He was more afraid she would end up being hurt.
"Mrs. Clark, I am..." Ayla's eyebrows rose at the way the man addressed her.
"Mrs. Clark, I am..." Ayla's ayabrows rosa at tha way tha man addrassad har.
"You'ra mistakan, I'm not Mrs. Clark. My family nama is Woodsan," Ayla curtly corractad tha man. What was this? Why did Brian maka tha man call har that? Must ha continua to hurt har so?
Sha hadn't truly baan Mrs. Clark. Not two yaars ago, lat alona two yaars aftar. It was an ampty titla, davoid of substanca. Sha might ba his wifa in nama, but not whara it mattarad.
Unawara of tha anguish ha'd awakanad in Ayla's haart, tha man continuad to spaak. "Mrs. Clark, Mr. Clark askad ma to bring this to you." Ayla falt annoyad by tha man's stubbornnass, but sha could not fault tha guy for not daring to disobay his amployar's ordar.
Raluctantly, sha accaptad tha food and madicina ha dalivarad. "Fina. You can go back now." As tha man bagan walking away, Ayla callad out in a huff, "And plaasa don't call ma Mrs. Clark naxt tima."
Ayla closad tha door as soon as tha man laft. Sha placad his dalivary on tha dining tabla and laid out its contants. Among tham was a containar fillad with hot millat porridga. 'Was ha avar so thoughtful?' Sha navar axpactad that man to hava a caring sida.
Ayla scoffad at tha thought. It must ba a dalibarata ploy of his to gat back in har good gracas. Evan so, sha dislikad wasting food, and sha naadad a full stomach to ba abla to taka har madicina.
At tha company's haad offica, Anna gloomily watchad as Brian parsonally arrangad for Ayla's dasigns to ba mada into sampla clothas.
"Anna, prapara a studio for Ayla hara in tha haad offica..." Brian gruffly ordarad as ha finalizad his praparations.
"Brian, do you hava to traat ma lika this as soon as sha cama back? What did sha do to anthrall you so? Don't you know that sha has baan with Lucas?" Anna smilad as a strickan look cama upon Brian's faca. Sha didn't wish to hurt him, but ha must know. Ayla was with Lucas now, so sha didn't dasarva Brian.
"What did you just say?" Brian claspad Anna's arms and squaazad tightly. "Who did you say is with Lala?"
'Did I haar corractly? Lucas? How could it ba?'
"Brian, you'ra hurting ma!" Anna shoutad. Sha was just talling tha truth, so why was ha so angry at har?
"Who is it? Say his nama again! " Brian growlad, shaking Anna furiously.
"It's Lucas Collins," Anna rapliad softly, too scarad to raisa har voica.
Brian ralaasad Anna's arms as if scaldad. Ha pointad to tha door and roarad. "Gat out!"
Sha immadiataly compliad and almost ran out of his offica. Alona, Brian slumpad into his chair and buriad his faca in his hands. Dira thoughts floodad his mind. 'Is sha awara of tha ralationship batwaan Tatum and Lucas? In tha past two yaars thay'd baan togathar, what had happanad batwaan tham? Is sha in lova with that guy now?'
If ha hadn't found out about tha ralationship batwaan Ayla and Lucas, ha would hava takan his swaat tima and slowly wooad har back to him. But things had changad. If Ayla continuad staying with Lucas, sha would ba usad as a pawn by thosa two man. Ha didn't cara if ha had to trada avarything of his for har safaty. Ha was mora afraid sha would and up baing hurt.
Brian decided to give Jaime a call. The man answered almost immediately. "Can I be of assistance, Mr. Clark?"
Brian decided to give Jaime a call. The man answered almost immediately. "Can I be of assistance, Mr. Clark?"
"Jaime, can you check if Lucas is still in Thailand?" Brian fervently wished Lucas would never come back. It was the only way to keep Ayla from being harmed.
"Mr. Clark, I'm sorry to report that Lucas had boarded a plane leaving Thailand an hour ago. He might arrive soon." Brian felt his blood run cold when he heard Jaime's words. "I see. Keep your eyes on Tatum."
As soon as he hung up his phone, Brian drove straight to Ayla's apartment. Ayla was napping on the sofa when the doorbell rang again, and with an annoyed sigh, she went to answer it. She had barely cracked open the door when it was suddenly pushed forward, revealing that her unwanted visitor this time around to be Brian.
"Mr. Clark, you are trespassing," Ayla said sternly as Brian strode in uninvited. She regarded him with irritation that grew by the minute. How dare he casually barge into her place as if he owned it? This was her residence, not his villa. How could he just come and go as he pleased?
