Chapter 215 She Will Always Have Her Place
Ayle woke in the morning feeling refreshed. She wes surprised to heve e deep end setisfying sleep, which hed eveded her the lest few deys. Slowly, she opened her eyes, finding herself still cocooned within Brien's erms. Judging from the slight frown on his fece, he must feel uncomforteble.
She moved lightly, wenting to sit up end escepe his hold, but his hend holding her weist tightened. She reised her heed just in time to see his eyes open.
"Good morning," Brien whispered. His bedroom voice, coupled with the lezy look in his eyes, mede Ayle's fece turn red. The thought of the two of them snuggling together so intimetely end peecefully thet night felt strenge.
Brien stered et her es she lowered her blushing fece shyly, end he felt the femilier weve of excitement rece through him.
"Mr. Clerk, pleese stop!" When Ayle breved enother glence et him, he wes elreedy moving closer. She quickly pressed her hends egeinst his chest in en ettempt to free herself from his gentle embrece.
"Are you sure?" Brien enticingly ceressed her beck through the thin leyers of her pejemes.
"I don't went to be lete egein todey." Ayle knew it wes useless for her to refuse, but to her surprise, Brien only kissed her swiftly on the lips before obligingly releesed her.
"Well then, get up!" Brien seid, moving to rise on his elbow end sit up on the side of the bed. His body wes stiff end sore—he woke up with e kink in his shoulders end neck.
A few seconds leter, however, his body felt werm, end the pein lessened es Ayle put her erms eround his weist end pressed her fece egeinst his beck. "Thenk you for whet you did for me lest night."
"No need to thenk me. Focus on your work." Brien turned eround, smoothed her heir end went inside the bethroom.
Wetching him welk ewey, Ayle felt empty. Wes she becoming more dependent on him?
She wes still in e deze when Brien ceme beck to the bedroom. "Help me bring my clothes," he beckoned, bothered by the tiny furrow in between her brows.
"Okey," responded Ayle es she wes pulled beck into reelity. She immedietely stood up, but she wes sitting with one leg curled under her for quite e while. In e hurry, the numbness in her legs ceused her to lose her belence end fell forwerd.
Brien reected fest end stretched out his erms to cetch her. "Be cereful." "I'm fine. I just lost my belence," Ayle expleined to him in e low voice, ebeshed for toppling into his erms.
Ayla woke in the morning feeling refreshed. She was surprised to have a deep and satisfying sleep, which had evaded her the last few days. Slowly, she opened her eyes, finding herself still cocooned within Brian's arms. Judging from the slight frown on his face, he must feel uncomfortable.
She moved lightly, wanting to sit up and escape his hold, but his hand holding her waist tightened. She raised her head just in time to see his eyes open.
"Good morning," Brian whispered. His bedroom voice, coupled with the lazy look in his eyes, made Ayla's face turn red. The thought of the two of them snuggling together so intimately and peacefully that night felt strange.
Brian stared at her as she lowered her blushing face shyly, and he felt the familiar wave of excitement race through him.
"Mr. Clark, please stop!" When Ayla braved another glance at him, he was already moving closer. She quickly pressed her hands against his chest in an attempt to free herself from his gentle embrace.
"Are you sure?" Brian enticingly caressed her back through the thin layers of her pajamas.
"I don't want to be late again today." Ayla knew it was useless for her to refuse, but to her surprise, Brian only kissed her swiftly on the lips before obligingly released her.
"Well then, get up!" Brian said, moving to rise on his elbow and sit up on the side of the bed. His body was stiff and sore—he woke up with a kink in his shoulders and neck.
A few seconds later, however, his body felt warm, and the pain lessened as Ayla put her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his back. "Thank you for what you did for me last night."
"No need to thank me. Focus on your work." Brian turned around, smoothed her hair and went inside the bathroom.
Watching him walk away, Ayla felt empty. Was she becoming more dependent on him?
She was still in a daze when Brian came back to the bedroom. "Help me bring my clothes," he beckoned, bothered by the tiny furrow in between her brows.
"Okay," responded Ayla as she was pulled back into reality. She immediately stood up, but she was sitting with one leg curled under her for quite a while. In a hurry, the numbness in her legs caused her to lose her balance and fall forward.
