Page 60 of Obsessing Over His Favorite
“Sorry,” Emily said with a sheepish smile. “What’s up?”
Niya asked, “Where are you? I haven’t seen you at the office the past couple of days. Are you coming back? Did you check those designs I showed you? What happened to them? Did you find anything?”
Emily straightened in her chair, fidgeting slightly. “Those designs are stolen. I told Mr. Cantrell, but he didn’t believe me. So I quit that day.”
“Oh my God, really?” Niya hissed, shocked. “I can’t believe Mr. Cantrell wouldn’t believe you—even with proof. How is that possible?”
Niya glanced briefly toward the CEO’s office and lowered her voice. Quietly, she muttered into the phone, “Mr. Cantrell’s been furious all morning. Ever since he walked in, he’s been shouting at anyone who enters his office.”
“Why? What happened?” Emily asked curiously.
“I don’t know,” Niya answered. “There was so much noise today. Everyone’s afraid to even talk to him—people think he might fire everyone who crosses his path. That’s why they’re staying clear.”
Suddenly, the phone was ripped from Niya’s hand. She spun around, startled—and came face to face with Lucas.
“Mr. Cantrell,” Niya stammered, completely lost for words.
“Emily.” Lucas brought the phone to his ear and spoke sharply. Immediately, Emily went stiff.
She gritted her teeth, face hardening.
But since it was Niya’s phone, she couldn’t just hang up without risking Niya getting into trouble. So she stayed silent.
Lucas’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles whitened.
“What the hell were you thinking, taking your luggage out of the house and not coming back? Are you planning to live in hotels forever?”
“It’s none of your business anymore,” Emily snapped, starting to hang up.
“Emily Crawford,” Lucas cut her off just as fiercely, “I want you home when I get back. If I don’t see you there, I’ll come getyou myself—and make sure you never step foot out of my house again.”
Silence on the line.
Then Emily slammed her hand down on the table and snapped back angrily, “Have you lost your mind? I told you we’re done! Stop haunting me!”
Then, without hesitation, she hung up the call.
Lucas’ jaw clenched so hard his teeth threatened to shatter as he slammed his finger against the dial again. But the damn woman didn’t pick up. Not once.
He let out a ragged, frustrated breath, his chest rising and falling with tension, then turned his burning gaze toward Niya.
Her eyes widened in panic. She stumbled back a step, raising trembling hands helplessly. “Sir… m-my phone,” she stammered, voice barely more than a whisper.
Lucas’s stare bore into her like ice. “What’s your name?”
Niya’s heart pounded painfully against her ribs. ‘Is he going to fire me? Hunt me down and murder me? What the hell is happening?’ she thought, barely able to breathe.
“Niya, sir,” she whispered, voice trembling.
He nodded curtly. “When Emily calls you again, you’re going to tell me everything. Every word she says, you’ll report it to me.”
“Sir… that could cause problems—” Niya’s face drained of color, her voice a fragile tremble, but she forced a faint, shaky smile like a lifeline.
“Are you refusing my order?”
She snatched the phone from his hand, nodding quickly. “No, sir. I’ll tell you everything.”
Before Lucas could say another word, Niya spun on her heel and bolted out of the room, her footsteps pounding down the hall like a frantic drumbeat—like she was running for her very life.
