Chapter 70

He was usually able to regain his composure quickly, but when it came to Liliana, he found himself unable to remain calm. Perhaps it was simply his physical needs going unmet that kept her on his mind. After all, for the past two years, she had been utterly captivating in that department.

He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray. Still, why should he have to bear the consequences of her mistakes?

Cyan Design Department.

Tillie had advised Liliana to wait for Nina to assign her a task, but Liliana ignored her. She may have been new to the corporate world, but backing down from a challenge wasn't in her nature.

After setting up her desk, she mentally prepared herself and walked over to Nina, who was wearing black-framed glasses that complemented her sharp bob.

"Designer Shepherd, is there anything I can help you with?"

Nina looked up, her eyes like daggers. It felt like talking to a drill sergeant.

"Liliana, right?" Nina stood up, crossing her arms. "Let's be blunt. I don't want you as my assistant. Can you please just leave?"

Nina was direct, and Liliana responded in kind. "No." She had just signed a contract. As long as she didn't make a mistake or resign, the company couldn't fire her. This job was too important to give up so easily.

"Fine." Nina had no patience for people who got in through connections, but she had given Liliana a chance. "See that pile of files over there? Organize all of them. And don't even think about leaving until you're done."

Liliana looked where she was pointing. A stack of files nearly as tall as she was sat in the corner, covered in a thin layer of dust. They clearly hadn't been touched in a long time.

Without a second thought, she agreed. "Okay."

She walked over to the pile and carried a small stack back to her desk. By noon, she hadn't even finished a fifth of it. She ordered takeout for lunch, ate quickly, and got right back to work.

When Tillie returned from her lunch break, she whispered, "The last two assistants she hired both quit after being assigned that task. he sheer volume of files made it impossible to finish in a single day. Faced with an impossible task, most people just gave up.

"It's fine," Liliana said, surprisingly engrossed. The files contained the entire history of Cyan, including every project ever completed by its designers. For her, this wasn't punishment; it was a masterclass.

One day wasn't enough, but she could finish it if she stayed overnight. As long as she didn't leave the building, it still counted as finishing before she went home.

Before that thought could fully form, her phone rang. It was Timothy.

Cedric must have received the divorce papers. She answered without hesitation. "Assistant Stanton."

"Mrs. Forrest." Timothy's end was quiet, as if he were in a car. "Mr. Forrest has had too much to drink."

*Cedric is drunk?* Liliana's heart

skipped a beat, but she said nothing, waiting for him to continue. Timothy, expecting med question was met with silence. After an awkward pause, he pressed on. "Are you... at home?"

"Did he sign the divorce agreement?" Liliana asked, deflecting.

"Wh-what divorce agreement? I don't know anything about that," Timothy stammered: "Tonight's dinner was with a difficult client. Mr. Forrest dranka lot and now he's passed out in the car I think his stomach problems are acting up; he keeps clutching his stomach. I brought him home, but the house is dark. Aren't you here?"

*Passed out. Stomach problems.*

Those were the only words Liliana heard.