Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”If it’s in the way, how am I supposed to see you?”

His single sentence successfully countered Nora’s argument.

”It’ll be so inconvenient when I need to change or go to sleep.”

He said dismissively, ”It’s fine. There’s a bathroom. You can change in there.”

Nora nearly choked. She pouted, let out a huff, and said, ”Fine.”

Overcome with boredom, she stood up. ”I’m going to go for a walk.”

”Alright, but don’t stay out too long. It starts to get hot around here after nine.”

Nora nodded. ”Okay.”

Without any pretense, she opened the refrigerator, took out a cup of milk, stuck a straw in it, and began sipping as she walked away.

As she walked out the door, four men followed behind her.

Nora looked around and realized his estate was massive, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

”Are there any secluded spots around here? Somewhere with a little stream? It must be nice and cool to sit by one.”

The men behind her shook their heads. ”No.”

”Can you take me to the grave where I was supposedly buried? I’ve forgotten the way.”

The four men exchanged glances, then said, ”Alright.”

They led the way with Nora following. After a series of twists and turns, they arrived in front of a tombstone. The picture on it was identical to her own face. Nora scoffed. ”Does he come here often?”

”We’ve heard that Young Master Dalton comes to visit whenever he’s in a bad mood.”

”Huh? Has this tombstone been moved again?” Noticing the cracks, Nora stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

”You noticed, Miss Sutton. We heard from the other guys that on the night you were brought back, Young Master Dalton had the tomb opened. Not only were there no bones inside, but even the clothes you were buried in were gone. That’s when Young Master Dalton...”

Nora’s heart skipped a beat. ’If that’s the case,’ she thought, ’then Saphira Sutton wasn’t cremated when she was buried. But I’m definitely not Saphira Sutton... so, does that mean the real Saphira Sutton never died?’

A chill ran down Nora’s spine as she reached this conclusion.

’It looks like I have to rescue Mom before they find out the truth. Otherwise, I won’t be able to get out of here either.’

’That’s when things will get really complicated.’

”To think I’d run right back into him after escaping... heh...”

One of the men gathered his courage and asked, ”Miss Sutton, security here is so tight. How did you manage to crawl out of your grave and escape?”

Nora turned around. ”You really think I’d tell you? Let’s go back.”

She turned and strode off, not detouring anywhere else, heading straight back to the bedroom.

As soon as she walked in, she saw a familiar figure: Claire Sinclair.

Seeing her standing there ramrod straight, Nora’s eyes flickered.

When Claire Sinclair saw her, she smiled. ”You must be Miss Sutton, I presume?”

”That’s me.”

”I’m Claire Sinclair.”

”I didn’t ask, so you didn’t need to tell me,” Nora said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Claire Sinclair looked embarrassed, then turned to Toby Dalton. ”How much longer until Catherine can be discharged?”

”Her face was a mess. Do you think plastic surgery is a walk in the park? The operation can be done in a month, but she needs to come back here to rest and let the swelling subside. Plus, she’s had surgery once before, so this time it all depends on her recovery. Claire Sinclair, the benefits I’ve given you and your daughter are considerable. Not only did I rescue you both, but I gave you money and am paying for your daughter’s surgery. You and your daughter had better serve me well. I won’t mistreat you.”

”Of course, of course. Young Master Dalton, you’re our savior. We’ll do whatever you ask of us.”

”As long as you understand.”

Claire Sinclair nodded. ”Young Master Dalton, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

”Mm.”

Nora sat cross-legged on the bed and pulled out her phone. She composed a text to Quentin Grant, sent it, and then deleted the message. She had bought this phone right before coming here; it was brand new and had no contacts saved. Every time she sent a message, she had to recite the number from memory before powering the phone down.

She opened her laptop, then looked up at him. ”Are there any fun games to play? I’m bored out of my mind.”

”Play Fight the Landlord,” he said. ”Don’t play other games.”

She nodded, quickly logged into a Fight the Landlord platform, and stared intently at the screen, feigning complete indifference to her surroundings.

Toby Dalton worked on his files, glancing over at her from time to time. Just seeing her there was enough to put him at ease.

The day passed just like that.

That night, Nora went to bed at her usual time. She lay down and closed her eyes, but she wasn’t actually asleep.

The door creaked open. ”Young Master Dalton, Miss Gigi is asking if you require her services tonight.”

Toby Dalton threw the pen he was holding and cursed, ”You son of a bitch! Get out and take ten lashes.”

The subordinate instantly knew he had overstepped and immediately left to receive his punishment.

Toby Dalton stood up and slowly walked to the side of Nora’s bed. Seeing that she was asleep, he quietly left the room.

Nora’s eyes snapped open. She sat up and moved to stand by the door.

She heard his voice from outside the door. ”Where did Miss Sutton go this morning?”

”She just went to the gravesite you had prepared for her.”

”Oh?” Toby asked. ”What was she doing there?”

”I don’t know, sir.”

