Chapter 6 A Play

Me pestering Caroline? It was the other way around! She and Richard couldn't seem to let go, insisting on flaunting their love right before me.

I was on the verge of lashing out at Richard, but my better judgment held me back.

"Mr. Harvey." I was about to say something to ease the tension when Caroline approached. She gently restrained Richard, cautioning, "This is a public place. We shouldn't cause a scene."

Right after she spoke, someone snapped a photo of us. A shiver ran down my spine, and I swiftly averted my gaze.

But Caroline seemed oblivious to it. She came over and helped me up. "Elin, we might be colleagues, but I must say, it's unprofessional to let personal issues interfere with work."

While gripping my arm firmly yet discreetly, she gestured towards the crowd. "I understand you had a past with Richard. But as professional lawyers, we can't let personal feelings compromise our client's interests."

Her voice was not loud, but it carried through the cafe.

The crowd began to murmur. I realized too late that I'd been tricked by Caroline. My heart raced with alarm. I quickly removed her hand. "I'm fine. You don't need to help me."

"Ah!" She stepped back, but her grip on my sleeve remained firm. There was a sharp crack as her nails scraped against my silk shirt, leaving a long tear in its wake. My arm was suddenly exposed to the open air.

"Crack!" The unmistakable sound of cameras snapping away echoed through the crowd without a care.

"A senior attorney exploited her role to pursue the CEO, causing a scene at the cafe, but her scheme fell apart." I could almost picture the headline that would soon circulate on the internet.

"Elin..." Caroline looked at me, feigning innocence, a sly smile on her lips. "Sorry, that was unintentional."

She had a real knack for putting on a show. I didn't get a chance to say a word. I snatched my purse and made a swift exit from the shop.

Despite my best efforts to maintain composure, the torn sleeve of my shirt turned my departure from graceful to more of a hurried escape. Whispers followed me as I hurried away, my heart racing under the blazing sun.

"Miss Lloyd." Suddenly, Christopher's voice rang out.

When I looked up, our eyes locked. His gaze was as clear as a pristine mountain stream, reflecting my distressed state.

Instinctively, I covered my arm and offered a polite smile. "Mr. Brooks, it's good to see you."

Christopher grinned at me, slipped off his coat, and draped it over my shoulders. He guided me into his car and said, "We can find a place for you to change."

"I'm okay." After walking some distance, I felt more composed. I pointed towards a parking sign. "My car is over there. I can manage on my own. I wouldn't want to trouble you."

Christopher smiled and remarked, "It's no big deal, just a little extra gas. It doesn't bother me."

Before I could decline again, my phone rang. I pulled out my phone and discovered that the recent incident had been shared in the law office's chat group.

In the photo, my shirt was torn, and one arm was exposed, making me look embarrassed. It perfectly matched the description of a woman who made a scene after failing to seduce the CEO, as mentioned in the article. Moreover, the conspicuous white bandage on Richard's head served as undeniable evidence, sparking an immediate uproar in the group.

The director called shortly after. "What's going on, Elin? Didn't I mention you'd get a ten percent cut from Caroline's commission? I don't think it's a bad deal for you.

It's not that I don't want to help you. With the news making its rounds, it's had quite an impact on the law firm. We've got several clients looking to switch lawyers. How am I supposed to keep you on board at the firm?"

After I ended the call, I was in a state of panic.

When Richard kicked me out, I figured I'd lost love but still had my career intact. Now, it was clear that they aimed to kick me out of the law firm for good.

And now, I was at risk of losing my job, the last thing I had.

"What's wrong?" Christopher asked as he swiftly pulled into the company building's underground parking lot.

His thoughtfulness was a stark contrast to Richard's cruelty. They seemed nothing alike despite being brothers.

Taking a deep breath to clear my mind, I asked, "Were you involved in what happened today?"