Chapter 386: The Unspoken Shift

“Ms. Harper, are you really not feeling well?” Cleveland asked with concern.

Before she could answer, Maxwell chimed in too.

“Do you need to go to the hospital?”

Ellis felt awkward. No way she could say the nausea was triggered by that. She masked her discomfort with a smile.

“Probably just the heat. I’ll head downstairs for some iced water and cool off. You guys finish up—I’ll wait for you down there before we head back.”

“Alright, take a break,” Maxwell said.

With permission, Ellis wasted no time and headed straight for the elevator.

Down in the lobby, the wave of nausea began to subside. She stood there idly, staring up at the sky.

Out of nowhere, a hotel staff member approached with a glass of iced water.

“Ms. Harper, here you go. Ice water.”

The staffer smiled and handed it over. Ellis blinked in surprise. That had been her excuse to get away. She hadn’t actually asked anyone for water. Who told the staff to bring it? Or was it just coincidence? After all, guests were guests, and this was a six-star hotel. The service had to match the price tag. Even if Ellis wasn’t a paying guest, her identity had already been made known.

She took the water politely.

“Thank you.”

The staffer gave a smile and walked off. Ellis took a few sips, then set the glass aside.

Not long after, Maxwell and Cleveland came down. She immediately stood up.

“Feeling better?” Maxwell asked.

She gave a soft smile.

“Yes, thank you for your concern, Mr. Maxwell.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital? Looks like a heatstroke kind of day.” He glanced toward the harsh sun, genuinely concerned.

“I’m sure. It’s not heatstroke.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure,” Ellis repeated, firm this time.

Maxwell looked her over. Her complexion had returned to normal. No more signs of discomfort. He didn’t say anything further and headed outside.

On the way back, Ellis naturally assumed she’d drive. But just as she reached for the car door, Maxwell said,

“Cleveland, you drive.”

Cleveland flinched slightly at the sudden instruction. A beat later, he walked to the driver’s seat.

“Ms. Harper, you’ll sit in the back.”

It was Maxwell’s call, so Ellis didn’t argue. She slid into the backseat.

Even in a spacious car, it was still an enclosed space. Sitting beside her boss, Ellis stayed composed and proper—not like when she lounged around at home. Here, she kept her posture perfect.

The two of them sat close enough for Maxwell to catch a faint, fresh scent. Its source was obvious. Suddenly, a scene from last week came rushing back to him. His jaw tensed slightly. He stared straight ahead, forcing himself not to glance at the woman beside him. He hadn’t meant to see what he saw last week. And afterward, he’d immediately tried to wipe it from his mind. But the harder he tried to forget, the clearer it stuck. Especially now. Ellis’s blouse was modest—nothing low-cut—but in his memory, it might as well have been wide open. It was as if he had X-ray vision. He could still vividly recall the soft curves he wasn’t supposed to see. That image refused to leave him alone.

Sitting in the same car with a colleague, especially a subordinate, shouldn’t have felt awkward if they weren’t talking. Ellis enjoyed the quiet. But wasn’t her boss sitting a little… stiff? He looked like a statue. Completely still. The entire ride back, Maxwell didn’t change his posture once. He sat like a carved wooden figure.

When they finally pulled into the company parking lot, Maxwell practically jumped out of the car, like escaping from a confined trap. He didn’t linger a second longer.

Ellis frowned slightly at the sight. What’s up with him? Does he not like sharing a car with a female assistant? But he’s the one who told me to sit in the back.

Cleveland was just as startled. He’d barely finished parking, and Maxwell was already out of the car, leaving him and Ellis behind like they were in slow motion.

Ellis didn’t want to overthink it. Maybe he just hates being in cars too long. She shook it off and got out.

Back in the office, she compiled the inspection report using her notes and submitted it to Maxwell before the end of the day. He didn’t respond. Ellis didn’t mind. These reports were routine work, not something that needed urgent feedback. Maxwell could read it whenever. She wasn’t going to chase him down for it.

But over the next few days, Maxwell didn’t mention the report at all. In fact, it was like he forgot she even existed. Every time there was something for her to do, it didn’t come from him directly—it came through Cleveland.

Cleveland couldn’t make sense of it either. By Friday afternoon, he and Ellis were both in the break room making coffee. He finally asked,

“Ms. Harper… don’t you think Mr. Maxwell’s been acting kind of strange this week?”