Isabella opened her mouth like she had more to say, but Marcus’s sharp gaze stopped her cold.
“Yes, sir,” she muttered reluctantly and walked out, but not before shooting the deadliest glare she could muster at Elaine.
Yeah, she wasn’t gonna forget this slap anytime soon.
Payback was inevitable—both for today and for what Audrey did.
She was keeping score.
While Elaine was still fuming silently, she felt Marcus’s icy stare lock onto her.
She’d wanted to ask about the whole office romance thing, but since they’d already said she came in here to rest…
maybe she should actually rest?
“President Sinclair, make yourself at home.
I’ll just borrow your couch for a bit,” Elaine said, already making her way toward the big leather sofa.
But Marcus’s cold voice cut her off instantly.
“Who said you could rest?”
Elaine blinked.
“Wait, I can’t?” she said innocently.
“But if I don’t get a quick nap, I’ll be useless for the rest of the afternoon.”
Marcus wasn’t buying her act anymore.
He asked coolly, “Heard you fixed the computer?”
“Yup,” Elaine replied without hesitation.
“I didn’t know you were good with tech.”
“I had nothing better to do at home, so I picked it up,” she said casually.
“Oh?” Marcus narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
Elaine nodded again, trying her best to look sincere.
But come on, a lie like that?
Even a kindergartener wouldn’t fall for it.
Marcus was definitely intrigued now.
She clearly wasn’t Audrey—but who was she, really?
He had a feeling the truth was about to surface soon.
As bizarre as the whole situation seemed, it was unfolding right in front of his eyes.
Elaine smacked her lips nervously, then forced herself to speak.
“President Sinclair, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
She hesitated a beat.
“Does the company, uh, not allow office relationships?”
That made Marcus pause.
He started tapping the desk with his knuckles and looked her over carefully.
Elaine felt super awkward under his stare.
Maybe she shouldn’t have asked?
After a moment, Marcus asked with his usual frosty tone, “Why do you care?”
“I saw the pictures, remember?” Elaine forced a grin, trying to play it off.
Marcus actually let out a soft laugh, not buying it for a second.
“You’ve been here one day and already concerned about your coworkers?”
“Of course!” Elaine said dramatically.
“They say it takes countless lifetimes just to meet someone again.
So tell me—how rare is it to become office buddies?”
Marcus wasn’t convinced.
“You actually believe that?”
“Absolutely,” Elaine said, placing a hand over her heart like she was making a solemn vow.
Marcus was staring her down with those razor-sharp eyes.
Elaine smiled like a doofus and tried to change the subject.
“President Sinclair, isn’t your team mostly women?
Except for Assistant Bennett?”
“If you’re not happy with that, I can make changes,” he said coolly.
“Oh, no no no,” Elaine shook her head and waved her hands wildly, like she was swatting away bees.
“If everyone suddenly became a guy, my decision paralysis would kick in big time…”