淑女的欲望

Xander furrowed his brow as he noticed Zoey's silence. He turned to see her and spoke sternly, "If you have something to say, speak now! Otherwise, you know where the door is."

Zoey hesitated momentarily before mustering the courage to speak, "B-Boss, I was wondering why I was transferred to another division?"

She had recently returned from her business trip and was surprised to discover that she was no longer Xander's secretary. Instead, she was transferred to the marketing department. She was now located in a different building, making it difficult for her to meet with Xander in person.

Zoey attempted to reach Xander via phone but quickly realized her number was blocked. Additionally, she had lost access to the CEO's office floor, making it nearly impossible to meet with Xander.

However, luck was on her side when she took the opportunity to present a report to Xander after bribing her superior's secretary.

Xander nonchalantly replied while opening his laptop, "That's a question for the HR Dept. I'm not involved in employee transfers."

Zoey was overwhelmed with emotions when she heard Xander's answer. She nearly cried because she couldn't understand why he had suddenly changed so much. Xander had always been so caring towards her, but now he seemed distant and uninterested.

"X-Xander, please..." Zoey stopped when she saw Xander glaring at her, confused about what to do next.

"We're in the office, Zoey! Remember that I am your boss, not your friend." Xander responded curtly.

He knew that Zoey had feelings for him, but he never returned those feelings. Since they were college friends, he had been kind enough to offer her a job at his company.

However, after he married Scarlett, he began to see things differently. He realized this woman had unholy intentions and was eager to do anything, even a terrible thing, to get his attention. So, upon his return from a business trip, he instructed HR to transfer Zoey to another department.

He didn't want his wife to become jealous of Zoey and cause further problems in his personal or professional life.

Zoey sat silently, avoiding Xander's gaze as she tried to contain her emotions. Her hands, resting on her lap, clenched into tight fists feeling angry hearing his words.

She felt a surge of anger towards Xander's wife, Scarlett, and blamed her for the sudden change in Xander's behavior towards her. She couldn't help but think that Scarlett was the reason for her transfer to another department.

Xander noticed Zoey's cold demeanor. He tried to break the tension by saying, "Zoey, I hope you understand that the decision to transfer you was based purely on business reasons. It had nothing to do with our relationship."

But Zoey couldn't bring herself to believe him. His words sounded hollow and insincere, and she couldn't help but feel betrayed by someone she had once considered a close friend, someone she had liked since the first time they met in college.

Zoey took a deep breath and decided to speak her mind. "Xander, I understand you're my boss, and our relationship is professional. But we were also friends, and I thought we had a deeper connection than work. I deserve to know the truth about why I was transferred."

"Nothing personal. And that's the answer to your question. If you find my answer insufficient, I'm sorry. But that is the truth. Now, you can go back to your office!" Xander said. His eyes were fixed on his laptop screen.

Xander's response left Zoey feeling even more hurt and frustrated. She had hoped for clarity and closure, but Xander dismissed her question instead and refused to give her a straight answer.

Feeling defeated, Zoey could only nod and mumble a quick goodbye before turning to leave.

She felt her heart heavy with hurt and anger as she walked away, wondering if Scarlett Piers had changed Xander — Now he suddenly becomes so cold and distant towards her.

"Scarlett Piers, you wait!" Zoey mumbled inwardly, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "I'll make sure you disappear as I did back then, get rid of Xander's fiancé!"

She entered the elevator, her mind racing with plans and schemes to exact her revenge. As the doors slid shut behind her, a sinister grin spread across her lips.

***

At R Mall.

After ending the call with Xander, Scarlett noticed that her phone screen displayed unread text messages from Seven.

[Seven: ] Wow!! Sweet revenge, huh!

[Seven:] Congratulations! You make them suffer... (thumb icon)

pαndα,noνɐ1,сoМ Confused, Scarlett furrowed her brows as she tried to recall any incidents that could have prompted such messages.

She couldn't recall having any conflicts with someone today except Ella Harris. But she didn't even have a chance to blow a strike on that woman. Because Aunt Martha had been around and distracting her from making any discreet verbal attack on Ella.

Scarlett wondered if maybe Seven had sent the message since he was here at the mall stalking her as usual. Scarlett felt the urge to clarify the situation and quickly answered.

[Scarlett: ] What are you talking about? What revenge?"

[Seven: ] Check the internet!

Scarlett's heart raced as a sudden thought crossed her mind. And she quickly opened the browser. Her eyes scanned the news that shook the peaceful Astington. The headlines stupefied her, and her mind spun with a million questions.

Without wasting another moment, Scarlett clicked on the icon of the special app her guild used for instant communication. Her fingers deftly moved as she typed the message,

[Scarlett: ] That's not coming from me. I didn't do that!

[Seven: ] Not you? Who is it, then? Is it Rex!?

Scarlett's mind raced as she stared intently at her cell phone screen, her thoughts filled with the question of who could have orchestrated the downfall of the Harris Corp.

After thinking hard for a while, Scarlett's expression shifted, and a small smile appeared at the corners of her lips. Slowly raising her head, she glanced at Logan, who was sitting on a couch in the corner of the room, engrossed in his cell phone.

'Must be Logan reporting to Xander!' She chuckled inwardly.

Scarlett shook her head and wrote a short message for Seven.

[Scarlett: ] Not Rex. But, my husband! (Smile Icon)

As she put her phone away, Scarlett pieced together why Ella Harris had bolted out of the room like a fugitive on the run.