Chapter 16
In my memory, he had never looked at me like that—curious, suspicious, and with a blend of emotions I couldn't quite decipher. I felt frozen, as if under a spell. Joanna quickly interjected, attempting to break the tension. "You're amazing, Mrs. Parker. I really want to learn from you," she said, adopting a humble, almost pitiful demeanor before Hayden.
Hayden looked at her with genuine concern. "Take your time," he replied. Joanna nodded eagerly, pouring all her energy into her response. "I'll definitely learn everything from you."
I watched them, feeling numb, completely unaware of Sean's piercing gaze on me from behind. After the tour, I intended to return to the secretary's office, but Hayden had important guests, and I needed to remain. As his secretary, assisting with everything, including serving drinks, was my duty.
As I entered the meeting room with the coffee tray, I spotted Marlon. He was deep in conversation with Hayden, but the moment he saw me, his piercing gaze locked onto mine. "Ms. Jackson, you're here too?" he inquired, sounding intrigued, yet not entirely surprised.
I strongly felt he knew I'd been working there for a while. I forced a smile and placed his coffee before him. "Mr. Warner, here's your coffee." Marlon nodded and then shot a teasing smile at Hayden. "I hear you even have a college girl with you, Mr. Parker? Lucky guy."
News of Joanna had already spread, and no one seemed inclined to be discreet around Hayden. Unfazed, Hayden leaned back, meeting Marlon's eyes with a slight smile. "It's just a new secretary, Mr. Warner. You're making a mountain out of a molehill."
"A secretary!" Marlon turned his gaze toward me. I could anticipate his thoughts without him uttering a word. "Yes, Mr. Parker has been kind enough to give a university student a chance to learn," I replied, smiling.
Instantly, I noticed Hayden's jaw clench. Marlon froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You've got a great sense of humor, Ms. Jackson." Hayden's eyes clouded over. Knowing his anger was directed at me, I quickly averted my gaze.
His cool, probing voice followed. "I'm curious when you got to know my wife, Mr. Warner." My heart skipped a beat. In all our time together, Hayden had never referred to me as his wife in front of others. What had gotten into him?
The smile faded from Marlon's face. He recognized the possessive tone in Hayden's words, which posed a genuine threat. Recent rumors suggested Hayden was indifferent to his wife, that he'd left the country the day after their wedding, and returned with another woman. Divorce seemed imminent. But now, Marlon sensed Hayden wouldn't divorce. If Hayden truly didn't care, why the displeasure in his eyes? A man that possessive was unlikely to let go easily.
"We've known each other for a long time," Marlon said, locking his gaze on me. His words startled me—when had we ever met? Yet, a familiarity lingered. I recalled his treatment of us as long-lost friends, and I questioned whether I had simply forgotten him.
As I pondered, an inexplicable pressure enveloped me. The air felt thin, and I struggled to breathe. Quickly regaining my composure, I met Hayden's sharp gaze. I looked innocent—what did this have to do with me?
Marlon seemed to sense the tension and smoothly shifted the subject. "Let's get back to business. How many profit points are you willing to offer me, Mr. Parker?" Thanks to his interruption, Hayden finally looked away from me. "Three percent," he replied flatly.
I let out a sigh of relief, quietly observing their conversation. I learned just how deeply the Parker Group and Marlon were intertwined, even in some ethically ambiguous dealings.