At 5 a.m. the next morning, Elliot's phone vibrated. He had received a text message. It was not until two hours later that he woke up and saw the message from Chad.[Sir, according to Mike, he's an expert hacker.][He's gay.][I'd like to take the day off, Sir.]Elliot's brows furrowed as he read the three messages.How did Chad manage to find out this much crucial information in the span of a night?Mike was not someone who was easy to deal with.He would not simply reveal personal details to a stranger for no reason.At that thought, Elliot dialed Chad's number."Chad, how did you get all that information from Mike?"Chad remained silent for two seconds, then said with a hint of exhaustion in his voice, "I was drinking with him last night. He told me after a few drinks.""That's it?""Yes. Also, I had too much to drink, so I'd like to take the day off.""Okay. Stay home and get some rest."…Chad's eyes were red at the end of the phone call.No one would believe wha
Avery glanced at the children, then turned to Laura and said, "Take the kids to school. I'm sure he has a reason for being here."As Laura led the children past Elliot, he noticed Layla's face.It was true that Layla looked similar to Avery.Layla's glistening wide eyes had a hint of hostility in them, and she glared at him when they walked past.He wondered what thoughts could have been instilled in her for her to despise him to this extent. Avery approached Elliot soon after."Why are you here this early in the morning?"Elliot looked at Avery's cool, clean face, then asked with a complicated expression on his face, "Is she your biological daughter, Avery? She looks a lot like you.""Did you come by just to look at my daughter?""Who's her father?" Elliot asked in a raised voice. "Since she's already in preschool, she's definitely more than three years old."It seemed like Avery could not get away with saying that Layla was adopted.Her daughter resembled her too much. La
Avery rushed to the technical department the moment she received the notice."Our director isn't here today, Mr. Foster."The manager at the technical department had no clue what had happened.However, judging from the coldness on Elliot's face, he guessed that Mike had somehow offended the man."Perhaps I should escort you to the president!" said the manager just as Avery walked into the room.Avery approached Elliot, noticed his rage, then said, "Let's talk in my office."He probably came up to the technical department to see Mike about something that had happened between them.Mike did not tell Avery anything but based on how livid Elliot looked, she guessed that it must be something serious. Once they were in Avery's office, Elliot and Ben sat down on the couch while the bodyguard waited at the door."What happened?" Avery said as she served each man a glass of water."Miss Tate, I'm afraid your Technical Director violated Chad," Ben said.Avery was speechless.Chad wa
Mike burst through the doors and strode into Avery's office."Avery! Chad was the one who had initiated it!" Mike said. His pale blue eyes filled with apprehension. "We were just drinking and chatting at first when his leg slid against mine… If he didn't mean anything by it, then why did he bump my leg with his? Wasn't that a signal for sex?"Avery's face turned scarlet."Chad was trying to find out if you were gay or straight," Ben said awkwardly.Mike was determined to argue his case."I didn't know what his true intentions were! Besides, he had the time of his life that night!"The entire room dipped into pin-drop silence. Elliot picked up his glass of water and took a sip.Ben followed suit.Avery changed the subject, "Did you ever hack into Angela Special Needs Academy? Also, were you behind the system breach at Sterling Group before this?"Mike raised both his hands and swore, "It wasn't me! I'd admit it if it were me. It's true that my hacking skills are impressive, b
Avery's chest tightened.She could hear the nervous tremor in her own voice as she tried to stay calm."I see… What did the challenge entail?"Elliot's thick brows furrowed as he said with a chilling expression, "Come and strangle me, you *sshole!"Avery was speechless.Ben did not know whether to laugh or cry."I suspect the hacker's pretty young!""Not necessarily!" Avery said. "You can't tell much from that one sentence!""An adult probably wouldn't add in the term '*sshole' right? Other than in those old, corny soap operas, of course."To prevent them from suspecting a minor, Avery looked at Ben and muttered, "*sshole," then turned to Elliot and once again said, "*sshole."Both Ben and Elliot sat in stunned silence."See, there's nothing silly about the word!" Avery said. "An adult can easily use it, too."She was hard at work, trying to clear her son's name.Her expression had unwittingly given her away. Ben and Elliot exchanged glances for a moment as they came to
Avery returned home earlier than usual that evening.Once Laura took Hayden home from school, she picked up Layla and went into the bedroom.Hayden already knew what was about to happen when he saw his grandmother carry his sister away."Give me your bag, Hayden," Avery said as she stretched a hand out to Hayden.Hayden passed his bag to his mother with both hands.Avery opened the bag and took out the laptop.She did not open the laptop, but said, "Uncle Mike told me everything. You've used the skills he taught you to do a lot of bad things. Did you know that was illegal, Hayden? Do you know what you would have to face if they caught you?"Hayden answered his mother without batting an eyelid, "I'm only four. Can they throw me in jail?"Avery was at a loss for words.Even if Elliot ruled over Aryadelle, he probably had no way of sending a four-year-old to prison.However, that was not the point.The point was that Hayden's values were beginning to get twisted."You won't be
Zoe had worn a strappy red dress to the hotel. She pushed open the door to Room V809.The darkness of the room took her by surprise, but she very quickly noticed the flickering of red candles inside.Red candles!Sitting by the candles was a decanter of red wine and some desserts, and on the chair next to the arrangement was a bouquet of red roses.Zoe was melting in the romantic atmosphere.Elliot was unexpectedly sentimental!Zoe was filled with anticipation for what was about to happen that night.As she picked the bouquet of roses, she became intoxicated by the strong floral fragrance.She placed the bouquet back on the chair, then pulled out her phone.It was almost ten o'clock, but why had Elliot not arrived?Was there traffic on the streets?When another fifteen minutes passed with no sign of Elliot, Zoe began to feel anxious.Was he not coming?He could not possibly have painstakingly decorated the room on a whim, right?Or perhaps, did he mistakenly send the text
Zoe's entire body went rigid as she felt her body instantly turn cold.Cole turned to face her, then ridiculed, "I didn't know you were that rough in bed, Dr. Sanford. I'm almost dried out down there…"Zoe finally took a good look at Cole's face.This was not their first meeting.Back when she had burned her hand, Cole was the one who had driven Rosalie over to visit her.Zoe had too much to drink the night before, and the room was lit up with nothing but a few candles, so she did not realize that this man was not Elliot!How could something like this happen?Elliot was the one who had invited her here last night!What was Cole doing here?!"How are you here? Why you?!"Zoe picked up her pillow and repeatedly smacked Cole's face with it. Cole covered his head and cried, "Dr. Sanford! Don't hit me! I don't know what's going on either! I got a text from Avery last night telling me to come to Room V809, so I came! Who knew that you'd hug me the moment I walked in… I tried to l