Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
The butler watched Leila, taken aback. Previously, Leila would have insisted on doing everything herself. Now, her approach seemed markedly indifferent. It was clear that Leila had truly changed.
When Leila arrived at the Hayes Group building, Brent was already waiting for her at the entrance.
“This is Leila, the advisor. From now on, she gets straight in,” Brent introduced Leila to the front desk staff as he handed her an entry card, his smile unwavering.
Given Brent’s senior position at the Hayes Group, his personal welcome was unexpected and left many employees, including the newly joined Leila, feeling quite honored. He wouldn’t typically extend such a courtesy to just any advisor.
“Mr. Hayes, there’s no need for the fuss. Just point me in the right direction, and I’ll manage from there,” Leila typed on her phone, showing the screen to Brent.
“It’s no trouble at all. I happen to have the time today,” Brent remarked. He escorted Leila to the ninth floor, which was currently vacant.
“This entire area is vacant for now. It’s set to become the first office of the Antiquities Research Department. Eventually, we’ll have a whole building dedicated to it,” Brent explained.
Leila had thought a desk of her own would suffice, especially since this was her first job. Now, overseeing an entire office floor, her excitement was palpable.
“This is Irene Castillo. I’ve appointed her as your assistant. She’s fluent in sign language,” Brent introduced a woman with short hair, who greeted Leila using sign language.
Leila was initially taken aback and then expressed her gratitude repeatedly. Brent had thoughtfully provided an assistant who could communicate in sign language.
Leila signed to Irene, explaining that Irene could speak to her as she could hear perfectly. She mentioned she just couldn’t respond verbally because of a vocal cord condition.
“Understood,” Irene replied, her expression unchanging, the epitome of professionalism.
Without dwelling on it much, Leila headed to her new office, switched on the computer, and prepared to print the documents she had drafted earlier.
As Leila settled in, Irene approached with a query. “Have you had breakfast? Would you like some coffee?”
Leila, not usually a coffee drinker, had contemplated adopting the habit after a restless night and the realization that it seemed a staple for everyone in the office.
Smiling, Leila responded to Irene by gesturing she had already had breakfast and didn’t mind having some coffee. She inquired where she could get herself a cup of coffee.
“Allow me to assist you. What’s your preferred flavor? I’ll make a note of it,” Irene said, pulling out a notebook with a flourish, giving the impression she was taking an important order.
This caught Leila off guard, making her reluctant to respond with a nonchalant “whatever.” Unsure of her preferred flavor and slightly bewildered by Irene’s formal gesture to record such a trivial detail, she gestured that she would get some coffee herself when she was available.
“Is there anything else you need?” Irene inquired, her tone slightly peculiar.
Reflecting for a moment, Leila saw an opportunity and asked through sign language whether Irene had been an employee at the Hayes Group.
“Yeah, I used to work in the planning department.”
Hearing this, Leila gestured for Irene to take a look at the proposal she had written down, hoping for some insight. She presented the laptop screen to Irene.
As Irene approached, a trace of surprise flickered across her face, deepening as she took in what was displayed.
“Is this your work?” Irene’s voice conveyed a mix of astonishment and respect.
Leila responded with a nod.
“You impress me! I had assumed…” Irene’s voice trailed off as a blush tinted her cheeks.
Irene lowered her head, sheepishly adding, “I thought you were just a Hayes family friend here for a show, with me as your assistant tasked solely with fetching coffee and meals.”
This explained Irene’s earlier defensive tone when inquiring about Leila’s coffee preferences, masking her genuine discontent.
Shaking her head, Leila clarified she was here to work since Mr. Hayes had given her this precious chance, stressing her intention to achieve remarkable achievements.
Irene’s competence was probably the reason she was reassigned as Leila’s assistant.
That morning, they had set the initial work plan, delegating tasks within the Antiquities Research Department and preparing a report for Brent.
By noon, Leila had the driver take her to the Kensington Group.