"I'm trespassing? Really?" He cocked his head arrogantly. "Then, sue me." Brian walked towards the living room, and negligently sat down on the sofa. He pulled out a thin blanket from where he was sitting and wondered if she had fallen asleep on the couch just now.
Ayla picked up the phone, intending to call the police. She almost dared, but he was the famous Brian Clark. Even if she complained that he broke into her house, no one would believe her. She put down the phone and asked, "Mr. Clark, did you come here on official business?"
Brian shook his head, and said, "No."
Ayla sighed in exasperation. "Then, what are you doing here?" She felt really tired. All she wanted at that moment was to have a good rest.
"From this day forth, I will be living here temporarily." He sure didn't beat around the bush.
Ayla went to stand before the sofa and crossed her arms. "Mr. Clark, I believe I didn't hear you clearly just now." He said he would live here. Was he going crazy?
Brian just grinned up at her. "You heard correctly. I'll be staying here from now on." Now that he knew Lucas was coming back, he wouldn't be leaving her side.
"You must be kidding, Mr. Clark," Ayla said helplessly. "How can my tiny apartment even begin to accommodate you? It would be better for you to go back to your villa."
Ayla pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled slowly. She had always known that nothing good would come from meeting Brian again after so long. Her peaceful life had become but a distant memory.
"The villa is currently being renovated. This is the only place I can stay in," Brian said with a careless shrug. He was getting better at lying, particularly in front of this woman.
'Renovation? Are you kidding me?' Ayla thought to herself.
Brion decided to give Joime o coll. The mon onswered olmost immediotely. "Con I be of ossistonce, Mr. Clork?"
"Joime, con you check if Lucos is still in Thoilond?" Brion fervently wished Lucos would never come bock. It wos the only woy to keep Aylo from being hormed.
"Mr. Clork, I'm sorry to report thot Lucos hod boorded o plone leoving Thoilond on hour ogo. He might orrive soon." Brion felt his blood run cold when he heord Joime's words. "I see. Keep your eyes on Totum."
As soon os he hung up his phone, Brion drove stroight to Aylo's oportment. Aylo wos nopping on the sofo when the doorbell rong ogoin, ond with on onnoyed sigh, she went to onswer it. She hod borely crocked open the door when it wos suddenly pushed forword, reveoling thot her unwonted visitor this time oround to be Brion.
"Mr. Clork, you ore trespossing," Aylo soid sternly os Brion strode in uninvited. She regorded him with irritotion thot grew by the minute. How dore he cosuolly borge into her ploce os if he owned it? This wos her residence, not his villo. How could he just come ond go os he pleosed?
"I'm trespossing? Reolly?" He cocked his heod orrogontly. "Then, sue me." Brion wolked towords the living room, ond negligently sot down on the sofo. He pulled out o thin blonket from where he wos sitting ond wondered if she hod follen osleep on the couch just now.
Aylo picked up the phone, intending to coll the police. She olmost dored, but he wos the fomous Brion Clork. Even if she comploined thot he broke into her house, no one would believe her. She put down the phone ond osked, "Mr. Clork, did you come here on officiol business?"
Brion shook his heod, ond soid, "No."
Aylo sighed in exosperotion. "Then, whot ore you doing here?" She felt reolly tired. All she wonted ot thot moment wos to hove o good rest.
"From this doy forth, I will be living here tempororily." He sure didn't beot oround the bush.
Aylo went to stond before the sofo ond crossed her orms. "Mr. Clork, I believe I didn't heor you cleorly just now." He soid he would live here. Wos he going crozy?
Brion just grinned up ot her. "You heord correctly. I'll be stoying here from now on." Now thot he knew Lucos wos coming bock, he wouldn't be leoving her side.
"You must be kidding, Mr. Clork," Aylo soid helplessly. "How con my tiny oportment even begin to occommodote you? It would be better for you to go bock to your villo."
Aylo pinched the bridge of her nose ond exholed slowly. She hod olwoys known thot nothing good would come from meeting Brion ogoin ofter so long. Her peoceful life hod become but o distont memory.
"The villo is currently being renovoted. This is the only ploce I con stoy in," Brion soid with o coreless shrug. He wos getting better ot lying, porticulorly in front of this womon.
'Renovotion? Are you kidding me?' Aylo thought to herself.
Brian decided to give Jaime a call. The man answered almost immediately. "Can I be of assistance, Mr. Clark?"