Sarah stopped just before entering the secretary's room. Her hand rested on the doorknob for a brief moment, fingers curling around the cold metal as hesitation crept in. Then, slowly, she pulled her hand away. She remained standing in front of the door, her thoughts tangled and restless. After a few seconds, she took a cautious step back, then another, as if retreating from something unseen.
She tried to return to her office, her steps quiet and uncertain. There were still too many unanswered questions swirling in her mind, too many things she didn't fully understand. Yet, somehow, she had forced herself to summarise what little she could grasp into her notebook, as if writing them down might give her some sense of control.
"Miss McKaley!"
The sudden voice made her jolt. She turned around quickly, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Mr. Lin? I thought you—"
"What are you doing here? Have you finished your task?" Jayden asked, his brows furrowed slightly, his tone calm but probing.
Sarah froze under his gaze. Words failed her, so she shook her head.
Jayden let out a long, heavy sigh before turning away from her. "Follow me, Miss McKaley."
He didn't wait for her response and began walking toward his office. Sarah hesitated for a split second before following behind him. When they reached the door, Jayden opened it and held it for her. The gesture was polite, almost gentlemanly, yet it only made her feel more uneasy. She stepped inside without saying a word.
The moment she was in, Jayden closed the door behind them and then locked it. The soft click echoed louder than it should have.
Sarah blinked, confusion flickering across her face. He didn't need to do that. Why would he?
"I'm glad you came to work today," Jayden said as he walked toward his chair, his voice composed again, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Sarah remained standing in front of his desk, her posture stiff. "Yes, as I said last night—"
Jayden lifted his gaze to meet hers. That was enough to stop her mid-sentence.
Something about the way he looked at her—steady, unreadable, and quietly commanding—made her lose her nerve. It was as if her courage dissolved under his attention, even though she couldn't quite explain why she felt intimidated.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to bring up the dinner," she corrected herself softly.
"It's alright," he replied. "Just don't mention it in front of others, okay?"
Sarah nodded quickly. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Jayden's lips before he gestured toward the chair in front of him. "Sit."
She obeyed, lowering herself into the seat.
"Have you seen your desk? Your office?" he asked, his tone noticeably softer now.
Sarah offered a small smile and nodded. "I like it. Thank you."
Jayden's expression brightened slightly, though there was still a hint of restraint in the way he nodded. "I'm glad. If you need anything, just let me know."
Sarah lowered her gaze, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from someone like him. The warmth in his voice caught her off guard.
Jayden noticed. He quickly masked the faint smile that threatened to appear, but inside, something stirred—a quiet warmth he didn't expect. The sight of her shy reaction affected him more than it should have.
"Ehem…" He cleared his throat, forcing himself back to composure.
Sarah looked up again, her eyes meeting his.
"There's something I want to discuss," he said, his tone shifting. He placed both hands on the table, fingers interlocking as if grounding himself.
"It's about your relationship with my former wife's son… Keith. I need to make sure you're not spying on me for him."
Sarah's brows slowly drew together as she tried to process his words. "I'm not—"
"Are you sure?" Jayden interrupted, his voice tightening slightly. "You were his girlfriend, weren't you?"
Sarah looked momentarily lost, then nodded quickly. "Yes… But I'm not going to spy on you."
Jayden gave a slight shrug, unconvinced.
"I can't afford to let my guard down. I can't take any risks."
"What do you mean, Mr. Lin?" Sarah's voice rose before she could stop herself. "Are you accusing me?"
The tension in the room shifted instantly. Jayden stiffened slightly, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he took a controlled breath, maintaining his composure.
"I'm not accusing you," he said calmly. "But I am the founder of this company, and it's my responsibility to eliminate any potential threat. I didn't know you before this. I need to be certain."
His voice remained steady, and his gaze softened just a little, almost sympathetically. That only made Sarah feel worse. Her shoulders dropped, though the hurt lingered in her expression. She lowered her head slightly.
"I'm telling you the truth, Mr. Lin," she said quietly.
Jayden continued to watch her. His lips pressed into a thin line as his thoughts drifted unexpectedly. For a fleeting moment, something unfamiliar crossed his mind—something that made him swallow, his throat suddenly dry.
He blinked, pulling himself back.
What are you thinking? Stop it, Jay.
He forced his focus back onto the conversation.
"Then why were you talking to him outside… during dinner?" he asked, his tone carefully neutral. "He pulled you away. I thought you said you were his girlfriend."
"I was…" Sarah hesitated. Her fingers curled slightly in her lap. "But…" She took a deep breath, gathering herself.
Jayden didn't interrupt.
"He slept with my best friend."
The words fell heavily between them.
Jayden didn't react immediately. He nodded once, waiting. Sarah's voice grew quieter, tinged with shame and pain. "He doesn't know that I know."
Jayden's brows furrowed, his gaze sharpening.
"When it happened… I went to his apartment to celebrate my birthday," she continued, her voice trembling faintly. "I brought a cake. I wanted to surprise him… but instead…"
She trailed off, unable to finish. The memory was too vivid. The image was too painful. It clenched around her chest, making it hard to breathe.
"So, you didn't break up?" Jayden asked after a moment, his tone more measured now.
Sarah inhaled deeply before nodding. "Not officially. Not yet."
Jayden leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully. There was something vulnerable about her now, something raw and unguarded. It made her look smaller somehow, more fragile than before. And for reasons he didn't fully understand, it bothered him.
"We need to talk—"
A sudden sound interrupted him. The doorknob rattled. Someone was trying to open the door.
Jayden's words cut off immediately. His eyes flicked toward Sarah for a brief second before he stood and walked toward the door. He unlocked it and pulled it open.
Melissa Hart stood outside, clearly startled. Her brows knit together in confusion. "Sir? I thought you hadn't arrived—"
She stopped mid-sentence as she stepped inside and noticed Sarah sitting there. Her expression changed instantly. Her eyes shifted back to Jayden, narrowing slightly. There was something sharp, almost cynical, in the way she looked between them. Sarah caught that look and froze.
"What is she doing here?" Melissa asked, her tone harsher than intended. It slipped out before she could control it. The room fell silent for a beat.
Jayden turned his head slowly, fixing her with a cold, warning glare.
Melissa immediately straightened. "I'm sorry, I mean—"
"Miss McKaley," Jayden cut in smoothly, "is going to be my right hand from now on, Miss Hart."
He paused just long enough for the words to settle. "She's my new personal assistant."
The air shifted again, but this time, it wasn't just tension. It was something sharper. Something that felt like the beginning of a much bigger conflict.