The journey was short since the Kensington Group was not far away from the Hayes Group. Upon Leila’s arrival, a staff member from the Kensington family’s household was already waiting with a lunchbox.
Leila expressed her gratitude and entered the building, the lunchbox in tow.
Having learned from the mistakes made by the dismissed receptionist, the new receptionist quickly ushered Leila to the top floor using the express elevator.
Leila knocked lightly on the CEO’s door, finding Landon alone at his desk.
After a brief glance his way, Leila walked over to the table, crouched down, and began setting out the lunch she brought.
“Not made by you?” Landon inquired, peering over her shoulder with a slightly displeased look at the dishes.
Leila clarified that the chefs at home had prepared this special nutritious meal.
Landon furrowed his brow, his expression darkening as he scanned Leila from head to toe. “Why are you so dressed up? You didn’t come from home?”
After a brief pause, Leila responded honestly that she had started working at the Hayes Group.
Leila knew it was no use hiding it. Concealing the truth now would only complicate things later.
“You’re working again?” Landon’s tone was tinged with anger. “What happened to your previous promise to me?”
Leila remained silent, not answering his question. She faced Landon, her expression emotionless, marked only by a blend of calmness and despair. She gestured that she had twenty million in her account now, ready to transfer to him anytime. She broached the topic of divorce once more, inquiring whether they could finalize their divorce now.
“You’re that eager for a divorce? You made twenty million in just a few days… No wonder you took the job at the Hayes Group! Is the money from the Hayes Group meant for our divorce? Does Brent know you plan to use it to leave me?”
Landon stepped closer to Leila and demanded, “Are you really sleeping with Brent?”
Leila shook her head, wishing she could tell him she was not like him and would never be unfaithful in their marriage.
Ultimately, Leila restrained herself. She knew provoking Landon would only backfire painfully. Thus, she repeated the question she had posed to him earlier through sign language. “Don’t you plan to marry Sarah? Why refuse my efforts to make room for her? Doesn’t she want to marry you?”
Yet again, Landon remained silent. His expression was inscrutable, the earlier anger dissolved.
After a brief silence, Landon finally spoke. “You can leave now. We’ll discuss the divorce later.”
Leila hadn’t expected him to consent immediately and simply nodded in response. She gestured to remind him to eat before the food got cold. Then, she exited.
That evening, Landon didn’t return home.
Leila suspected Landon might have gone to Sarah’s. Were Sarah and he contemplating when to get married after securing the divorce certificate? Or was it something entirely different?
Leila walked over to the dressing table and opened a box she had placed there with care. Inside was the broken teapot that had belonged to Roderick.
As Leila held the teapot, memories of Roderick, her joyful childhood, and her dreams for the future overwhelmed her. Tears streamed down her face. Why hadn’t she repaired the teapot while Roderick was still alive? That way, Roderick might have felt a bit happier in his last moments.
Tears still in her eyes, Leila felt her phone buzz. It was a text from Gregory. “‘How have you been lately? Is everything all right at home? Just checking in. I’m not rushing you to get back to the studio or anything.'”
A small smile crossed Leila’s face. She definitely missed the days spent at Hayden’s studio, engrossed in her repair work.
Leila texted back to Gregory. “Sorting things out at home may take some time, but I’ll swing by the studio when possible.”
“Do you want to keep practicing at home? Should I send over your toolbox? I’m heading out for a job tomorrow and could drop it by,” Gregory replied, his enthusiasm clear in his message.
Leila agreed to it. She was eager to fix the teapot as soon as possible. She would be immensely grateful if Gregory could bring the necessary repair tools over.
Leila sent Gregory her address and expressed her thanks. Gregory assured her he would arrive the following morning and would call beforehand.
Initially, Leila had thought Gregory’s inquiries were merely polite concerns from a colleague. However, it wasn’t until the next morning that she began to suspect his interest might be deeper than she first believed.
Coming from a wealthy and well-connected family, Gregory was usually ahead of the curve regarding the latest gossip within their social circle. Chances were that he was already aware of the developments before they became public knowledge.