Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Elara's face burned with humiliation. She glared at Adrian's infuriatingly smug face as she seethed inwardly, 'Just you wait, you bastard Adrian.'
She stood up, deliberately walked around the dining table, and plopped herself down next to Justin, making sure it was the seat farthest from Adrian.
Justin couldn't help chuckling at her reaction and quickly poured her a glass of orange juice to cool her down.
Elara leaned close to Justin's ear and hissed, "That jerk Adrian! I'll make him pay for this. A guy like him will die alone!"
Seeing Elara cozy up to Justin and Justin grinning from ear to ear, a pang of jealousy welled up inside Adrian. But he managed to look perfectly composed on the surface.
Zoe felt particularly pleased with herself. A smug smile crept onto her lips as she casually refilled Adrian's orange juice, though he only took a single sip before ignoring it completely.
Now that Elara had lost her prime spot for cozying up to Adrian, she felt utterly defeated. Swallowing her pride, she turned to Justin and asked for pointers.
"Just give him the cold shoulder for a few days, then approach him again," Justin said casually.
"Seriously? That's it?" Elara asked, her voice laced with doubt.
Justin said, "Trust me, if he's into you, this trick never fails."
He thought, 'Men understand men best. Adrian has been single for ages and has a heart of stone. When a guy like him finally falls for someone, no matter how well he tries to hide it, the tell-tale signs are all there.'
Elara said, "I'm not entirely sure if he has feelings for me." She had thought Adrian might have feelings for her, but seeing the bitter, resentful look on his face now, she lost all confidence.
Justin said with a knowing smile, "He likes you. But he's never dated anyone before, so he doesn't know how to pursue a girl, or even how to show his feelings.
"Guys like him are slow on the uptake. Just take it easy. But once that lightbulb finally goes off in his head, watch out! He'll love you with everything he's got."
Elara chuckled at Justin's witty remark and teased, "Justin, you are Adrian's right-hand man!"
Justin scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Actually, he's my cousin."
Elara nearly choked on her lemonade. She exclaimed, "What? He's your cousin?"
"Yeah, is that weird?" Justin asked.
Elara said, "So you're helping me scheme against your cousin? How brutally he came to you this afternoon. Are you sure he's your cousin?"
Justin said, "At first, I thought he'd go easy on me, but it turns out I let my guard down."
Elara was speechless.
Later, Justin went on to share a few hilarious childhood stories about Adrian that had Elara's eyes crinkling with laughter.
Victor was completely wrapped up in being lovey-dovey with Ruby.
As for Adrian, with no one to talk to, he ended up being the odd one out at the table. He lit a cigarette, scheming how to make Justin's life hell at work.
Just then, a voice called out, "Well, hey, if it isn't Adrian and Victor!"
Hearing this, everyone in the private room turned to look. It was Neil.
Elara quickly averted her gaze, an involuntary shudder running through her.
Neil barged in uninvited and plopped himself down right next to Elara without so much as asking.
He glanced at Ruby, then at Zoe, and teased, "Well, well, Victor's got himself a new lady again? She's quite the looker. And Adrian, what's this, finally changing up your usual type?"
Victor dropped a freshly peeled shrimp onto Ruby's plate and looked up. He asked, "What brings you here, Neil?"
Neil replied, "Just grabbing dinner with some friends." Then, he turned to look at Elara, giving her a slow once-over as his smile grew wider.
He teased, "I thought it was some other beauty, but isn't this Elara? Sweetheart, it's been a while. Did you miss me?"
Seeing Neil hitting on Elara, Ruby gave Victor a sharp pinch.
Victor immediately spoke up, "Neil, hands off. She's my girl."
Neil snapped, "Your girl? Haven't gotten bored with her yet? I see you've got a new flame. Or are you into having multiple women now?"
Victor was about to retort when Elara abruptly stood up. She said, "You guys enjoy your meal. I have to go now. Victor, make sure Ruby gets home safe, okay?"