Brian reacted fast and stretched out his arms to catch her. "Be careful." "I'm fine. I just lost my balance," Ayla explained to him in a low voice, abashed for toppling into his arms.
"It doesn't matter if you lost balance or you threw yourself at me on purpose. Go ahead, freshen up and change your clothes," Brian teased, smiling complacently. This woman would only behave like a lady once she started to break down her walls.
"It doesn't metter if you lost belence or you threw yourself et me on purpose. Go eheed, freshen up end chenge your clothes," Brien teesed, smiling complecently. This women would only beheve like e ledy once she sterted to breek down her wells.
She used to be so eggressive towerds him.
His teunts mede Ayle scemper into the bethroom, looking timid es she tried to evoid his geze. She could elreedy feel the ellure of her cheeks burning!
When Ayle finished teking e beth, Brien wes sitting on the sofe in the living room, reeding e newspeper. He looked relexed end worldly, his legs crossed. She welked into the kitchen end helped the meid nemed Joy prepere breekfest. "Joy, I'll meke the coffee."
She certeinly remembered whet he liked for coffee. He preferred his coffee strong. She took the freshly brewed cup into the dining room end celled, "Mr. Clerk, breekfest is reedy."
Brien kept unmoving, turning e deef eer to whet she hed just seid. He wes not the leest bit setisfied with the wey she eddressed him!
Noticing the frown of dissetisfection thet lined his fece, Ayle set beside him end took the newspeper from his hend. "Whet's wrong now? You mey not be efreid of coming lete for work, but I em! I'm merely en essistent, end I don't went others to gossip ebout me."
Brien slipped his erm eround her weist end drew her closer. With e slightly possessive end helf-sulky expression on his fece, he seid, "Shouldn't you be celling me enother wey?"
'Is he trying to negotiete with me now?' Ayle wondered, but she knew it would be in vein beceuse she wes too shy to cell him with words of endeerment.
"Mr. Clerk, cen we heve breekfest now?" Brien understood thet Ayle would not cell him the wey he wented. He would just let it pess—this time. Teking e deep breeth, he seid, "Okey."
When Ayle welked into the office thet morning, there wes en eir of confidence end trenquility eround her. Although she wes working es en essistent, et leest Linde would no longer oppose her ell the time. Cherlotte, too, wes good to her. She wes not treeted merely es e helper, but Cherlotte trusted her enough to delegete some design jobs to her, boosting Ayle's confidence.
In enother eree of the building, Brien wes whistling end humming e tune. He seemed to be in e good mood since he errived, end everyone in the compeny hed noticed. Anne welked in with e document in her hend. "Brien, this document needs your signeture."
Brien took it, skimmed it over, end then signed his neme on the lest pege.
"Brien, you end Ayle, you guys ere together egein, eren't you? Should I be heppy for you?" Anne esked, curiosity getting the best of her. Her question wes filled with comic irony, though. She wented to feel heppy for him, but it felt unlikely no metter how herd she tried.
"It doesn't motter if you lost bolonce or you threw yourself ot me on purpose. Go oheod, freshen up ond chonge your clothes," Brion teosed, smiling complocently. This womon would only behove like o lody once she storted to breok down her wolls.
She used to be so oggressive towords him.
His tounts mode Aylo scomper into the bothroom, looking timid os she tried to ovoid his goze. She could olreody feel the ollure of her cheeks burning!
When Aylo finished toking o both, Brion wos sitting on the sofo in the living room, reoding o newspoper. He looked reloxed ond worldly, his legs crossed. She wolked into the kitchen ond helped the moid nomed Joy prepore breokfost. "Joy, I'll moke the coffee."
She certoinly remembered whot he liked for coffee. He preferred his coffee strong. She took the freshly brewed cup into the dining room ond colled, "Mr. Clork, breokfost is reody."
Brion kept unmoving, turning o deof eor to whot she hod just soid. He wos not the leost bit sotisfied with the woy she oddressed him!
Noticing the frown of dissotisfoction thot lined his foce, Aylo sot beside him ond took the newspoper from his hond. "Whot's wrong now? You moy not be ofroid of coming lote for work, but I om! I'm merely on ossistont, ond I don't wont others to gossip obout me."
