Chapter 416

Layla hurriedly stepped out of the elevator. A gust of cold wind hit her, but she didn't bother to tighten her coat. She quickened her pace and saw Brian as soon as she walked out the door.

"Mr. Evans, what's going on? Is there a problem at work?" Layla asked anxiously.

Brian frowned, looking at her with a serious expression, but said nothing.

Layla looked up at him. She became more anxious as he remained silent.

"Mr. Evans, say something," she blurted out, "Is the company going under or something?"

Brian gazed at her worried expression and blurted out, "It's even worse."

"Worse? How could it be worse? Just spill it," Layla pressed, pulling at his sleeve impatiently. She was always in a hurry.

Brian looked at Layla, thinking to himself, 'she can be anxious as well, but it's evident she only prioritizes what matters to her. Does this imply she doesn't care about me, hence her indifference??' He was tired of the guessing game.

Brian didn't want to guess anymore and asked directly, "How have you been these past few days?"

Layla was puzzled. "What?"

"Since you suggested we keep our distance," Brian clarified.

Layla said, "It's only been two days."

Only two days.

For Brian, it had been an agonizingly long time, filled with restlessness.

Caring or not, the feeling was entirely different.

"Why are you asking?" Layla was puzzled. Why had Brian come all this way to ask how she had been these past two days?

"I've been feeling awful the last couple of days. You're always on my mind, and it's messing with me. It's driving me nuts, especially when you act like everything's fine," Brian muttered, his brow furrowed.

Brian continued, "Weren't we having a great time talking before? Didn't you say it was rare to find a kindred spirit? If that's the case, how can you just stop caring like that? Acting like nothing happened, like we're just a regular boss and subordinate."

Faced with Brian's questioning, Layla was both surprised that he cared and at a loss for how to respond. Her lips moved as if to say something, but she couldn't find the words.

"You know there are so many rumors in the company. Keeping our distance is better," she said slowly, hesitantly.

"I don't need your advice on what's best. Other opinions don't matter to me. I'm just asking you, do you truly not care? Does it make no difference to you if we carry on like this?" Brian inquired.

Brian's persistence made Layla feel like he was a different person. Wasn't he supposed to be indifferent to everything? Why was he so fixated on this?

Yes, in Layla's mind, this was a small matter to Brian. She knew he would be annoyed, but only for a second, right? Because she, a mere subordinate, had presumptuously suggested keeping their distance from her boss, which was quite audacious.

Brian said, "Answer me."

Layla felt a chill down her spine. She lowered her head, bit her lip, and slowly, word by word, forced out. "It's not that I don't care at all..."

Brian's eyes lit up. "So you do care?"

"Of course, I hope we don't have to be so distant, like before..." She hadn't finished saying "like friends" when Brian, slightly agitated, interrupted her.

"Then let's go back to how we were, or even closer," Brian said, showing a rare impulsiveness that even he couldn't control.

Closer.

Layla's heartstrings were pulled tight, and her mind went blank.

Brian couldn't possibly mean...

"You're the first woman who has affected my emotions so strongly," Brian said, grabbing her hand, startling her so much that her eyes widened in shock. Layla looked like a frightened little bird.

Brian's expression was serious and intense, almost frighteningly so.

Layla said, "Mr. Evans..."

Brian interrupted her, saying, "Listen, after Evelyn Parker, I never thought I'd feel anything again. All women, no matter how beautiful, seemed the same to me and didn't move me. When I first met you, I thought it would be the same. But slowly, I found myself drawn to you, like you had a light around you. Once I realized it, I couldn't help but notice you all the time. Even while working, I couldn't stop myself from looking in your direction. Then I realized we had a great connection in both design and life, like you were another version of me, someone who truly understood me. And not just that, you could challenge me.

"I thought it was just a normal feeling until you suggested we keep our distance. I was furious," Brian said, his eyebrows tightly knit, "I was mad at how cold you seemed, how you didn't seem to care about me and chose to stay away. It's been fifty-six hours of feeling upset about this. But in those fifty-six hours, something became crystal clear to me: I have feelings for you. More than just feelings, I like you.."

Layla's heart pounded, but it wasn't excitement; it was fear and confusion.

How could it be? Layla thought Brian was incapable of feeling.

She wasn't some kind of treasure; why would everyone love her?

"Mr. Evans, I think there's a misunderstanding between us..." she stammered, trying to explain, but Brian interrupted her. He tightened his grip on her wrist, his eyes burning. "Layla Adkins, I like you. Please go out with me. If you want to get married, I can do that too."

Married?

No, no, no, this was too much. Layla was utterly shocked. "Mr. Evans, I..."

"Let her go!" A cold, threatening voice interrupted.

Layla was froze, her scalp tingling, her face turning pale.

No, it couldn't be this bad, could it?

Layla turned her pale face stiffly to see a tall, dark figure standing like the Grim Reaper in the cold wind. Samuel's expression was even colder than the wind, his tense features outlining a deadly curve.

Layla was beyond panicked, her mind repeating one phrase: I'm doomed!

"Samuel..." Layla stammered in terror, her body trembling.

Brian saw Layla's reaction and then looked at the murderous man, seeming to understand something. After a second's pause, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Who are you?"

Samuel's long legs strode towards them with a terrifying aura. "She didn't tell you who I am?"

Samuel's fists clenched.

He was going to hit someone.

Realizing this, Layla quickly shook off Brian's hand and rushed to grab Samuel's arm, which was about to throw a punch, looking at him nervously. "Don't..."

Don't hit him. Layla pleaded with her eyes.

Samuel frowned even tighter, his knuckles cracking.

Layla dared to protect this clueless man!