Chapter 16 Letting Go
“You’re the best.” Bryson’s answer was quick and to the point. He didn’t hesitate at all.
Iliana, leaning against a big tree, watched Bryson guide Bryanna away.
She felt relieved.
Letting go was the best option.
Her leaving was a win for both of them.
Later that night, Iliana got a call from a colleague. They heard about her transfer to a branch office and wanted to throw a farewell party for
her.
Iliana was stunned, confusion flashing across her eyes.
She made it clear about quitting in her letter of resignation.
Perhaps Bryson wanted to avoid any commotion.
Iliana agreed to meet up.
She had worked with them for three years, and she had been the one
who trained them.
Even without Bryson, she wouldn’t cut them off.
Iliana walked into the private room and was greeted with grins from her colleagues.
After a couple of drinks, someone tugged at Iliana’s sleeve, bringing up
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Bryanna. “Iliana, once you leave, Bryanna sticks like glue to Mr. Jefferson. She even bosses us around. I’m about to lose it.”
“Yeah, everyone says she is Mr. Jefferson’s girlfriend, but it’s clear you and Mr. Jefferson are…”
Iliana and Bryson had always been low–key at work, but some people could tell there was something between them.
Iliana paused and then just laughed it off. “That’s not true.”
Actually, she and Bryson had never been in a relationship.
So it ended just as suddenly as it started.
Everyone was surprised by her reaction.
Someone smoothed things over. “I thought you guys were dating because you worked so hard for Mr. Jefferson’s projects and he always treated you differently. But that made sense. Someone like Bryanna seems to have connections. Iliana, you depend on your real skills.”
Favoritism was always obvious to everyone.
Fortunately, without Bryson’s favoritism, she did just fine on her own in these three years.
When she quit, she had friends to share the moment with.
“Let’s not talk about this,” she said with a grin.
Iliana gave a playful wink. “Ms. Vaughn might be your future boss, but I’ve always been clear about keeping things professional. If you’ve got the skills, you’ll always have a spot here. I’m leaving, and I hope the best for all of you.”
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Everyone thought she was just transferred to the branch office and laughed it off.
They finally called it quits until after eleven.
Iliana was a little tipsy. She didn’t expect to run into Bryson and Bryanna when she left.
They were there for a business meeting with a partner.
Everyone looked at each other and cautiously greeted, “Mr. Jefferson.”
Bryson looked at Iliana. After a pause, he said with a soft voice, “What brings you guys here?”
Before Iliana could say anything, someone else piped up, “Ms. Carson is leaving. We threw her a farewell party. Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Vaughn, you won’t mind, right?”
“Of course not.” Bryanna chuckled, but then she turned to Iliana. “Iliana, you’re a girl. If you drink so much, Brys will worry about you.”
Hearing this, Bryson couldn’t help but frown.
Even though Iliana was tipsy, she was still sharp. She retorted, “So what if a girl drinks? I’m just hanging out with friends and having a few drinks. Ms. Vaughn, why are you so old–fashioned?”
She then turned to Bryson with a grin. “As for Mr. Jefferson, I have nothing to do with him ages ago.”
After she quit her job, she was free now.
When she had that last dinner with Bryson, she knew they were done for good.
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Bryson looked at her, his voice still steady. “Iliana, Bryanna was just trying to help. It’s getting late. If you’re still upset about what happened earlier, you shouldn’t be. If Gregory finds out…”
Bryson thought she was acting childish, getting drunk and ditching her job at the branch office.
“Gregory always dotes on me, but I’m not a kid anymore.” Iliana cut him off, casually saying, “Mr. Jefferson and Ms. Vaughn, you guys still have a business meeting. We won’t disturb you. As for my stuff, you guys don’t need to worry about it.”
Bryson used to blame everything on her age. Yet, she wasn’t a kid
anymore.
She was an independent adult, able to tell right from wrong, and she had the courage to make her own choices.
With that, Iliana walked away.
Bryson watched her leave, his frown deepening and his eyes growing darker.
For some reason, he felt like the little girl who used to follow him around had changed a lot.
She seemed to have grown up overnight, and now her attention wasn’t on him anymore. That just annoyed him more.
After enjoying the drama, the colleagues said goodbye to Bryson and left with knowing looks.
Iliana hailed a taxi and went home.
By the time she got home, the alcohol was hitting her hard.
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She tried to recall where she lost her keys, but couldn’t.
The alcohol hit harder, making things worse.
She meant to call a locksmith, but she was so exhausted that she had to lean on the door for a few minutes to catch her breath.
Just as she was about to pull out her phone, the elevator opened.
Iliana looked up abruptly.
A man with broad shoulders was walking out of the elevator.
His strong presence made Iliana’s heart race.
It was Maurice.
“Why are you standing at the door?” he asked as he approached, his brows slightly creased. “Did you drink?”
“Yeah,” Iliana said, pointing at the door. “I lost my keys. I was going to call a locksmith, but I was so dizzy just now…
“Being alone in the hallway isn’t safe. Come inside first. Losing keys isn’t safe either. I’ll help you get a new lock” Maurice quickly turned and put his key in the lock.
“Thanks.” Iliana tried to stand up straight, but her legs were wobbly.
Right before she tumbled, a strong grip caught her arm. “Be careful.”
Iliana looked up into Maurice’s intense gaze.
.
Before she even realized it, she couldn’t help but tremble.
She just nodded, not uttering a word.
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Maurice guided her to the couch in his apartment and then headed out to the balcony to call a locksmith.
The locksmith came ten minutes later. Maurice took care of everything and handed her a set of keys.
“To play safe, I got the lock changed for you. This is the new key to the front door,” said Maurice.
Iliana looked at his hand.
In Maurice’s palm, there was a brand–new set of keys.
She took them. “Thanks.”
Maurice looked at her. “Shall I send you home?”
“Don’t bother. I’m good.” Iliana tried to stand, but her head was swirling, and she couldn’t keep her balance. She started to tip over.
Maurice caught her before she hit the floor, holding her steady.
Before Iliana could say anything, she found herself being led into her
bedroom.
Maurice tried to guide her to the bed, but Iliana was quick on her feet, trying to dodge his hold.
“I can handle this myself,” she said. “You should go back and rest.”
The abrupt movement, along with her dizziness, made her stumble for a second.
But Maurice didn’t let go, and Iliana found herself falling backward.
As she fell, she saw something in his eyes she had never seen before. It
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was something beyond his usual detachment.
There was a flicker of shock there.
Iliana landed on the bed.
Maurice’s hands were on either side of her arms.
His legs brushed against hers.
There was distance between them, but the air was thick with romantic
tension.
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