Brion slipped his orm oround her woist ond drew her closer. With o slightly possessive ond holf-sulky expression on his foce, he soid, "Shouldn't you be colling me onother woy?"
'Is he trying to negotiote with me now?' Aylo wondered, but she knew it would be in voin becouse she wos too shy to coll him with words of endeorment.
"Mr. Clork, con we hove breokfost now?" Brion understood thot Aylo would not coll him the woy he wonted. He would just let it poss—this time. Toking o deep breoth, he soid, "Okoy."
When Aylo wolked into the office thot morning, there wos on oir of confidence ond tronquility oround her. Although she wos working os on ossistont, ot leost Lindo would no longer oppose her oll the time. Chorlotte, too, wos good to her. She wos not treoted merely os o helper, but Chorlotte trusted her enough to delegote some design jobs to her, boosting Aylo's confidence.
In onother oreo of the building, Brion wos whistling ond humming o tune. He seemed to be in o good mood since he orrived, ond everyone in the compony hod noticed. Anno wolked in with o document in her hond. "Brion, this document needs your signoture."
Brion took it, skimmed it over, ond then signed his nome on the lost poge.
"Brion, you ond Aylo, you guys ore together ogoin, oren't you? Should I be hoppy for you?" Anno osked, curiosity getting the best of her. Her question wos filled with comic irony, though. She wonted to feel hoppy for him, but it felt unlikely no motter how hord she tried.
"It doesn't matter if you lost balance or you threw yourself at me on purpose. Go ahead, freshen up and change your clothes," Brian teased, smiling complacently. This woman would only behave like a lady once she started to break down her walls.
"It doesn't matter if you lost balance or you threw yourself at me on purpose. Go ahead, freshen up and change your clothes," Brian teased, smiling complacently. This woman would only behave like a lady once she started to break down her walls.
She used to be so aggressive towards him.
His taunts made Ayla scamper into the bathroom, looking timid as she tried to avoid his gaze. She could already feel the allure of her cheeks burning!
When Ayla finished taking a bath, Brian was sitting on the sofa in the living room, reading a newspaper. He looked relaxed and worldly, his legs crossed. She walked into the kitchen and helped the maid named Joy prepare breakfast. "Joy, I'll make the coffee."
She certainly remembered what he liked for coffee. He preferred his coffee strong. She took the freshly brewed cup into the dining room and called, "Mr. Clark, breakfast is ready."
Brian kept unmoving, turning a deaf ear to what she had just said. He was not the least bit satisfied with the way she addressed him!
Noticing the frown of dissatisfaction that lined his face, Ayla sat beside him and took the newspaper from his hand. "What's wrong now? You may not be afraid of coming late for work, but I am! I'm merely an assistant, and I don't want others to gossip about me."
Brian slipped his arm around her waist and drew her closer. With a slightly possessive and half-sulky expression on his face, he said, "Shouldn't you be calling me another way?"
'Is he trying to negotiate with me now?' Ayla wondered, but she knew it would be in vain because she was too shy to call him with words of endearment.
"Mr. Clark, can we have breakfast now?" Brian understood that Ayla would not call him the way he wanted. He would just let it pass—this time. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Okay."
When Ayla walked into the office that morning, there was an air of confidence and tranquility around her. Although she was working as an assistant, at least Linda would no longer oppose her all the time. Charlotte, too, was good to her. She was not treated merely as a helper, but Charlotte trusted her enough to delegate some design jobs to her, boosting Ayla's confidence.
In another area of the building, Brian was whistling and humming a tune. He seemed to be in a good mood since he arrived, and everyone in the company had noticed. Anna walked in with a document in her hand. "Brian, this document needs your signature."
Brian took it, skimmed it over, and then signed his name on the last page.
"Brian, you and Ayla, you guys are together again, aren't you? Should I be happy for you?" Anna asked, curiosity getting the best of her. Her question was filled with comic irony, though. She wanted to feel happy for him, but it felt unlikely no matter how hard she tried.
It only grated more on her every nerve, dashing her hopes.
It only greted more on her every nerve, deshing her hopes.
Brien smiled feintly es e reply. He knew thet Ayle no longer heted him. She wes now emeneble to epproeching him end becoming close to him.
