Evelyn woke up to the familiar sight of her computer screen, realising she had dozed off while searching for Daymian the night before. Despite feeling tired, the prospect of the weekend boosted her mood, and she found the motivation to get ready for work. As she entered the bathroom, her reflection in the mirror revealed the toll stress had taken on her face. After dressing, she headed to the office, arriving shortly after a brief drive. As she settled into her seat, George ambled over, toothpick in mouth, and perched himself on her desk.
Evelyn's smile grew as George nodded at her with a casual "Sup," his tone dripping with humour. She chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "What do you want this time, George?" she asked, playing along.
George's expression turned mock-serious. "So, uh... I just quit my job, you know." He glanced at the back of his fingers, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Evelyn's curiosity was piqued. "Really? Why's that?" she asked, humouring him.
George's grin returned. "Apparently, it's going to be weird dating a coworker, so I quit."
Evelyn's eyes sparkled with amusement as she teased George. "Hmm, that's interesting. And can you tell me who the lucky coworker is?"
George held up his hand, mimicking Evelyn's height. "Let's just say she's about this tall." He widened his hands, gesturing to her beauty. "And she's about this pretty."
Evelyn played along, her voice laced with humour. "Wow, she seems like a great girl. What's her name?"
George's face lit up with a cute expression as he said, "Uh... you..." Evelyn's expression remained neutral, and George sighed, "I'm a terrible flirt, aren't I?"
Evelyn chuckled, "No, you're not. I think you're cute. Good girls like cute guys."
George's face fell, "But you don't." Evelyn raised an eyebrow, her eyes half-closed. "Do you like me?"
George shifted uncomfortably, struggling to respond. "Nah..."
Evelyn's voice took on a gentle tone, "Really? Girls love guys who have the courage to tell them how they feel, you know?"
George smirked. "Yeah, who doesn't? Girls love it when a guy expresses himself so they can turn them down."
Evelyn playfully rolled her eyes. "Come on, that's a lie."
George nodded confidently. "Nope, it's the truth. Girls can be complicated."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "And men aren't?"
George's response was smooth. "Well, men's lives aren't that complicated. We just love doing things we love and going for what we feel is best for us."
Evelyn playfully teased, "That's right. That explains why a man sees you for the first time and boom, he says he loves you, whereas he just thinks you're cute. You know, just because you think a woman is cute doesn't mean you love her."
George's eyes locked onto Evelyn's, filled with genuine emotion. "Well sometimes, you meet someone who lingers in your mind," he said softly. "No matter how hard you try to shake them off, they only seem to stick around longer, and before you know it, you're falling deeper."
The sincerity in his voice and gaze left Evelyn wondering if he was speaking from personal experience and if she was the one he was thinking of.
Evelyn's eyes followed George as he stood up, a playful smile still on his face. "I guess that happens too," she said, her voice light.
George nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yeah, I should get back to my desk before Mr. William fires me."
Evelyn chuckled, "But I thought you said you quit?"
George's expression turned innocent. "Did I?" he said, pretending not to know what she was talking about, as he walked away toward his desk.
As George walked away, Evelyn's thoughts snapped back to reality. Work, loans, and the stress of potentially losing her assistant manager position due to Daymian's influence weighed heavily on her mind.
She couldn't help but think about Mr. Williams' claim that Daymian "owns the street." The idea of someone with that kind of power struggling financially seemed almost comical. "A guy who owns the street begging for a loan?" she thought to herself, a mix of disdain and curiosity swirling in her mind.
The situation seemed pathetic, and Evelyn couldn't understand why Mr. Williams seemed so intimidated by Daymian. She shook her head, refocusing on her work and the challenges ahead.
As Evelyn refocused on her tasks, her phone buzzed with an internal call from Mr. Williams' assistant. "Evelyn, Mr. Williams would like to see you in his office," the voice said. Evelyn's heart sank, wondering if this meeting was about Daymian's influence over her promotion. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before heading to Mr. Williams' office.
As she entered Mr. Williams' office, she noticed a mix of concern and unease on his face. "Evelyn, please have a seat," he said, his voice measured. "I've been meaning to discuss your role within the company, particularly in light of recent developments."
Evelyn's mind began to race, wondering what he would say about Daymian's influence on her potential promotion. Before she could respond, Mr. Williams continued, "I know you've been working hard, and your contributions haven't gone unnoticed. However, I think it's crucial we discuss how certain external factors might impact your career progression here."
The air in the room felt thick with unspoken meaning, and Evelyn's curiosity was piqued. Was Mr. Williams going to reveal more about Daymian's true power, or was this about something else entirely?
Mr. Williams leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking around the room before focusing on Evelyn. His expression was cautious, and his voice was low as he spoke. "The loan Daymian took out has had more far-reaching consequences for your career than you might be aware of," he said, his words carefully chosen.
Evelyn's skepticism was evident on her face as she raised an eyebrow. "Consequences?" she said, "What kind of consequences, sir?" Mr. Williams hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. "I had a conversation with Mrs. Stephanie about the recent incident involving Mr. Ethan and the loan you approved with an overdue payment. Let's just say she wasn't pleased."
As Mr. Williams spoke, Evelyn's anxiety began to build. She felt her heart racing, and her body temperature rising. "Am I going to be fired?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. Mr. Williams' expression turned guarded, and he seemed to choose his next words carefully.
"Not yet, at least," he replied. "We're still discussing the situation, and to be honest, it's not looking good for either of us." Evelyn let out a deep sigh, feeling overwhelmed. "I don't know what to say," she admitted.
Mr. Williams' expression softened slightly. "I think our priority should be getting Mr. Ethan to repay the loan. If we're unable to do so, I'm afraid you might lose your job, and I'll face repercussions for allowing this to happen." Evelyn felt devastated, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
Taking a deep breath, she asked, "So, I might get fired soon?" Mr. Williams remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. "We'll have to see how things play out," he said finally.
As Evelyn turned to leave, Mr. Williams called out to her. "I'll do my best to keep you from getting fired, I promise." Evelyn nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope, and headed back to her desk, her mind still reeling from the conversation.
After a long day at work, Evelyn stopped by Bella Vita for a soothing glass of herbal tea, hoping it would calm her racing thoughts like it had the night before. As she sipped her tea, she pondered the situation she was fell into, but was grateful that the weekend was just around the corner, giving her a chance to rest and reflect. Just as she finished her tea and stood up to leave, Daymian unexpectedly walked into the restaurant, causing Evelyn's heart to skip a beat.