I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 28

"Is everything okay at home? If you have an emergency next time, just give me a heads-up beforehand. Being late usually docks your pay, but I already checked in with HR and filed for a leave of absence for you."

Mr. White was smiling so hard his eyes crinkled into slits.

He turned to leave but walked back. "Ms. Lynd, please don't take this the wrong way. I called you so many times because I was worried something had happened to you. You know me, I care deeply about my colleagues. If you're ever in a bind, just tell me. Please don't hesitate."

Zoe's mouth twitched. Mr. White's attitude had done a total one-eighty.

Wearing her new clothes, she felt remarkably refreshed.

She genuinely couldn't fathom what kind of garbage she used to wear before.

Also, everyone in the company was acting incredibly strange today.

People were treating her with an almost bizarre level of courtesy.

Zoe didn't dwell on it. Once she got to her desk, she buried herself in work.

Everyone claimed she had amnesia, yet she breezed through the mountain of tasks on her desk as if by pure instinct.

"Ms. Lynd, the meeting is about to start."

Mr. White kindly reminded her as he walked past her office, adding a cautionary note.

"Be careful this time. Director Yates is no longer here."

He meant there was no one left to cover for her if things went south.

Zoe remembered the last meeting where Hayden grilled her about the agenda.

She hadn't received any advance notice to prepare anything for this one, either.

Bracing herself, she went in, deciding she would just treat it as a mandatory attendance.

She also wondered how her uncle was doing and planned to visit the Lynd estate when she had some free time.

The conference room was dead silent.

This time, Zoe was assigned a chair—and it was directly next to Hayden.

This man had been intensely physical with her in the car and at the mall just hours ago.

Now, sitting in the office, he acted like she was a total stranger, not even sparing her a glance.

His long fingers tapped the file as his abyssal eyes swept across the room.

"Mr. White, let's start with you."

Sweating profusely, Mr. White stood up, opened the file Hayden had personally drafted, and began reading aloud.

"The Ridgecrest Resort Project is nearing completion. Several top-tier government departments have designated our site as a primary zone for receiving foreign dignitaries. Current lease reservations are fully booked until next year.

"Furthermore, the wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town—"

"..."

Mr. White started sweating as he read.

The shareholders and executives looked completely bewildered.

Hayden rested two fingers against his temples. His seemingly nonchalant eyes slowly opened, his voice cold enough to freeze water.

"Mr. White, what exactly are you reading?"