The front door slammed shut.
Moments later, the roar of a car engine shattered the silence. Tires screeched, and the car tore out of the premises, disappearing down the road.
Silence fell over the Graves Mansion once more.
From the far corner of the room, Thomas stepped forward quietly, his footsteps barely audible against the polished floor.He approached Camila from behind as she continued muttering under her breath, agitation still rolling off her in waves.
She turned sharply when she sensed him there, her anger still written plainly across her face.
“He doesn’t know how to appreciate a good girl like Sophia,” Camila snapped, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “That bastard son of mine—if he doesn’t like her, then who will he like?” She scoffed. “I found him such a perfect wife, and still he’s acting out like this. I don’t understand him at all.”
She shook her head hard, frustration spilling over. “What the hell does he want? Who is he going to like if not Sophia?”
Thomas’s lips twitched, as if suppressing a smile. He clasped his hands behind his back, posture calm and unhurried, letting her words settle before responding.
“I’m sure he will come to his senses soon,” he said gently, voice even. “It’s quite obvious that he isn’t as unaffected by Ms. King as he claims, isn’t it?”
He paused meaningfully.
“Don’t you think their relationship isn’t as platonic as he keeps insisting?” Thomas added.
Camila burst into laughter.
The irritation drained from her face almost instantly, replaced by a bright, knowing smile. Her shoulders relaxed, eyes lighting up as she turned toward him.
“So you see it too,” she said, pointing at him approvingly. “You really are smart—just like me, Thomas.”
Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
***
“Please don’t make me go in today. I’m begging you.”
A girl nearly folded in half as she pleaded, shoulders caving inward. Her hands shook violently as she shoved the file into Timothy’s arms.
“I can’t do this. I really can’t. I have five EMIs on my head,” she said in a rush, voice cracking. Her eyes darted toward the closed CEO’s office as if it might explode at any moment. “Please, Timothy—just take this inside for me. I’ll give you my salary this month. Please.”
Without waiting for his response, she spun around and bolted.
“Wait—Rihana!” Timothy called after her.
But she was already gone, heels clicking frantically as she disappeared down the corridor.
Timothy let out a long, shaky breath, staring down at the file clutched in his hands as if it were a death sentence.
Before he could even curse under his breath, a loudbangechoed from inside the CEO’s office.
Timothy flinched violently.
“What the fuck is taking so long?” Magnus’s furious voice thundered from behind the door. “Are you going to bring those files next damn year?”
The shout exploded through the corridor.
Timothy jumped.
The breath he was inhaling lodged painfully in his throat, making him choke. He doubled over, coughing so hard that tears sprang to his eyes. His chest burned as panic flashed across his face.
Heart pounding, he scrambled forward, shoved the office door open, and rushed inside.
