Chapter 45

To show Michael he meant business, Vaughn told Isabella and Olivia to finish the project and demanded results in two weeks. So, for Isabella and Olivia, working late became a necessity.

When the office was empty except for the two of them,Isabella realized she forgot to tell Michael she'd be working late and he didn't need to pick her up.

She rushed to the window and saw his familiar black business car already parked downstairs. She quickly ran to the stairwell and quietly called Michael.

"Hey, Mr. Johnson, I'm so sorry. I've been swamped today and forgot to tell you I need to work overtime. Can you head home first? I'll grab a cab when I'm done," Isabella said, hoping Michael wouldn't be upset.

Michael couldn't think of any urgent projects at the branch that needed late-night work, so he asked, "Why do you suddenly need to work overtime? What's going on?"

"It's about the project Olivia and I are working on. Mr. Vaughn Johnson only gave us two weeks, so we need to work overtime to get some preliminary work done before we can discuss the collaboration with the client," Isabella explained.

"Why's the timeline so tight?" Michael was puzzled. "Is this project really that important?"

"It's super important to Olivia and me," Isabella said patiently. "The project proposal was submitted when Mr. Mitchell was here, but it never got approved. Mr. Vaughn Johnson saw it and thought it was good, so he put us in charge of pushing it forward."

"There's no need to work overtime for that. Vaughn's useless," Michael

grumbled. Vaughn wasn't very capable himself but was good at delegating tasks.

"Michael, this is the first time Olivia and I have been independently in charge of a project. We both want to do a good job, and Mr. Alen sacrificed his own time to help us with the data. Michael, please support us!" Isabella was worried MMichael would come up to confront Vaughn, so she softened her tone to appease Michael.

"Alright, I'll come to pick you up at nine, no later," Michael finally agreed.

Isabella replied, "Okay, Michael, thank you. I'll get back to work now. Bye!"

Isabella's words melted Michael's heart, making him lose himself.He couldn't help but smile, and he looked much gentler.

"Alright, you go ahead and work. I'll pick you up at nine," Michael's voice was so gentle that Jerry and Aaron, sitting in the front, couldn't believe their ears.

Vaughn was about to leave work when he saw the familiar business car driving away. He sighed, thinking, 'Michael really doesn't trust me. It seems Isabella and Olivia's plan has to be expedited and completed before the end of the year, and it has to succeed.'

Watching Michael's car leave, Vaughn followed in his own car.

Without picking up Isabella, Michael didn't want to go home, so he called Jeremy, "Jeremy, let's grab a drink."

"Last time I invited you, you didn't come and even threatened to hit me with a bottle. Are you trying to set me up again? I'm telling you, I'm okay with a couple of drinks, but if you start a fight, I'm not going,"Jeremy said into the phone for a long time, but there was no sound from the other end.

When he looked, Michael had already hung up.

He had to contact Aaron to find out where Michael had arranged to meet.But to his surprise, Michael went straight to his house.

Downstairs at Jeremy's place.

As soon as Michael got out of the car, he noticed Vaughn tailing him.

"Michael, I need to talk to you," Vaughn called out, catching up.

"Why aren't you at the office? What are you doing here?" Michael shot Vaughn a cold look.

"Michael, it's after work," Vaughn explained.

"You know it's after work! Have you thought about what your employees are doing right now?" Michael snapped.

Vaughn, confused by Michael's anger, replied, "They're creating value for the company."

Michael snorted and ignored him.

When Michael entered Jeremy's house, Jeremy noticed Vaughn following and craned his neck to look behind him. Not seeing anyone else, he tentativey asked Míchael, "Michael, is Eric coming?"

Michael glared at Vaughn and said, "It's because of him. Eric is stuck working overtime at the office!"

Vaughn finally understood why Michael was so unfriendly and irritable.

Jeremy looked Vaughn up and down and said, "Michael,have you had some good news recently? It's written all over your face. Spill it so we can all be happy."

Michael glanced at himself in the mirror, adjusted his expression,and asked,"Is it that obvious?"

Jeremy crossed his arms and said with a smirk, "Of course. Just look at the corners of your mouth. They used to be straight and pressed together, but now they're turned up and you can't hide it."

Jeremy demonstrated as he spoke.

Michael laughed. "It's not that exaggerated!"

"Michael," Jeremy tugged at Michael's sleeve and asked mysteriously, "Tell me, what's making you so happy? I swear on my honor, I won't tell Qiana.

"1

Jeremy raised his right hand in an oath.

Michael glanced at him and said, "Come on, you have no honor in front of Qiana."

"Just tell me, are you and Eric really dating?" Jeremy followed Michael,pressing for an answer.

"It's definitely true."

"It's definitely not true."

Michael and Vaughn said simultaneously.

Jeremy immediately left Michael and sat next to Vaughn, curiously asking,"Do you know some inside scoop? Tell me."

Vaughn wanted to say that once he had stopped Michael's car and found a girl inside with him. But seeing Michael's look,he chickened out.

He changed his tune and said, "I asked Eric. With my twenty-plus years of life and dating experience, I can tell they're definitely not dating. When they talk about each other, there's no sparkle in their eyes."

Jeremy, disapointed that Vauqhn didn't reveal any big news he had

expected, chided, "That's it? Any inside scoop, something juicy,exciting?"

"Lowbrow!" Michael looked at Jeremy with disdain. Then he downed his drink and said, "I'm leaving."

"It's just getting started. Where are you going?" Jeremy asked curiously.

On a whim, Vaughn said, "To the branch office?"

"To pick up my lover from work." Michael neither confirmed nor denied it and walked straight out the door.

Jeremy was so angry he jumped up and down. "Look at him, going to find Eric again late at night. You're his cousin. Can't you do something about him?"

Vaughn sneered, "You can't do anything about him either."

Jeremy sighed deeply. Michael's current state made him both heartbroken and headache-ridden. He muttered to himself, "Isn't this too much?"

It was unclear whether he was talking about Michael or someone else.