The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

Sean immediately extended a hand, smiling. "Greetings, President Cole."

Someone beside them chuckled. "I didn’t expect President Cole and President Sinclair to already know each other."

"This is our first time meeting, but I’ve heard of him." As Nathaniel spoke, his gaze deliberately flicked toward Leila.

Leila was confused. Only when someone hurried forward to pull out a chair for Nathaniel did she realize her oversight—but she was no longer needed for that move.

Nathaniel took his seat, and only then did everyone else start to sit down. He looked at Leila, patted the chair beside him, and said quietly, "Sit here."

The simple gesture drew every eye in the room. The executive who had been about to take that seat immediately moved elsewhere.

Clearly, this secretary—who had shown up to a business dinner in casual clothes, carrying a canvas bag—was no ordinary employee.

"Is this your new secretary, President Cole?" someone asked curiously.

Sean’s gaze remained fixed on the pair, especially Leila, as though he could burn a hole through her. She said she was quitting. How had she become Nathaniel’s secretary instead?

Leila had lied to him.

"Recently promoted from administration," Nathaniel replied, studying both Sean and Leila with interest.

While Sean looked ready to explode, Leila appeared as calm as a stranger. It seemed this married couple wasn’t on the best of terms.

Someone asked again, "And what’s your name, miss?"

"Leila Jennings," Sean answered before Leila could speak.

The man looked surprised. "Do you know her personally, President Sinclair?"

Leila lifted her eyes—she wanted to hear how Sean would answer that question too.

"I do," Sean said with a smile. Just two words, and nothing more.

Leila lowered her gaze, a cold, mocking smile touching her lips. Even with her standing right here, Sean would never publicly admit they were married.

Good thing they were divorced!

"Is that so?" Nathaniel asked, turning to her.

Leila nodded. "Yes, we know each other."

Nathaniel’s eyes darkened slightly. "Interesting."

For the rest of the evening, everyone addressed her simply as "Miss Jennings." They all assumed that anyone personally promoted by Nathaniel to serve as his secretary must have some special qualities. But for now, they couldn’t see any remarkable professional talents in her—except for her look and her air.

She didn’t look youthful and innocent, nor was she overtly glamorous. Instead, she carried a cool, intellectual elegance, like a lily blossom quietly holding its fragrance among the branches.

"So that’s President Cole’s type," someone murmured to Sean. The round table was too large for the whisper to carry across.

Sean frowned. "Don’t talk nonsense. Leila has a family. She’s married."

"How do you know that?"

Sean had no answer.

The man grinned. "Cat got your tongue? Don’t tell me she’s your type too."

"No," Sean replied, lifting his glass for a sip.

"I clearly remember you already have someone you like. You’ve been waiting for her to come back to you."

"It’s not like that," Sean replied.

"Then why are you acting so strangely?"

Sean didn’t know the answer either. He took another sip of liquor. For a seasoned drinker like him, two mouthfuls were no different from water.

But Leila hated seeing him drink. Back at home, whenever he reached for a glass, she would look over and say, "No."

Now he’d already taken two drinks, yet Leila sat quietly without making a move. Whenever a dish stopped in front of her, she took a bite. While everyone else was here to network, she seemed genuinely focused on eating. Slowly, steadily, she never stopped putting food into her mouth.

A strange irritation rose in Sean’s chest. He set his glass down harder than intended, drawing heads.

Nathaniel lifted his eyes lazily. "President Sinclair, do you have an issue with The Cole Group hosting the tech expo this year?"

"Not at all, President Cole." Sean immediately drank three glasses as a penalty for his behavior.

Leila watched him empty one glass after another, thinking his stomach would definitely hurt after this. Then again, she thought maybe a little pain would do him good.

She lowered her head and continued with her food. As if aiming for some purpose, Nathaniel waited until Sean finished his third glass before asking, "I hear you’re married, President Sinclair?"

Sean paused, instinctively glancing at Leila. Did she tell him that? Hadn’t she promised never to reveal who she was married to?

"President Cole, where did you hear that rumor?" someone laughed. "Our president isn’t married. If he were, wouldn’t we know?"

"Exactly. President Sinclair is still waiting for his love—ah!"

That man hadn’t yet finished his words when he got stomped on the foot by Sean under the table. The man looked over in confusion, and Sean smiled pleasantly, silently warning him not to continue.

Nathaniel observed the exchange with amusement. These people hung out with Sean so often, yet they knew less about him than he did. At least now he knew one thing for certain—Sean had never made his marriage public, and those around him had never even met Leila either.

Interesting. What was the point of having a marriage like this?

"Thank you for your concern, President Cole. But I’m sure a busy man like you doesn’t need to concern himself with my personal affairs." Sean raised his glass again. "Here’s to the complete success of The Cole Group’s tech expo."

Nathaniel lifted his own glass in a token gesture. "There’ll be an industry networking gala after the expo. I look forward to seeing your date."

Since President Cole had spoken, everyone hurried to agree. "Absolutely." Glasses rose around the table, and Leila had to follow, so she picked up her wine glass as well.

Sean’s expression tightened. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "Leila can’t drink."

Leila froze with the glass in hand and looked at him. Sean quickly added, "Ladies probably shouldn’t drink, right? Get her a glass of milk instead."

There would always be drinks at business dinners. But the guests didn’t want to make it hard for Sean, so they gestured to the waitress to get her a glass of milk. Leila stared at it absent-mindedly. So Sean did remember some things about her after all.

But what was the point? She never touched the milk.

There was, however, one dish on the turntable she had been eyeing all evening. Every time it approached, someone spun the table before she could reach it. Now it was coming around again.

Knowing it would probably disappear before she got the chance, she didn’t even bother lifting her spoon.

Suddenly, the dish slowed, then stopped directly in front of her.

Leila looked up and saw Nathaniel’s hand resting casually on the turntable. He tipped his chin toward the dish, silently telling her to help herself to it.

She picked up a serving, and Nathaniel released the turntable. It lasted less than five seconds, and no one noticed the small gesture at this large table. Everyone else was discussing projects worth tens of millions of dollars and barely noticed her.

But Sean saw every second of it. His lips pressed hard, and his jaw tightened. He found an excuse and took his leave. "I’m going to the restroom."

The moment he stepped outside, he sent Leila a message telling her to meet him. Her old phone lit up at the message, and she considered pretending not to see it.

But then another message arrived: [Leila Jennings, if you don’t come out, I won’t wait a month for your resignation. I’ll talk about it to President Cole myself.]

Without this job as a shield, Sean would drag her home, force her to play maid during the day, and pressure her into having a child at night. The thought made her blood run cold.

She stood up and said, "President Cole, I’m going to the restroom."

Nathaniel’s eyes flickered. "Okay." But he didn’t look pleased.

Leila couldn’t worry about that now. She had barely stepped out of the private room when Sean grabbed her wrist and yanked her away.

"Let go of me!"

Only after they reached a secluded corner outside the restaurant did he release her. Then he snapped, "So this is what you call resigning? A resignation or a promotion? I’ve never seen anyone transferred from administration straight into the President’s office as a secretary. Leila, what else are you hiding from me?"