Chapter 936
Chapter 936:
Yelena’s look caught the receptionist mid-smile, causing it to freeze. Somewhat awkwardly, the receptionist apologized. “I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t realize you were a guest of Mr. Barton p>
Yelena dismissed it. “No harm done, you were just following protocol p>
Relieved by Yelena’s understanding, the receptionist’s demeanor brightened, and she grinned widely. Playfully, the receptionist winked at Yelena. “Just here to work, no hidden agendas with Mr. Barton or anyone else. I promise p>
Yelena found the receptionist’s honesty endearing.
Suddenly, Yelena noticed a shift in Domenic’s expression to something more serious. Catching Yelena’s observant eye, Domenic managed a strained smile, dispelling the tension.
Yelena turned to Domenic and said, “Do you have an issue with her just because she threw me out? But isn’t that just following your own rules p>
Domenic hastily responded, “It’s not like that. Not at all.” His quick denial only piqued Yelena’s interest further.
Domenic escorted Yelena to the executive floor of Barton Group, marking a rare occasion; he had never been seen with a woman—except for colleagues—in this part of the building before. The staff in the secretarial office cast curious glances their way.
A single look from Domenic muted their whispers, prompting them to refocus on their tasks.
Upon reaching Austin’s office, Domenic knocked and then pushed the door open, gesturing for Yelena to go ahead.
Yelena surveyed the room. It was as spacious and brightly lit as she had envisioned, yet the decor was stark, reflecting the man who occupied it.
As Yelena stepped inside, she noticed Austin absorbed in his work, his face partially shadowed and lit in a way that emphasized his stern features.
Yelena observed him for some time; the complexity of the documents seemed to have him completely captivated, oblivious to her presence.
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Impatience began to set in as Yelena felt the wait stretch endlessly. Her gaze fell upon some papers and a pen lying idle. Picking up the pen, Yelena began to doodle absentmindedly on the papers.
After finishing her sketch, she glanced back at Austin. He remained immersed, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Yelena let out a quiet laugh, amused by Austin’s intense focus, a side of him she hadn’t witnessed before.
To pass the time, she fiddled with her phone and eventually dozed off. Austin wrapped up his work at last. He called for Domenic but received no reply. Looking up, he spotted Yelena asleep on a nearby sofa. A wave of disbelief washed over Austin as his heart skipped a beat. He hesitated, fearing the moment was merely a figment of his imagination.
Driven by the need to ensure her presence was real, Austin approached Yelena cautiously and reached out to touch her face.
Just as his fingertips brushed her skin, Yelena’s eyes flew open, capturing his hand with a swift movement.
Austin offered a helpless smile, impressed by her instinctive alertness even in sleep.
The sound of Austin’s laughter jolted Yelena back to reality.
Feeling flustered, Yelena quickly pulled her hand away. “Have you finished?” she asked, trying to regain her composure.
Austin moved to sit next to her, drawing her close. He laid his head on her shoulder, breathing in her scent, which seemed to dissipate his mounting stress.
“I’ve been buried in paperwork and haven’t slept well for days. Seeing you here, I almost thought I was dreaming,” Austin murmured, his voice rough from fatigue.