One night stand with my president(chapter 451)

 

Chapter 451:  Make Assumptions About Him

"You call that good?" Russell couldn't help but snap. "He didn't even manage to protect you."

Adeline sighed. "That situation was..."

"And not just that." Russell cut her off. 

"What about before? When that actress got hurt at the club, he told you to go out and buy ointment."

To Adeline, that incident felt like a lifetime ago.

She had to dig through her memory just to recall it.

Eleanor had been slapped by Kaylie, hard.

Harrison asked her to fetch the medicine.

Come to think of it, Russell had been the one to accompany her that day.

"I was just his secretary back then," Adeline replied calmly. "Doing things like that came with the job."

Back then, she hadn't dared entertain any thoughts about Harrison.

She never imagined he'd actually fall for her.

And that was before either of them had confessed their feelings.

But now, they were together.

So why dig up the past?

She knew exactly how Harrison treated her.

"Yes, Eleanor's in prison now-I'm aware," Russell said. "But how can you be sure there won't be another 'Eleanor'? Or the next actress? Or the next one after that?"

"Mr. Hunter." Adeline's tone sharpened. 

"He's my boyfriend. I don't appreciate people making these kinds of assumptions about him."

Even if-hypothetically-something did happen one day, she would leave.

Would it hurt? Of course.

But she would never stay with someone who was unfaithful.

That said, she didn't believe Harrison would ever let that happen.

Just as he trusted her, she trusted him.

If they couldn't even have that much faith in each other, then there was no point in being together.

Russell furrowed his brows, silent.

Adeline looked at him, remembering the gentle, composed man he used to be. She thought of his messy family situation and felt a flicker of sympathy.

But it was just that-a flicker.

"Mr. Hunter," she said softly but firmly, "I'm not the person meant to stay by your side. I know it might sound cruel of me to tell you to let go. I know it's easy for me to say that when I'm not the one in pain... but I need to be clear with you. You and I-we're impossible. Even if there were no Harrison, it still wouldn't be you."

Her words were merciless.

Russell's pain was written all over his face.

"I know things aren't easy for you right now," she added. "But if you ever need help, I'll do everything I can."

She wasn't just Harrison's chief secretary

anymore.

She was also the heiress of the Mendoza family, even though most of the Mendoza power base was in Yewhaina, not here...

She could do far more now than ever before.

Afraid he might misinterpret her words, she clarified, "You helped me once. I owe you. I'm just repaying a debt."

Once the debt was cleared, there would be no more ties between them.

Russell understood.

He looked at her.

She was poised, radiant, and confident, so different from the girl she used to be.

She was glowing now.

The sadness that used to hover around her was long gone.

And in that fleeting moment, a terrifying thought flashed through Russell's mind.

He could do what Benjamin did, take her, and hide her.

He could hide her somewhere Harrison would never find her.

Even if she screamed, cried, or even hated him, he would never let her go.

But the thought passed as quickly as it came.

He couldn't do this to Adeline.

He loved her too much that he couldn't let her suffer-not even for his own happiness.

If someone had to be in pain, let it be him.

"That won't be necessary," Russell finally said, voice low. "I'll handle my own problems."

Adeline didn't insist.

Russell gave her one last look. Then he lowered his eyes and turned away.

She watched his retreating back, broad, solid, and completely alone.

But she didn't watch for long.

She turned and walked off, in the opposite

direction.

She was heading to the office.

A car was waiting downstairs. But she didn't take it.

Shurford Residence wasn't far from the Thomson Group.

The weather was nice. A walk would be good.

When she arrived, everyone was busy with their own tasks. No one batted an eye at her late arrival-except Anna, who gave her a sly look.

As chief secretary, Adeline had plenty of schedule flexibility.

But Anna, knowing about her relationship with Harrison, had a different theory entirely.

As soon as Adeline sat down, Anna made an excuse to bring her coffee and leaned in, voice teasing.

"Miss Hensley, did you sleep in this morning?"

Adeline took a sip of coffee and ignored her, pretending to be aloof.

But Anna's eyes drifted toward the collar of her blouse.

Adeline stiffened -wondering if a hickey had somehow slipped into view-and hastily tugged her collar up.

That one panicked motion told Anna everything she needed to know.

"Actually, I didn't see anything," Anna said sweetly. "But now that you reacted like that... you've just confirmed it all."

Adeline playfully swatted her with a folder.

"Keep gossiping and I'll ask Mr. Thomson to transfer you to the most remote branch we own."

"Okay, I get it!" Anna grinned and scurried back to her desk.

She couldn't help it-those two were just too cute together.

But she also knew when to stop.

Pushing too far would be crossing the line.

Meanwhile, in his office, Harrison received a call.

"Mr. Hunter has been waiting downstairs for Miss Hensley. She came down, they talked for a while, and then left separately."

The caller paused, then added, "They didn't leave together. She walked off alone."

"Got it," Harrison replied flatly, and hung up.

He set the phone down, tapping his finger slowly against the desk.

He thought, "Russell, you bastard. You really think you can take my girl from me? Keep dreaming. What had Russell said to Adeline?"

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened.

And in walked Adeline, holding two documents.

She handed them over for Harrison's signature.

He flipped open the first one and scanned it, frowning.

"The numbers are wrong." He pointed at a

section. "This kind of error is basic. Am I paying them just to waste oxygen?"

Adeline glanced at the data-then said evenly, "That department's got a lot of internal drama lately."

A mistake that simple? It was probably sabotage.

Harrison let out a cold laugh. "If it's that easy to exploit them, then they're not worth keeping around."