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7

Laurel hastily entered the elevator carrying the folder containing the files Alin had handed her yesterday. Unfortunately, due to carelessness, the folder slipped from Laurel's hand and scattered on the floor of the elevator. Making Laurel nervously crouched down and picked up the papers on the floor. Until then she realized there was a pair of feet with expensive shoes and wrapped in black trousers made from expensive materials, was standing in front of her.

Laurel raised her head and made direct eye contact with Mr. White, her new boss. The man stood up elegantly and stared at Laurel who was squatting beneath him with an amused glow in his eyes.

“Need help?”

Laurel grabbed all the papers scattered on the floor as quickly as possible. “Uh, no, Mr. White, sorry, I was careless.”

Suddenly Mr. White was crouched in front of her, his strong hands but slender fingers helped Laurel pick up the scattered papers, then wordlessly handed them over to her.

“Uh, t-thanks,” Laurel muttered nervously, putting the papers back in the folder.

“Next time there's no need to rush, no one will scold you.” Mr. White glided to his feet with grace as the lift door opened. The man then walked away, leaving Laurel still crouched in the elevator.


“Good morning.”

The voice was a friendly greeting and Laurel turned her head to see a rather handsome man standing at her desk. The man smiled friendly.

“Good morning.” Laurel smiled too, trying to remember. Alin had taken her to various rooms in the company earlier, introducing her as a new kid, but she doesn't seem to remember being introduced to this man.

The man in front of her, although well dressed and tied, looked sloppy and relaxed, his smile was also like a bad boy in an adult body.

The man raised an eyebrow, seemed aware of Laurel's observation, then laughed and stretched out his hand. “Hi, introduce me, I was out of the office earlier so I didn't have time to meet you, I'm Brian, the IT Manager here. I heard that there was a new, beautiful girl, so I rushed over here to get acquainted,” he said jokingly.

Laurel's cheeks flushed at the man's joke, but she welcomed Brian's helping hand with a smile too. “I am Laurel.”

Brian squeezed Laurel's hand with a funny smile before letting it go, then winked one eye. “I know a good lunch spot, maybe we could—”

“Brian.”

The cold deep voice interrupted their conversation. Brian immediately turned to the voice and smiled.

“Oh, Mr. White, good morning.”

Aaron was standing at the door of his room, his expression flat and unreadable. “You happen to be here, please come to my room for a moment, there are a few things about the new program proposal for yesterday's integrated data that I have to ask you.”

Brian rolled his eyes playfully as he looked at Laurel, then nodded his head and followed Aaron into the room.

Meanwhile Laurel smiled amusedly as she stared at Brian's back. Even though he looked messy and not serious, he seemed a nice and pleasant man.

Laurel smoothed her files, glancing at the clock, it was eight in the evening. Tomorrow's a busy day for Mr. White and thank goodness Laurel has finally got everything set up, even though she ended up having to miss the employee bus. The sound at the door made Laurel look up warily. Mr. White was standing there, looking like he had just returned from a business meeting outside. The man wrinkled his eyes at her. “Why are you still here?”

Those eyes are really sharp, Laurel thought. She then replied, “Er, I finished the files first, for tomorrow.”

Aaron gave her an unpleasant look. “Next time just leave the job and continue tomorrow.” He glanced at his watch. “It's too late for work, you should be home and resting. I'll have the driver take you home.”

Laurel shook her head in panic. “No need, I can take the mini-bus—”

“Follow your boss's orders!” Aaron's glare made Laurel swallowing hard. “Before that, I want us to talk in my room. Would you mind making coffee for both of us?”

The coffee was steaming hot and emitted a delicious aroma throughout the room. Laurel placed it on the table in front of the sofa where Mr. White sat and waited for him, then she nervously sat across from him, waiting.

The man was stunned, as if confused about what to say. But that's impossible, right? Mr White's class could not possibly be confused about what to say.

“You've been here three months,” Aaron started. “How do you feel?”

Laurel smiled. “I am pleased. There are many things I can learn.”

“Do your co-workers create a conducive atmosphere for you?”

Laurel nodded. “They are very kind and helpful.”

This time Aaron frowned. “I heard you're close to my IT Manager?”

Laurel's cheeks flushed. Jeez. Where did Mr. White get that kind of information? And why should a boss of Mr White's caliber care about his employees' love gossip?

Brian. The name flashed in Laurel's mind. Yes. They are close. That's because Brian was very persistent in approaching her. He invites lunch together, sometimes he goes up to Laurel and talks about various things. Yes. Laurel is comfortable with Brian, comfortable enough to let Brian drive her home to the dorm a few days ago. The man also met the housemother. However, for some reason the housemother didn't seem to like him, even though Brian was so kind.

“Laurel?” Aaron asked again, returning Laurel to reality.

Laurel blinked, looked at Mr. White and realized that she had not answered the man's question. “Yes, we are close enough, our relationship is quite good.”

“I see.” Mr. White was pensive. “I tend to disagree with close relationships with coworkers. Because based on experience, when the relationship worsens, performance in the workplace also deteriorates.”

Laurel sighed. “Our relationship hasn't gone that far to—”

“Yes, I understand. You are close, but haven't touched the context of romance. But it does not rule out that will happen, right?” Aaron stared at Laurel sharply, as if through his heart.

Laurel nodded her head. “I can't argue with that possibility, although I can't be sure. But even if that happens, I promise I will try not to mix it with my job professionalism.”

Aaron fell silent and Laurel waited. Another silent, this time for long and, somehow, tense for Laurel, then Aaron smiled faintly. “Okay. We will see later.” The look in the man's eyes was mysterious. “Come home. I've told my driver to wait for you up front. He will take you home.”

When Laurel left, Aaron was still in his office. Brian and Laurel almost became lovers, Mrs. Joy reported to him. Aaron did ask him to keep an eye on Laurel at work.

A week ago Aunt Sarah also called him from the dorm, telling him that Laurel let Brian drive her back to the dorm. Then a few days later Brian started coming regularly, even on Sundays.

Aaron had never thought of this possibility before. Never thought that maybe Laurel would meet a guy she liked at work. He should have known, Aaron sighed, Laurel is too pretty. He should have predicted that there would be a few people who were interested in approaching her.

And it bothers Aaron, he had to stop this before it got too far.

Aaron's eyes were fixed on Laurel's coffee cup. There is some lipstick left in there. Laurel lipstick, Laurel lip marks. Then, driven by his passion and feelings, Aaron took the cup and gently kissed the lip marks there.

“You will be mine Laurel, as it should be, because only I have the right to protect you,” he murmured determinedly.

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