Damien's scowl deepened when the door clicked open despite his order. "Ed, I said I do not want to be disturbed," he snapped, his fingers tightening around the pen in his hand.
Edward lingered at the doorway. The usual smile on his face faltered when he noticed his boss's dark face. "Apologies, sir. But this is important."
Damien sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair, tossing the pen onto the desk with controlled irritation. "When are things not important?"
Edward stepped inside, a folder tucked under his arm. "The board has approved the charity campaign to support the cancer wing at the hospital. We are moving forward with the press release by Friday. If this plan went successful, we would have enough investors for our new construction project of a hospital in sector one of H City."
Damien's brows barely lifted. "Then handle it. Why are you telling me this now?"
Edward hesitated again. "Because I got a call from the hospital. I presumed that they wanted to discuss the details. But it was not for me, the call was for you, sir."
He paused, meeting Damien's cold gaze before continuing.
"It was the doctor you ordered to keep quiet. He called to inform you that the girl you had admitted yesterday has regained consciousness."
"Then why are you here, go and find Evelyn for it." he growled, standing up abruptly. the chair scraped against the floor behind him.
"She wasn't even my problem!" he shouted, pacing behind the desk. "It was Evelyn's mistake. She picked up a random girl off the road like some bleeding-heart saint and dumped her into the hospital without even asking me!"
His tone sharpened with a venomous look on his face. "Why am I being dragged into her mess?!"
Edward flinched but didn't believe a word Damien said. The girl must be one of his exes. Even if Evelyn had admitted her, it must be to save her. "Sir, the media is already paying too much attention to your flings these days. If it is mishandled now, it could lead to serious backlash. The campaign won't white wash the company's image if they knew your ex girlfriends are admitted in the hospital after you…"
Damien's jaw clenched as if he was reminded of a bad memory. His grip returned to the pen on the desk but this time, it didn't stay there.
With a violent snap of movement, he hurled the pen across the table. It hit the far edge with a loud clatter and bounced onto the floor. He scowled at Edward with a sharp look on his face. "So what, you think I should go kiss the girl's hand and ask for forgiveness?"
Edward exhaled, trying to keep the conversation grounded. "No, sir. But we need to manage the narrative. If she talks to the press, it could turn ugly."
Damien stopped pacing and looked at him with a dark frown.
Edward continued cautiously, "It would be easier if she left quietly. If she is discharged today, we can control what gets out. How about I offer her a good compensation and send her to the countryside for recuperation."
Damien's expression twisted in disgust. "Did you not hear me, Ed? I do not know the girl. Why would I compensate her?" he snapped. "She is not my ex."
"She is not your ex? Then who is she?" Ed looked genuinely confused by the development making Damien grit his teeth. Did he not tell that part already? It was clear that Ed did not believe a word he said.
He pinched his glabella and took a deep breath.
"A girl came in front of our car last night. I wanted to leave but Evelyn insisted that we must admit her. Since the doctors knew about me, they contacted me thinking she might be someone important to me. Is this explanation enough? Now, you can leave." Ed was stunned for a second but he did not leave.
"You meant you helped something without motive. You know, we can use this to create more publicity. The CEO of MZ group of companies had personally helped a stranger." he could already imagine people forgetting about the past news about him.
But Damien only frowned deeper. "I am not in the mood for your parade." he brushed him off. Ed wanted to say more, but looking at the dark face of Damien, he reluctantly nodded and left the room.
The moment the door closed, Damien closed the file in front of him. He picked up his phone for the thirteenth time and checked the calls. There was no missed call, he checked all the messaging applications but there was none. He searched for Evelyn's name but found nothing new waiting for him there. He threw the phone away and his mood worsened.
In the past, whenever he was angry, she would send him sorry many times. She would even tell him that she would cook his favorite dishes or would bring a gift for him. Not that he cared about those gifts, he found them agitating. Since she was spending his money anyway. But in the past, it never happened that she had returned home silently and did not contact him at all.
His chest tightened again and he called on the landline. It only took two rings before the housekeeper picked the phone.
"Hello!"
"Did you call my mother and complain?" the line on the other side went silent making his scoff. "Do you think silence would be enough now? Pick up your things and leave the house. You are fired. I will arrange for someone to work at your place by tonight."
"But sir." Damien did not wait for her to explain or plead. He cut the call without mercy. His eyes narrowed and a smirk appeared on his lips. He called Edward again.
"Sir…"
"That girl in the hospital. What was her name again? You can inform the media that we have not only saved her but offered her job in our office."