Chapter 3
My love was already a mess, but I refused to let my job also end up unfinished like that.
I worked overtime and kept myself constantly busy.
Partly to finish my job faster, but mostly to distract myself from everything else.
When I was busy, I didn't have time to think about other things.
I was running myself ragged, both physically and emotionally. I had been feeling sleepy and sick recently.
My boss, Elias Voss, let me keep it together, since the client would come here this afternoon to seal the deal.
I walked into the conference room and paused suddenly.
Sitting at the head of the table was a familiar figure.
Knox was dressed in a formal suit. Besides him was Lilo, wearing a figure-hugging dress with an open back.
My nails dug into my palms without me even realizing it. Seeing this, Elias thought I was nervous.
He leaned in and whispered, "Don't be nervous. Our proposal and designs have already been sent to their project manager.
"The young heirs are just taking a look, nothing more.
"Just present it as usual."
I took a deep breath and tried to put on a smile.
I opened my proposal and showed my design concept to them in an orderly manner.
Lilo rested her chin in her hand, nodding along with a smile, while my boss gave me a thumbs-up under the table.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and the others hurriedly handed over the contract when they saw this.
Lilo smiled, but didn't pick up the pen, and looked straight at me.
She said casually, "But I don't want to sign it."
The smile on Elias's face froze.
I smiled and asked politely, "Is there anything you are not satisfied with?"
Lilo didn't even look at the contract. Instead, she reached out to admire her new nails.
She replied, "Hard to say, it's just a feeling..."
Saying that, she gave Knox's arm a little tug and asked, "What do you think?"
Everyone's attention shifted to Knox, but he stared at me.
I avoided his gaze immediately.
Knox said mockingly, "It seems that you're not very confident in your own work."
Knox shut it down coldly. "Keep reworking it until Lilo's satisfied."
For two years, I had painted thousands of drafts that ended up in the trash.
Countless days and nights spent in the office, and now it was finally nearing the finish line.
I thought this project would end my career perfectly.
But with just a few words, the whole project failed before it could even begin.
In the office, Elias looked upset.
He couldn't figure out why they suddenly made things difficult for me, so he just patted me on the shoulder sympathetically.
He said, "Iris, you have to make the changes according to their request..."
"No," I said and handed over my resignation letter. "Let someone else who's capable take this project."
It was not that I didn't want to finish it myself.
Just that I knew exactly who Lilo was after.
Only when I left could this project get anywhere.
Unexpectedly, my only concern here was actually destroyed like this.
That sick feeling in my stomach hit me again. I couldn't hold on anymore, so I rushed out immediately.
Suddenly, Knox grabbed me into the empty conference room.
He actually hadn't left yet.
He pressed me against the door, leaning down and giving me a punishing bite.
He tried to take it even further, but I bit down hard with all my strength.
A strong smell of blood spread between our teeth and lips.
My hand moved faster than my brain. With a sharp slap, I shoved Knox away.
I shouted, "Get lost."
Knox just stood there, his expression dark and impossible to read.
He paused for a few seconds, then raised his hand and wiped the blood from his lips, almost carelessly.
From behind me, he slammed the door shut, the one I'd just barely managed to crack open.
One hand seized my wrist and reached over my head.
The other hand gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him, his calloused thumb tracing slowly along my lips.
Knox said, "Iris, after five years, why are you still so stubborn?"
I tried to break free, but the harder I tried, the tighter I was grabbed.
His breath was warm against my ear. He continued, "If you apologize for what happened last time, how could the mess happen.
"Is it so hard for you to just apologize to Lilo?"
Knox's voice was softer than any of the sweet nothings he'd whispered to me.
But I couldn't help but shiver all over, not cold, but with belly cramps.
A weird sensation washed over me, and something surged out of me.
A crazy, absurd thought popped into my head.
I wanted to look down, but Knox grabbed my chin. I could only bite my lip and endure it.
Something warm slid down my thigh and streamed on the carpet below.
Even Knox noticed that something was wrong.
He looked down. His face drained of color, and his pupils contracted in alarm.
"Iris, you..." Knox blurted out in shock.
My mind went blank, and everything in front of me went black suddenly.
Finally, I couldn't hold on. My whole body just crumpled to the ground.
I fell into a long, endless dream.
I found myself back on the university campus, the first time I met Knox. He was leaning over the railing and looking down at me.
He asked with a smile, "Hey, what's your name?"
I just glanced at him and said nothing.