Chapter 6: I Was Cheated On

Marigold was surprised but didn't resist. She focused on balancing her plate, ensuring that the steaks and bread wouldn't fall. Eventually, she was taken to a quiet private room. There was no one else there, and it was only after Brian closed the door that he let go of her. Marigold sneakily glanced at the man; he seemed angry.

"Are you angry, Brian?"

Brian glared at her, casually placing his plate on the table and helping her with the heavy tray, arranging it next to his own plate. It seemed they would be dining side by side.

"Do you care if I'm angry?" Brian still wore a pout. Suddenly, his expression became childlike, completely devoid of the imposing presence of a CEO.

"I find it unreasonable. So, boss, please tell me what I did wrong."

"You..." After they sat down side by side, Brian leaned in abruptly, staring at Marigold's face as if there was something dirty on it.

After a while, he shifted his attention back to his plate, stuffing a piece of beef into his mouth.

"Guessing my intentions is your job. As the CEO's secretary, it's your responsibility to learn that. For example, by noting my tastes based on the food I choose."

Marigold mustered a smile, lightly responding, "Of course, boss. Do you prefer someone like Miss Jenny Whitehouse?"

"Pfft..." Brian forcefully spewed out the food. The bite of steak he had just swallowed found its way back onto the plate.

"What did you say?!" He fumbled in his pocket, attempting to find a handkerchief or tissue but couldn't retrieve anything. "Damn!" he cursed under his breath. Marigold calmly watched his disheveled appearance and handed him a wet wipe. It was the same wet wipe she had received during a previous dinner with David at a Chinese restaurant and had forgotten in her pocket.

Brian quickly wiped his mouth with the wet wipe, cleared his throat, and spoke seriously, "Miss Allard, if I ever hear a similar question from you again, your performance points will be heavily deducted. Don't forget, I am your boss."

Marigold stuck out her tongue and focused on eating her meal. Honestly, the food here was delicious, and she couldn't be bothered to argue with this temperamental CEO. He may resemble the mature and composed Greywolf in voice, but their personalities were completely different. Marigold had never seen a CEO who changed moods so quickly, like a child. But it seemed he really was much younger than her.

Through their casual conversation during the meal, Marigold began to gradually understand her boss. He was 24 years old, nine years younger than her, and indeed still a child at heart. Many seemingly contradictory aspects of his personality could now be explained. She decided to treat this new boss as an elder, a caregiver, and a guardian. Taking care of David was taking care, and taking care of the CEO wasn't fundamentally different. Besides, taking care of David didn't come with a salary, but Brian would pay her.

After dinner, Brian even took her for a spin on Ninth Avenue in his private Maybach. She thought he had something to attend to, but it turned out he just wanted to go out and have fun. Was this man really suitable to be a CEO? He seemed just like a high school boy who hadn't experienced the harshness of the world yet. Brian seemed to sense her impatience and smirked as he made a suggestion, "I have a task for you. Tonight at 9:30, go to the Camphor Hotel, 24th floor, room 2418, and keep an eye on a filming assignment for me. It's a very important shoot, and the director has strict requirements, so don't be late."

"Boss, aren't you going yourself?" Marigold asked.

Brian rolled his eyes. "If I wanted to go, would I pass it on to you?"

As they spoke, the car had returned to the company. With a sudden brake, Brian parked the car steadily in the CEO's private garage.

"Snap!" A shiny metal piece flew towards Marigold, and she quickly caught it—it was the car key.

Brian leisurely opened the car door, whistled, and seemed to be in a good mood. "Here, take the afternoon off. You can go wherever you want, just don't bother me. Remember the work tonight."

"Huh? What about you? Wait—"

Before Marigold could react, Brian slammed the car door shut with a loud "bang," quickly got out of the car, and disappeared from sight.

She returned to the CEO's office frustrated, hoping to see him again and ask about the upcoming work arrangements. However, she only encountered Lily, who had come to find Brian as well. Marigold had to inform her about Brian's inexplicable instructions and giving her the day off. Lily was shocked, "I thought having a competent and reliable secretary would make him more restrained, but he's still so capricious!" She then grabbed Marigold's hands tightly and earnestly pleaded, "Please, we need you, B.E needs you. At least Brian didn't reject you at first sight, he still likes you. We've hired several professional CEO assistants before, but he didn't even bother to look at them and just drove them away. We have no other choice. Someone has to step in and manage this little devil..."

It seemed that the higher-ups at B.E liked to call Brian a little devil. Marigold immediately pictured his enchanting eyes scanning her with a mischievous smile, and it was quite accurate.

Fine, let's consider it as a learning experience. It's worth it for the high pay.

Around 9 o'clock in the evening, Marigold arrived at the Camphor Hotel on time and asked the receptionist about B.E.'s scheduled filming activity. The receptionist looked very surprised and told her that there was no company reservation for a shoot today.

What was going on? Marigold's immediate reaction was that she had been tricked by Brian. She angrily took out her phone to confront him. While she was still typing the message, two familiar figures jumped into her sight. They were walking into the elevator from the distant bar. The woman intimately linked her arm with the man's, appearing very close.

Marigold's brain instantly froze.

Because those two people were none other than David and Jenny!

Marigold stood in place for several seconds, unable to believe her eyes. Yes, David and Jenny entered the elevator, embracing each other like a real couple. Meanwhile, as his fiancée, Marigold hadn't been intimate with David for a long time. They hadn't even exchanged a goodnight kiss.

When did they get involved? A week ago? A month? Even earlier? David had been claiming to plan Marigold's wedding for about two years now. However, a year later, he always had reasons—insufficient savings, no house or car, working day and night, ill-fitting wedding dresses, and so on—to repeatedly postpone the wedding. It was around the same time that he started working as Jenny's makeup artist.

Perhaps, since then, David had already betrayed her.

Her blood rushed, flooding her brain. She began to move forward. After the elevator doors closed, she reached the elevator they had just entered after about half a minute. The LCD screen displayed that the elevator had stopped on the 24th floor. Marigold's mind went blank, and she felt a chilling sensation throughout her body.

The 24th floor... the 24th floor...

Brian had told her that the room they were supposed to shoot was 2418.

So, what shoot was there to do? He must have known that these two were involved and called her to catch them in the act.

And he was probably hiding somewhere, enjoying the spectacle. That little devil, truly living up to his name!

Marigold couldn't distinguish whether she was angrier at David's betrayal or Brian's mockery. She was no longer able to control her body anymore. She pressed the elevator button and, after another random guest swiped their card to enter, arrived on the 24th floor.

The hotel was large, and the layout inside was like a complex maze. But she mustered the strength to support herself and reached the door of room 2418.

The door was closed, but she could still hear joyful voices from inside. A familiar male voice intertwined with a soft, birdsinging-like female voice, accompanied by some decadent gasps and moans.

Marigold reached out to knock on the door but hesitated. She took out her phone, snapped a picture of room 2418, and sent it to Brian.

"Is this your intention? Is this some kind of on boarding training of B. E?"

Just as she sent the message, even louder laughter erupted from inside the room. Deafening rock music started playing. Yes, David liked to play rock music during lovemaking; it had become a habit two years ago. Now, all the pieces fell into place, connecting all the dots, and the answer was within reach.

Marigold began pounding on the door like a madwoman.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!"