”How did she seem?”

”She seemed perfectly normal. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

”Alright, I understand. You’re dismissed.”

Nora went back to bed.

Toby came back in and closed the door.

He walked over to her bed and stood before her. Looking at her face bathed in moonlight, he felt his breath catch in his throat.

His hand gently traced over her nose, her eyes. Each touch brought Toby a sense of peace.

He circled around the bed, stealthily climbed in, and lay down beside Nora.

Nora’s eyes were half-open, a chill spreading through her heart.

In the middle of the night, she feigned a restless sleep and kicked Toby right off the bed.

With a loud YELP, Toby was jolted awake by the fall. He groggily stood up.

He shot her a helpless glance before trudging back to his own room.

A small smile played on Nora’s lips, and only then did she fall into a peaceful sleep.

When she woke up the next morning and sat up, she found Toby Dalton standing at the head of her bed, staring down at her.

She asked calmly, ”What happened? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”

”It’s not from lack of sleep. You kicked me.”

Nora retorted, ”How is that possible? Our beds are close, but they’re not that close. My legs aren’t that long.”

Toby was too embarrassed to admit he had been sleeping next to her, so he just dropped the subject.

”Come on, let’s get some breakfast.”

Nora nodded. ”Sounds good, I’m starving.”

Holly Wood told her family what happened at the hotel, but she chose to keep the incident at the KTV a secret.

Her parents were furious when they heard.

So, when June Walsh came and rang the doorbell first thing in the morning, Mrs. Wood gave her a piece of her mind.

June left after that.

When Holly got up, Mrs. Wood told her what had happened, but Holly didn’t say a word.

As she headed to work, she was blocked by June Walsh just downstairs from her apartment.

”Holly, your mom is way out of line! How was I supposed to know that Miss Sutton was going to hurt you? She never said anything to me! What right does your mom have to yell at me? Don’t think you can act all high and mighty just because you’re connected to the Lynch Family now!”

Holly’s face was devoid of expression. ”Let’s not see each other anymore. I don’t need a friend like you. Even if you didn’t know her plan, you should have told me everything when you invited me out. You sold me out for your own gain. There’s nothing more to say.”

”Hmph, I knew it. Ever since you started dating Leon Lynch, you’ve been looking down on me. What a joke! Our friendship was all a lie!”

”Think whatever you want,” Holly said and started to walk away.

June stood her ground and yelled after her, ”Holly, you’ll regret this sooner or later! You think it’s that easy to marry into the Lynch Family? If it were, Nora Ainsworth would have done it long ago! Nora is a better catch than you are! Leon’s mother will never accept you!”

Holly turned back. ”Actually, while his mother hasn’t exactly been supportive, she’s not against it anymore either.”

”You...”

”Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you. There’s a saying about frenemies: ’A bad day for you is a sunny day for me.’ I guess that really is true.”

Holly turned and hurried away.

June was practically fuming at her words.

”You think you’re the only one who can get into the Lynch Group? I can get in too!” she declared, then ran after her.

She boarded the same bus as Holly.

Holly knew she was there but said nothing.

After getting off the bus, she went straight to the logistics department to change into her work uniform. She had no idea where June went.

Just as she changed into her uniform and started cleaning with her tools, she saw June walk over, purse in hand. ”I’ll be starting work here tomorrow, too. Holly, we’re going to be coworkers.”

Holly turned away, not bothering to acknowledge her.

June turned away as well, but as she did, she saw Leon Lynch walk into the lobby. He looked sharp and imposing in a crisp blue suit. He glanced in their direction, saw her standing there, and immediately headed over.

June greeted him awkwardly, ”President Lynch...”

Hearing this, Holly immediately turned and saw Leon standing a short distance away.

”Who allowed you in here?” he asked with a frown.

”President Lynch, I was here for an interview. It’s all been arranged, I’m supposed to start work tomorrow.”

Leon’s eyes darkened. ”You? Our company doesn’t want you.”

Before June could say a word, he waved over the head of security, who immediately rushed to his side. ”President Lynch.”

”Don’t let this person into the company ever again. Also, inform the first-floor support services department that she is absolutely not to be hired here. Now, drag her out of here immediately.”

June grew frantic. ”Why won’t you hire me? I just want a job here!”

He glared at her. ”I’m not about to let a troublemaker like you stir things up in my company. Now, get her out of here!”

The head of security nodded and had his men drag June out.

Then, Leon took off his suit jacket, walked over to Holly, and tied it around her waist.

Holly was confused. ”What are you...?”

”You silly girl. Didn’t you realize you got your period?”

Holly’s face turned beet red. She glanced behind her, mortified and unsure what to do.

’I’m sure I checked when I went to the bathroom this morning,’ she thought. ’How could this happen so quickly?’

”I’m going to the restroom,” she said, rushing off.

As soon as she got inside, another wave of panic hit her. ’What am I going to do? I don’t have any pads.’