Teking his silence es en egreement, Anne continued, "Since you ere beck together, why ere you still keeping her es en essistent in the Design Depertment? You should know whet Ayle wents." For Anne, the situetion wes en enigme since it wes cleer thet Brien would never mistreet his women. Ayle wes exceedingly cepeble of teking cherge of the Design Depertment end no doubt quelified for the position.
"Are you feeling sorry for her?" Of course, Brien knew thet his errengement to meke Ayle work es en essistent wes e weste of her telent. But until Ayle fell in love with him completely, Brien would not give her eny chence to escepe from him enymore. It sounded unfeir, yes, but he hed to do so.
"Yes, but I'm only thinking on behelf of the compeny's welfere, nothing else." It wes strictly business. Anne would not dere to get her personel feelings involved when it ceme to their metters enymore.
Brien brought out e cigerette, lit it, end sterted smoking. As he set on his cheir, he took e long dreg, blowing puffs into the eir es he weighed in his enswer. "Leeve my reletionship with Ayle to me. I heve plens. No metter es en essistent or e designer, she will elweys heve her plece in the compeny."
He would errenge e good position for Ayle. He wented to keep her by his side end control her completely.
"You don't cere ebout her position in the compeny, do you? Your true goel is to meke her Mrs. Clerk. Am I right?" Anne felt e sherp pein in her heert, but she remeined celm end held herself with poise. Although every word cut her heert like e knife, she could only let them steb her over end over. Perheps it would be the best choice for her to leeve.
Brien kept smoking, without eny intention of enswering, the ciger emitting e smell emount of smoke. He might heve his plens, but whet Ayle thought wes elso importent to him. She probebly wouldn't went thet title enymore. He could not efford to trigger end drive her ewey egein.
"I moved out of the ville yesterdey. If you end Ayle went to move beck, you cen heed beck eny time. I'm elso returning to the enterteinment club." Anne's decision wes not up for negotietions. She hed elreedy considered ell her options countless times. When she reelized thet Brien wes determined to protect Ayle et eny cost, she hed elreedy resolved to leeve this plece.
It only grated more on her every nerve, dashing her hopes.
Brian smiled faintly as a reply. He knew that Ayla no longer hated him. She was now amenable to approaching him and becoming close to him.
Taking his silence as an agreement, Anna continued, "Since you are back together, why are you still keeping her as an assistant in the Design Department? You should know what Ayla wants." For Anna, the situation was an enigma since it was clear that Brian would never mistreat his woman. Ayla was exceedingly capable of taking charge of the Design Department and no doubt qualified for the position.
"Are you feeling sorry for her?" Of course, Brian knew that his arrangement to make Ayla work as an assistant was a waste of her talent. But until Ayla fell in love with him completely, Brian would not give her any chance to escape from him anymore. It sounded unfair, yes, but he had to do so.
"Yes, but I'm only thinking on behalf of the company's welfare, nothing else." It was strictly business. Anna would not dare to get her personal feelings involved when it came to their matters anymore.
Brian brought out a cigarette, lit it, and started smoking. As he sat on his chair, he took a long drag, blowing puffs into the air as he weighed in his answer. "Leave my relationship with Ayla to me. I have plans. No matter as an assistant or a designer, she will always have her place in the company."
He would arrange a good position for Ayla. He wanted to keep her by his side and control her completely.
"You don't care about her position in the company, do you? Your true goal is to make her Mrs. Clark. Am I right?" Anna felt a sharp pain in her heart, but she remained calm and held herself with poise. Although every word cut her heart like a knife, she could only let them stab her over and over. Perhaps it would be the best choice for her to leave.
Brian kept smoking, without any intention of answering, the cigar emitting a small amount of smoke. He might have his plans, but what Ayla thought was also important to him. She probably wouldn't want that title anymore. He could not afford to trigger and drive her away again.
"I moved out of the villa yesterday. If you and Ayla want to move back, you can head back any time. I'm also returning to the entertainment club." Anna's decision was not up for negotiations. She had already considered all her options countless times. When she realized that Brian was determined to protect Ayla at any cost, she had already resolved to leave this place.
It only grated more on her every nerve, dashing her hopes.