Chapter 200 Set her straight
Alana was the kind of person who seemed quiet and unassuming, with a low profile. But whenever he needed her, she would be there, silently standing by his side.
Unnoticed, she had quietly seeped into his heart. Like a poison, it had gradually taken root, becoming impossible to quit or uproot.
Those other women only knew how to enjoy his generosity, how could they possibly be as sincere with him as Alana was?
“So what if she’s different from those women?” Camila was furious. She never imagined her older brother would be so smitten with Alana!
“Brother, it’s too late. I just saw Alana’s boyfriend. She wasn’t lying to you or to me, she really does have a boyfriend!”
Cole’s pupils contracted. “What? You saw her boyfriend?”
“Yes! I saw him.” Camila said through gritted teeth, seething with jealousy inside.
She couldn’t understand what was so great about Alana. It was bad enough that the boy she liked in her youth had fallen for her, but now even her brother was smitten with her!
What’s more, the boyfriend she was dating now was absolutely stunning in both looks and charm.
It really seemed like every good thing in life had fallen to Alana.
Cole grabbed Camila’s shoulders in a fit of rage, his eyes dark and menacing. “Who is that man?”
Who on earth had stolen his girl?
Camila was intimidated by Cole’s terrifying glare. “I...I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”
“Why didn’t you ask him clearly?”
“I...”
Camila clenched her teeth, feeling guilty. She’d almost been beaten up at the time, how could she have had the presence of mind to ask his name?
“Anyway, she already has a boyfriend! But her boyfriend isn’t much of a good guy. He actually hits women, he’s clearly the
domestic-abuse type. Alana won’t be happy with him!”
Cole’s expression shifted.
What?!
He actually hits women? He was a domestic abuser?! Damn it!
How could Alana be with a man like that?
He absolutely would not allow it!
Cole immediately let go of Camila’s shoulders and strode toward the door.
Camila froze, watching as Cole strode out the door in a few long strides. She hurried after him and asked, “Brother, where are you going?”
Cole’s tone was icy. “To the company!”
******************
When Alana arrived at the office, she took a moment during a lull in her busy schedule to send a message to Eve.
Alana: [I need your help in a pinch!]
Eve’s message popped up immediately; she was clearly taking a break from her own busy schedule.
Eve:[What’s up?]
Alana: [The tie I gave my boyfriend last time is getting worn out. Let’s go pick out a few more together next time. You have better taste than me, so it’ll be more reliable with your input.]
Eve: [Wow, worn to a sheen? Is that even possible? Is he that cheap? Doesn’t he have any other ties?]
Alana: [Ahem, no, that’s not it. He just likes wearing the one I bought for him all the time.]
Eve was speechless. An eye-rolling emoji was instantly sent Alana’s way.
Work was exhausting enough as it was, and now she had to endure her best friend shoving her lovey-dovey stuff down her throat. Life was just unbearable!
After a moment’s hesitation, Alana blushed and tentatively typed out a message.
Alana: [By the way, um, I was thinking of buying some sexy nightgowns. Maybe you could help me pick some out?]
This morning, she realized her period had ended, it was time to get things moving. After all, she’d promised Stephan a reward, she couldn’t very well go back on her
word.
Although it was pretty embarrassing, but... well, what could she do? He had such weird and quirky tastes.
She’d promised, so she couldn’t go back on her word.
Eve’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Eve: [Whoa! What am I seeing?]
[Last time I tried to convince you to buy this, you were all hesitant and reluctant, and now you’re actually asking to buy it yourself?!]
[Holy cow, have you changed your ways?!]
[Or have you been possessed by some evil spirit? Give me back my innocent, pure best friend!]
Alana felt her cheeks growing hotter by the second.
Alana:[I haven’t been possessed. I just promised to give him a reward, so I can’t go back on my word.]
Eve:[Oh, so your boyfriend’s the one who’s corrupted you.]
[I wouldn’t have guessed it. Your boyfriend’s such a player, just how far do you two go in private? Have you ever given him a handjob or a blowjob?!]
Now it was Alana’s turn to widen her eyes. Oh my god, was that something you just blurt out?
Alana: [No, wait, Eve, can you be a little more serious? We’re chatting online here, watch out, the internet police might come crawling up the cable to arrest you!]
Eve shrugged it off.
Eve: [So what? There are even more scandalous things to talk about!]
[Lana, you’re just too innocent!]
[Being too innocent will get you totally taken advantage of by men!]
Alana pouted, unable to resist speaking up for her man.
Alana: [He wouldn’t take advantage of me. He’s really good to me.]
She was a bit protective of him; she could say whatever she wanted about Stephan, but she didn’t want others to speak ill of him.
Eve was hit with another dose of couple-goes-here.
Eve:[Oh my, you’re being silly again. When I say “take advantage,” I didn’t mean the usual kind, I meant him seducing you.]
Alana had no retort.
Suddenly, the colleagues’ surprised voices rose in a chorus.
“Oh my, Manager Cole is here!”
“Wasn’t he supposed to be on leave today? Why is he at the office?”
“Oh my, he looks like he got beaten up pretty badly, the bruises on his face are still
there!”
“Who could be so cruel? I feel so bad for him.”
Alana couldn’t help but look up and saw Cole, dressed in an expensive suit, walking into the project office.
She immediately hid her phone, picked up the mouse, and continued to pretend to be hard at work.
Cole’s gaze locked onto her, observing her every move. Seeing her nervously put down her phone and lower her head, his eyes darkened.
Without giving her a chance to speak, he said, “Alana, come to my office.”
Seeing there was no escaping it, Alana had no choice but to stand up. “Oh, okay.”
She followed him to his office.
Colleagues around them all wore expressions of curiosity.
“Did you guys notice? Manager Cole seems to treat Alana differently, he’s been looking for her ever since he arrived at the office!”
“Yeah, ever since Manager Cole asked her to be his assistant right from the start, I knew something was up.”
“And that time in the cafeteria, he didn’t sit anywhere else, he sat right next to her. That’s blatant favoritism!”
“But doesn’t Alana have a boyfriend?”
“Who knows? Has anyone actually seen her boyfriend?”
“I don’t think so. Maybe she just made him up out of thin air!”
“So does that mean there’s a chance between Manager Cole and Alana?”
“It’s not impossible. After all, Alana is the absolute stunner of our company. It’s only
natural that she’s so popular with men. As the old saying goes, even heroes have trouble resisting a beautiful woman.”
Someone asked Carla, “Carla, you and Alana are such good friends. Is there really something going on between her and Manager Cole?”
Carla waved her hand. “I don’t know. Don’t ask me.”
After Alana and Cole entered the office, Alana immediately closed the office door.
She felt a sudden tightness in her chest, and her small hand unconsciously clenched the hem of her dress.
“Manager Cole, did you... need to see me?”
Cole turned to face her. “Lana, Cami came looking for you this morning, didn’t she?”
Alana pressed her lips together and nodded slightly.
Cole continued, “Did she say anything unreasonable to you?”
Alana nodded. “Yes, please keep a closer eye on your sister in the future. Don’t let her show up in front of me out of the blue and pick on me for no reason.”
Cole swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to set her straight.”