Chapter 2:  Nothing Will Change

Prisley's heart twisted with a bitter ache. What did that make her?   

Over the years of close proximity, Prisley had fallen in love with Heather, deeply so, but she couldn't say it. To Heather, she was just the other party to a contract.

Heather, now the esteemed head of the Warner conglomerate, held a position of power and prestige. Surely, he wouldn't want anything beyond contractual matters with her.

Prisley had thought it sufficient to love him quietly. After all, despite his frequent displays of aloofness and temper, Heather treated her decently.  

But now that Filla had returned, a woman for whom he had once desperately longed and despaired, would he still treat Prisley kindly?

She couldn't afford to dwell on personal matters during working hours. Prisley quickly collected herself.

"Eric, is the report ready for the meeting?"

"Just finished reviewing the data."

"Send me a copy. The meeting is about to begin."

"Lisa, expedite the modifications to the contract with SSA Company."

"Tom, have you finished reviewing the business proposal from Exlon Company? Send it on to me after the CEO meeting."

She functioned like a precise timepiece, busy but accurate. As an executive assistant, she excelled in her duties.

Emotional wounds could be expertly concealed beneath her resilient exterior.

After arranging tasks for her subordinates, Prisley returned to her office and sank into her chair, feeling weary. Her once bright eyes now seemed dull and lifeless.

Heather had gone on this business trip without her, presumably to see Filla. How could he leave Filla's embrace and immediately return to make passionate love to her?

Heather had just been more aggressive than usual, leaving her with a sickening feeling.

Prisley had no idea how Heather intended to handle this love triangle. The only thing she was sure of was that she wouldn't share a man with anyone else. If he chose Filla, she would walk away.

According to the gossip columns, Heather had already made his choice. Besides, as the CEO of a prestigious conglomerate, Heather would never choose someone from her humble background.

Prisley pulled several jewelry boxes out of her drawer and opened them absentmindedly.

The boxes contained jewelry from various luxury brands, each piece a lavish gift from Heather. Prisley didn't like fancy jewelry and only wore it when she accompanied him to events.

She picked out a ring they had designed together and each had one made by a jewelry company. To save face, she decided to take the initiative to leave. Of all the jewelry, she would keep only this ring and return the rest to him.

Prisley knocked on the door of the President's office.

"Heather, the meeting with David starts in 15 minutes in the first conference room.”

"The latest data needed for the meeting is ready, and I'll send it to you shortly," she said in her usual professional tone.

"OK," Heather replied, without lifting his head from the documents he was studying.

Prisley placed the jewelry box on his desk, her fingers gripping the box nervously, her knuckles slightly white. She handed him a sheet of paper.

"President Rynn, I'm not fit to continue working for the company. I'm resigning." Her voice was firm, but there was turmoil inside.

"I'm returning all of this to you. Thank you for your generosity over the years. I'll just keep this ring as a keepsake." She lifted her finger to show it to him.

Heather glanced at the paper and understood her meaning with just a glance.

"Take it back. Everything remains as it is," he said in a cold tone, his expression unreadable.

"She's back, so... I have no reason to stay," Prisley's voice trembled slightly.

Heather had initially chosen Prisley not only because she was his secretary, but more importantly because of her striking resemblance to Filla.

From the beginning, he had required Prisley to dress and style herself to intimate Filla, essentially turning her into a replica of Filla.

Although Prisley had felt somewhat humiliated by this, it was part of the contract. She had accepted it for the money.

"She's back, but it has nothing to do with you. The contract isn't over yet, and you're still bound by it," Heather said slowly, his eyes piercing as he tore up her letter of resignation.

Prisley trembled, her fear palpable in the air. Heather's demeanor, usually a harbinger of trouble, now loomed over her like an impending tempest.

Slowly, he rose from his seat, his towering figure casting a shadow over Prisley. She dared not meet his gaze, feeling the icy flames emanating from him, and she knew that her worst fears were about to be realized.

Heather reached out, his fingers gripping her chin, forcing her to look up.

"Who gave you the audacity to even think of leaving me?"

His dominating presence was suffocating. Prisley's breath caught, her eyes still avoiding his piercing gaze.

She wanted to speak, but her voice failed her, paralyzed by fear. She clenched her fists tightly, holding on to the table for support.

Heather's grip tightened, and Prisley winced in pain.

"You think you can decide your own fate after signing that contract?" His voice was low but carried a chilling intensity that pierced through her.

Tears welled up in Prisley's eyes, but she dared not let them fall. She gasped for air, her chest heaving with fear.

She knew the clauses of the contract by heart. Breaking it unilaterally meant insurmountable penalties. She couldn't afford them anyway.

Even though she knew it was a draconian contract, how could she possibly take Heather to court over such terms?

Just as she feared Heather would tear her apart, he suddenly released her, his touch softening as he planted a kiss on her lips.

"Don't be afraid," he murmured softly, his kisses shallow and seemingly indifferent.

"As long as you behave just like before, nothing will change."

"But if you dare to think any of escaping..." He deepened the kiss, his tone darkening, "I can't guarantee what I might do."

"Mmm... Mmm...!" Prisley struggled, pushing Heather away with desperate force, feeling her lips burn and tasting the faint metallic taste of blood.

"Heather, this is going to put me in a very awkward position. I hope you can understand..." Prisley's tears fell, driven by fear.

"I don't want to understand, and I don't care."