Elara had just turned around when Neil yanked her back. Elara was forced back into her seat.
Neil said, "Hold up. Adrian and Victor both have company. You're not leaving me all alone now, are you?"
Elara had never met anyone so despicable. She snapped, "Do I even know you? Like hell I'm keeping you company!"
Neil sneered, "Oh, don't you know me? Your ex-boyfriend sure does. He just brought his fiancée to my home for dinner yesterday. What, didn't you know?"
Elara was itching to slap Neil across the face. She said, "I couldn't care less who dines at your place. Let go of me!"
Neil said, "A woman who knows how to play along is way more fun. But you? Always so stubborn. No matter how pretty you are, no one's gonna want you. But don't worry. I want you."
Elara shot back, "You want me? Not a chance!"
Neil sneered, "You don't want to? Always putting on that holier-than-thou act. Do you think that's cute?"
Elara was just about to snap back when Zoe suddenly chimed in.
Zoe said, "Mr. Heaton, please don't talk about Elara like that. She's just young and a bit clueless about social graces. She only has eyes for Mr. Hartley and tends to be rather blunt with everyone else. Please don't take it to heart."
Neil said, "Oh really? So Elara has a crush on Adrian? That's quite an ambitious reach for someone so young. Elara, your ex is cozying up to the Hartley heiress, while you're chasing after the Hartley heir.
"What's the plan? Teaming up to milk the Hartley family for all they're worth?"
Elara was so enraged that she let out a mock laugh. She replied, "What? Is the Hartley family some golden ticket? Do you think I'm that desperate?"
Adrian suddenly let out a cold laugh. He said, "Isn't that right? Ms. Langton has been all over me every day, scheming how to get into my bed, so that she can marry into the Hartley family."
Elara stared at Adrian in shock and blurted out, "What?"
Adrian sneered, "Isn't that exactly what you're after?" His face hardened with a ruthless edge, his eyes glinting with cold fury. He ground out his half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray with deliberate force.
Having lost all appetite, Adrian abruptly stood up, shrugged on his jacket, and stormed out of the private room without so much as a glance at anyone.
Elara could never stand being humiliated. She stormed out of the private room and chased after Adrian. The elevator was packed. Elara stood silently beside Adrian, not saying a word, until she followed him down to the underground parking garage.
Elara explained as she struggled to keep up with Adrian, "Mr. Hartley, if my compensation offer last night offended you, I sincerely apologize. I never intended to marry into the Hartley family.
"I only took this secretary job to help Susan and to get your assistance with Dylan's case. Honestly, that's all there is to it."
Adrian only quickened his pace. Biting back the cramping pain in her lower abdomen, Elara had to break into a light jog just to keep up with him.
She continued, "Adrian, please, just give me one last chance. I promise I'll know my boundaries and won't cross the line."
Hearing this, Adrian stopped in his tracks. He said, "Ms. Langton, whatever your motives were for approaching me, don't ever show your face around me again. Otherwise, I'll file a sexual harassment lawsuit against you."
With that, Adrian got into his black McLaren and roared away, leaving Elara alone in the bitter night wind.
When Ruby finally found Elara, Elara was just sitting in her Koenigsegg, staring blankly into space.
Ruby asked, "What's wrong? Still can't get through to Adrian?"
Elara slumped in defeat with a sigh. She asked, "Ruby, am I just doomed to be single forever?"
Ruby replied, "Elara, what are you even saying? With your looks, just standing there is enough to make guys freeze in their tracks. Why would you even need to make moves?"
Elara said, "But now Adrian despises me. Didn't Victor say he was into me? I can't sense it at all. He treats Zoe a hundred times better than he treats me."
Ruby set down her phone and looked at Elara. She asked, "Are you this upset because Adrian hates you now, or is it just about losing the secretary job?"
Elara frowned and asked, "What's the difference?"
Ruby raised an eyebrow and said, "There's a huge difference, Elara. Be honest. Are you falling for Adrian?"