Chapter 47 He’s Jealous
Rachel cast a disinterested glance Brian’s way. “It’s business. You wouldn’t want to keep everyone waiting, would you?”
Brian’s demeanor turned icy. “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say?” he snapped.
“You really shouldn’t be late,” Rachel replied, her voice cool and detached.
“Can’t wait to get rid of me, huh? Afraid your intern might catch us?” Brian retorted, his words slicing through the silence like sharp blades.
Rachel had no desire to argue, nor did she see the point in justifying herself. “Believe whatever you want.”
Brian let out a dry chuckle, then turned and walked off, leaving Rachel staring at his back as he disappeared.
During the entire meeting, Brian’s expression was so cold that it made everyone uneasy.
The tension in the room was thick, and no one dared to breathe too loudly.
Even Ronald chose his words carefully, not wanting to set Brian off.
When the meeting finally wrapped up, he gathered his nerve and said, “Mr. White, I think Ms. Marsh might have gotten the wrong idea.”
“What do you mean?” Brian asked.
“You traveled all this way out of concern for her. But when you spoke to her, you made it sound like the meeting was your main reason for coming, and she was just an . afterthought.”
Brian stilled for a moment, his face giving nothing away. After a brief silence, he looked at Ronald. “Are you saying she’s upset?”
Ronald thought for a second before speaking, “She didn’t say it outright, but I could tell. She was probably hoping you’d come just for her.”
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Chapter 47 He’s Jealous
“Where is she?” Brian asked without hesitation.
Ronald immediately gave him the address.
They pulled up to the location just as noon approached.
“Mr. White!” Samira shot to her feet, visibly startled by Brian’s unannounced arrival.
Brian’s cold gaze flickered toward the table laden with food before cutting to Samira. “Where’s Rachel?” he demanded.
“She wasn’t feeling great, so Trey took her out for some air,” Samira answered, her voice carrying a nervous edge.
Brian didn’t wait for her to finish–he was already making his way outside.
On a small balcony, bathed in warm sunlight, Rachel sat in a hanging chair, her posture slightly slumped, likely from discomfort. Her long hair draped over her shoulder, and
her face looked washed out.
Trey crouched beside her, looking up. The sunlight hit his sharp features, making him
stand out even more.
But the sight before him was one Brian had no interest in witnessing.
Letting out a disdainful scoff, he turned to Ronald. “We’re leaving.”
During the ride back, he was still upset.
Just before boarding his flight, he stopped, then pulled out his phone and called Rachel. His voice was firm. “This is your last chance. Come back with me.”
“No, thanks. I appreciate it, though,” she replied calmly.
Rachel was committed to seeing this project through, no matter what.
“Fine,” Brian bit out, frustration thick in his tone. “My grandma’s 80th birthday is in just over ten days. You’d better be there.”
“Alright. I’ll be there,” she assured him.
“We’ll see about that,” he muttered. “I hope you don’t go back on your word.”
That call was the last conversation they had for an entire week.
Rachel buried herself in her new project, dedicating every ounce of her energy to it.
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She churned out design after design, yet nothing felt quite right.
One night, after tucking Jeffrey in, an idea suddenly came to her. Without wasting time, she grabbed a cab to the branch office.
By the time she was done sketching, the sun was almost rising.
A soft drizzle had begun outside, its steady rhythm tapping against the window.
Just then, the sound of a door creaking open made her heart skip a beat.
She spun around on reflex, only to find Trey walking in, wearing a gray coat.
His tall frame and broad shoulders bore a strong resemblance to Brian’s.
For a split second, Rachel almost mistook him for someone else.
“Brian!” The name slipped out before she could stop herself.
But as Trey’s face came into view, reality quickly set in.
Trey raised an eyebrow. “What did you just say?”
“Nothing. What are you doing here?” she asked, brushing it off.
“The forecast said it’d rain tonight, and Samira mentioned you were here alone. I
thought I’d check on you.”
Rachel glanced at the clock, feeling a bit sheepish. “I just wrapped up my sketches. I
wanted to work while the ideas were still fresh.”
Trey’s warm smile put her at ease. “It’s no trouble. I’ll wait for you. I’m not sleepy, so if you need anything, just say the word.”
“Alright then.”
Rachel kept at it for another hour before finally putting her pen down.
“Trey, I’m done. Let’s go,” she called, but got no reply.
When she turned around, she found Trey slumped over the desk, fast asleep.
A pang of guilt tugged at her, and after a moment of hesitation, she decided he’d be
more comfortable in a bed.
“Trey,
wake up,” she said softly, giving his shoulder a gentle shake.
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Trey blinked groggily, rubbing his eyes before flashing her a sleepy smile. “All finished?”
“Yeah. Thanks for keeping me company tonight.”
“Anytime. It’s always a pleasure to help.”
The moment they stepped outside, a chilly breeze swept over them.
Rachel shivered, instinctively hugging herself for warmth.
Without a second thought, Trey shrugged off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he gently held her hands down. “I can handle the cold. You’re the one holding the team together–what would we do if you got sick?”
Rachel didn’t argue this time.
Instead, she looked at him, gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thanks.”
Trey held the umbrella over her without a word. As they neared the hotel, he paused before saying, “Ms. Marsh, if you really want to thank me, can I ask you for something
small?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Can I call you Rachel? Like Samira does?” He scratched the back of his head, looking almost shy.
Rachel chuckled, the sound light and easy. “Of course, you can.”
“Great! Don’t forget to hold the umbrella properly!” With that, he dashed ahead, his excitement unmistakable as he disappeared into the lobby.
Rachel watched him disappear inside, a small smile playing on her lips.
Youth had a way of finding joy in the simplest things.
But then again, hadn’t she been like that once too?
She’d also spent sleepless nights over something as small as a name.
When she first entered university, she and Brian had hardly spoken.
Her feelings had been one–sided back then. Brian barely even noticed her.
Then she joined his club.
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Through different activities, they started exchanging words now and then, though strictly in formal settings.
Outside of that, their conversations were rare.
One evening at a group dinner, Brian unexpectedly turned to her. “Rachel Marsh, can
we make a deal?”
The way he said her name made her heart leap.
She immediately set her fork down, her full attention on him. “What kind of deal?”
“We’ve known each other long enough. Just call me Brian, like everyone else does. And can I just call you Rachel?”
“Sure,” she agreed, nodding quickly, her heart soaring.
That night, she was so giddy she downed an entire cup of coffee in seconds. Yet when she lay in bed later, sleep wouldn’t come.
Instead, she found herself whispering his name softly, over and over. She had no idea how many times she repeated it.
There was a time when she thought his name was the most beautiful sound in the world, something that could make her happy just by thinking about it.
But now, it didn’t feel the same anymore.
Shaking off the memories pulling her back, Rachel tightened her grip on her bag and stepped into the hotel lobby. She was too lost in thought to notice the car that had been quietly following them the entire way.
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