While Emily was lost in her thinking, Bryan continually observed her from his driver's seat. She had been quiet but, at intervals, emotions flickered through her face… pain, anger, worry, and even determination.
It was as though she was warring within herself. He never wanted to notice, but with her too quiet, a sharp contrast to the person he was told about he couldn't help but stare.
His grip on the steering wheel was tight as he navigated through the morning traffic, his mind wandering, carefully replaying the events of the day.
He couldn't help the feeling something was wrong. The series of actions displayed by Emily wasn't one he had expected.
When he couldn't bear it anymore, he decided to speak to her. "Where do you work?" Bryan asked.
With her asking him earlier to drop her off at work, he had a bad feeling he might be in for another shock in contrast to the lady he heard about, though his voice held an edge of hesitation.
Emily, having gathered her composure, was now focused on her phone.
Hearing his question, she answered absentmindedly, "Sterling Group."
"Sterling Group?" Bryan asked, his voice a few decibels high, his hands jerking on the wheel. His foot slammed the brake pedal, and the car screeched to a sudden halt.
Emily lurched forward with a gasp, barely catching herself against the dashboard. A loud thud followed as another vehicle rear-ended them.
Her heart pounded wildly as she stared at him. "What's the problem? Why did you stop so suddenly?" she queried.
Though she was not happy about how she ended up being married to a kingpin, that didn't mean she wanted to die.
Bryan wasn't bothered about the car that had rear-ended out of his carelessness, but he felt fear at her response.
The daughter of the Robert family was not working in the Sterling Group, but this woman worked in the Sterling Group. How come?
His mind raced. Could it be…? No. That's impossible.
Seeing him staring at her, Emily's brow furrowed. "What's the problem? The car has been rear-ended; don't you care to take care of it?"
Bryan snapped out of his daze, clearing his throat. He offered a quick excuse. "The red light came up suddenly. I didn't expect it."
Just as she wanted to say something more, the driver from the other car tapped on the window.
"Excuse me, let me attend to this matter," he said, but before she could say further, he unbuckled his seatbelt and alighted the car.
Emily frowned as she watched him get down. "He is acting strange," she muttered.
Emily sighed, rubbing her throbbing temple. Yesterday she was screaming it was hectic, and today she didn't know the word to qualify it.
But one thing she was certain of was she didn't have the energy to deal with a reckless driver.
Who would believe that last night she was single, but this morning she was married?
"To whom precisely?" she mused. She opened her handbag and retrieved the marriage certificate, but her heart kept beating wildly.
She couldn't bring herself to open it; she dreaded seeing the name on it. It was never in her plans… not even in a serious relationship, and only to be married.
"I will take a look later," she muttered and placed it back in her bag. "Otherwise, when I see him, I will know."
Outside, Bryan leaned against the car, his mind racing. He pulled out his phone to type a message but decided against it. He would discuss with him when he got to the office.
He quickly settled with the other driver who had rear-ended him; since it was his fault, he accepted full responsibility for both cars.
He couldn't help screaming about his bonus that would be cut off this month.
Bryan slid back into the driver's seat, adjusting his tie and unbuttoning his cufflinks.
He had too many questions swirling in his mind that he needed answers to, but he must tread with caution to avoid alerting a snake should all this be a setup.
"Sorry for the delay," he muttered, starting the engine.
Emily merely nodded, gazing out the window. She wasn't in a hurry. What was there to rush for, anyway? She was already trapped in this bizarre situation.
For Emily, the car's interior felt suffocating, not because of its size but because of her troubles and the situation she was trapped in.
She let out a silent sigh and closed her eyes momentarily. Maybe when she opened them again, she would realize it was all just a dream, but no matter how many times she closed and opened her eyes, the reality was there glaring at her.
Bryan stole a glance at her. She didn't look like someone anxious to fall into the hands of his Boss. If anything, she seemed lost, like someone thrown into chaos with no warning.
Still, something wasn't right.
"So," he said, keeping his tone casual. "How long have you been working at Sterling Group?"
Emily blinked, snapping out of her daze. "A long time, probably four years now or more," she answered vaguely.
Bryan hummed in response, pretending to focus on the road while processing the new information.
If she wasn't the intended bride but worked at Sterling Group… then who was she, or better to say, who exactly sent her?
He needed to dig deeper, but he had to be careful. One wrong move, and she might realize something was off.
"You like it there?" he asked, testing her.
She shrugged. "It's a job and hobby. While putting food on the table, do what you like doing," she said nonchalantly.
Short, simple answers. No unnecessary details. Either she wasn't in the mood to talk, or she had things she wasn't saying.
"What department?" he asked with a raised brow.
"Designs… started as a hobby, transformed to a profession." She smirked with a faint smile on her lips. She had always wanted to be a designer, but with no opportunity to further her education, she started off as an assistant.
Emily's lips curled up faintly, relieved with Bryan's small talks. She was grateful he was not that cold-blooded like the people she met last night.
His being able to talk to her had helped her relieve the pent-up tension on her nerves.
While Emily was appreciative, Bryan was contemplating her being in such a crucial department of the company.
"How long have you known Boss?" she asked him. The gentleman before so much varied with the type of people she met last night.
They were cold and menacing, but the man before her was quite the opposite. Though his aura might be intimidating, it wasn't dark.
Bryan stared at her incredulously before he quickly gathered his composure. Hearing her mention Boss made him think of her knowing the big man at the top of Sterling Group.
But then, looking at her closely, he hesitated again. If she truly knew who Boss was, she wouldn't be this calm. She wouldn't be sitting here as if this was just another day.
Bryan's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly as he stole another glance at Emily. He needed to tread carefully.
"Have you met Boss before?" he asked, his voice deliberately casual.
Emily frowned slightly, turning her gaze toward the passing scenery outside the window. "No," she admitted. "Only last night. It was chaotic, so I didn't get a good look at him."
"Last night?" Bryan asked again.
Emily nodded. "He was already in the house when I came back."
Bryan nearly stepped on the brake again.
"What chaotic situation was his Boss into?"
Where was his Boss last night?
Shouldn't it be at the DNG club?
"Shouldn't this be a mistake?" he mused. His thoughts raced.
"You… really didn't recognize him?" he asked, disbelief creeping into his tone.
Emily let out a dry chuckle. "Does that sound ridiculous?"
Bryan stayed silent for a moment before sighing. "A little."
She smirked. "Tell me about him, then."
Bryan hesitated. Tell her? About Boss? If she had no idea who she had married, then dropping the truth on her now would be… problematic.
"He's not easy to describe," Bryan said carefully. "You'll meet him soon enough."
Emily huffed. "That sounds ominous."
With the type of man she met last night, he was really not easy to describe. She only hoped he wouldn't abuse her but let her have her own life.
Bryan forced a chuckle, but inside, his mind raced. She really didn't know.
"How do I solve this problem?" he winced internally.