The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes

Chapter 13: Chapter 13- unforgettable

Janet clearly noticed the fleeting look of surprise in Derrick’s eyes when Philip mentioned Black Rock Co. Her husband, Philip, why would his name make her think of that unpredictable, cold-hearted CEO?

Charles, Philip — was it just a coincidence?

There wasn’t much time for Janet to dwell on it. When Philip spoke up to defend her, Derrick didn’t argue further. Was it because of what Philip said or because of the company he mentioned? Janet instinctively felt there was more she didn’t know.

"Finish your meal, and I’ll have the driver take you," Derrick said, looking at Janet with an expression of rare calm. He wasn’t angry, despite her anxious demeanor. Because of her, Philip didn’t reject him as he once did. Usually, Derrick spent most of his time alone in the North Courtyard, and Philip rarely visited.

"I’m fine, I’ll go on my own!" Janet politely refused. The food in front of her was barely touched. She didn’t even look at Philip, who had been watching her intently. She stood up, feeling uncomfortable, and left after a brief goodbye.

Perhaps due to her position, Derrick didn’t press further but glanced at Philip, who wore a rare, knowing smile.

Once she reached the bottom of the mountain, Janet hailed a taxi. Before heading to the office, she made sure to pick up a new pair of glasses. She was unusually late today. When she exited the elevator half an hour later, she absentmindedly glanced at the closed CEO’s office, saw nothing unusual, and let out a sigh of relief.

A moment later, her desk phone rang. As soon as Janet picked it up, a deep voice came through.

"Meeting in ten minutes in the conference room. Inform all department heads."

"Yes, sir," Janet replied, still slightly out of breath from her rush to get to work. The sound of Charles’s voice immediately put her on edge.

Just as Janet was about to hang up after receiving his instructions, Charles unexpectedly added something that caught her off guard.

"Janet, you’re thirty-two minutes and eight seconds late today. Don’t let it happen again."

Before she could process this, there was only the sound of a dead line on the phone.

Janet stared at the receiver in shock, then looked ahead. Through the frosted glass of his office, she couldn’t see anything clearly. She snapped out of her thoughts, remembered his "ten-minute" order, and hurriedly picked up the phone to inform everyone.

Ten minutes later, Giles and Novia followed the sharply dressed, coldly handsome Charles into the spacious conference room. As Charles’s figure passed in front of her, he suddenly stopped, his glittering eyes pausing for a few seconds on Janet’s flushed face. He raised his hand and ordered, "Janet, come with us."

"Right, yes!" Janet quickly grabbed her notebook at Novia’s signal and followed them into the elevator. When they reached the 26th floor and entered the meeting room, it was already packed. The mid-level managers were seated around the intricately designed, oval crystal table. Upon seeing Charles enter like a king, they straightened up and sat silently, waiting for him to take his place at the head of the table.

Giles and Novia sat on either side of Charles. As Janet was about to sit next to Novia, Charles shot her a cold glance. Novia immediately understood and subtly signaled Janet to change her seat.

When Janet sat down to Charles’s left, she felt a burning gaze on her from above. Looking up, she saw a striking figure in white across from her. His profile was angled ninety degrees toward her, and she couldn’t help but take in the sharp, refined outline of his face.

The next moment, she froze. This man—wasn’t he the one she had seen earlier that morning at Snowpeak Villa? The one with the vague side profile?

Hearing Robert address him as "Master August," Janet wondered if he was also from the Elwin family.

The thought made her eyes widen, and she carefully studied his features. His sharp, defined face carried a sense of masculinity, and his tall, proud figure was impossible to ignore, even as he sat there. The moment she saw his handsome profile, she felt a strange sensation. When she glanced back at Charles, their eyes met in a brief, cold exchange. Janet quickly looked away, lowering her head, feeling somewhat guilty.

"This is August, the new shareholder of Black Rock Co. He will take over as General Manager from now on. I hope everyone will cooperate with him!" Charles’s announcement was followed by the focus of the room shifting entirely to the figure in white sitting across from Janet. After that, Janet didn’t hear much of what was said. Her mind replayed August’s smile, gentle like a spring breeze, and the memory of the charmingly dangerous man from last night—there was something oddly different about him...

The only people she’d met at Snowpeak Villa, besides the immobile Philip and the fleeting August, were... who else?

When Janet snapped back to reality, Charles’s proud figure had already risen from his seat. The room erupted into thunderous applause. As Janet’s restless gaze kept drifting toward August, Charles’s face remained expressionless, his cold eyes betraying no emotion. He kicked the chair behind him and walked straight out.

Confused, Janet watched August wink at her with a smile. She instinctively adjusted her glasses, grabbed her notebook, and quickly followed him out.

However, just as she was about to catch up, Charles stepped into the elevator ahead of her. In front of her, he pressed his fingerprint, and the doors closed mercilessly. Janet could clearly see the displeasure in his eyes.

Was he angry?

Standing there somewhat bewildered, Janet felt a hand suddenly reach over her shoulder from behind and press the elevator button. Turning, she met August’s amused gaze.

He lifted his chin at her, and only then did Janet notice that the elevator doors had opened in front of her. Instinctively, she stepped inside, with August following closely behind. Everyone else had headed to the adjacent elevator. Janet suddenly remembered that this elevator was supposed to be the CEO’s private one. What, then, was the relationship between this man and Charles?

"Janet!" Just as Janet was lost in thought, a warm breath brushed against the nape of her neck. She instinctively shrank back, but when she looked up, the man who had been standing behind her was now caging her in with his arms, pressing her between him and the elevator wall. She didn’t even notice that his tone had shifted when he called her name.

"What—what are you doing?" Not used to being this close to a man, Janet felt his hands wrap around her waist, and she instinctively tried to pull away. The unfamiliar contact made her feel uncomfortable.

If she remembered correctly, his title now was August from Black Rock Co., and his power was second only to CEO Charles...

"Last night... was it unforgettable?" August suddenly released his hold, and from the look of incredulity in her wide eyes, he could tell she was shocked. He left her with a provocative, teasing remark that lingered in the air.