Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Chapter 35 A Dress to Kill

After Alex has left, Mr. Russel sits down on the sofa and starts complaining "Unacceptable. He is too arrogant. I am his future father-in-law, after all, he could at least have to respect me. He hasn't changed a bit since Madeline was his wife..."

Emily Russel's face turns red as she hears of Madeline's name "They are divorced, please don't mention her again."

Mr. Russel said tenderly to her favorite daughter "I won't do that anymore."

Even though they were both his daughters, they are glaringly different. Emily was bright, humorous, and studious, she was very obedient towards him, so, Mr. Russel often favors her.

In contrast, Madeline was timid, quiet, and introvert, she likes to keep things to herself. There is always a distance between Madeline and Mr. Russel.

That's why when Madeline got involve in a car accident three years ago, Mr. Russel only mourned his loss for a couple of days. He mostly resented Madeline for divorcing Alexis Hargreaves. So, when Emily steps in to stay by Alex's side, Mr. Russel favors her even more.

"I have a hunch that Alexis is thinking of another girl. He has been acting strange lately." Emily didn't mention Madeline's name as she doesn't want her father to know that her sister was alive.

Mr. Russel doesn't pay much attention to what his daughter just said. He's also a man, one meal cannot prove anything.

"Emily, to become his wife, you should learn to turn a blind eye on things. He is the CEO, of course, he's going to interact with all sorts of people. You cannot get jealous so easily. You should be more confident, as you are the only woman for him."

"A wife's job is to tolerate and support her husband." Mrs. Russel sits down to help her husband when she saw how uncomfortable for Emily this conversation "You should learn from Madeline. She knows how to be patient for the greater good. She brings profit for our family..."

"I'm not Madeline. Her life is worth less than our family's company. However, mine is more precious than some profit. I have always been trying to sneak money to you from Alex. Why do you keep comparing me to her?" Emily yells.

Mr. Russel gets startled by her screams. He looks around to see if all the servants have left.

He wipes sweat off from his forehead and starts begging Emily "Please calm down my lovely daughter, we cannot let Alexis hear this."

"You know I hate getting compared to Madeline. They got married before, I don't even have an official wedding by now..." Emily pouts, she realized that she has overreacted.

Mr. Russel doesn't want Emily to slip out unnecessary information again, so, before leaving Alexis's place, he reminds his daughter "Ok, don't cry. You have to learn how to tolerate and hold back. Men like women that are tolerant and kind, not a vindictive and angry woman."

All of her father's lessons get wasted on Emily because she cannot get over the fact that Madeline is alive. She cannot let Madeline come back and took her position next to Alexis again. Her eyes filled with rage and mischief.

Meanwhile, at the company.

Elly got back to her secretary job. People said she was too inexperienced and immature for another position. People that hate Elly have laughed at her.

One employee consoles Elly, "Don't be sad. Every room has its own function. You can't design but you're very good at being a secretary, I have never seen Alexis getting mad at your coffee brewing skill."

Elly forms a bitter smile on her face, she thanked the employee for her kind words. Because of yesterday's meet up with Emily, Elly realized that as someone who has a fiancée, she shouldn't talk to another man as much. So, the whole day, she just avoids walking into Alex's office. If someone has a document that needs Alex's signatory, she would ask another employee to go inside and give it to him.

Other people think that Elly avoids meeting Alexis because he scolded her for the lack of design skills. Elly wants to keep it that way. However, as she is about to leave, a deep voice appears echoes behind her.

"Elly!"

Elly turns around and puts on a professional smile. "Ms. Hargreaves"

Alexis would like to check if she were okay when she leaves the hotel. When Elly assured her, he felt relieved.

"Are you free tonight?" Alex asked.

"No" Elly replies immediately.

They keep staring at each other the whole time, Elly worries if he found out that she avoided him all day. But Alexis knows everything. His sneaky smirk makes his face looked more handsome than it already was.

"There's a party tonight, you're coming with me," Alex uttered.

"Yes," Elly's hatred on her face was as clear as day.

Alexis frowns "You don't want to?"

Elly shook her head. She knows that this is strictly business, but there's no way she was going to avoid interacting with him now. She feared being called a homewrecker.

Alexis looks at her "Anyways, it doesn't matter whether you like it or not. Wait for me in the garage after work."

Just as he said, Elly was in Alexis's car. All the time she looked out of the window. Somehow, Alexis seems to be upset about something. However, Elly does not know that Alexis was still mad at her slight annoyance when he mentioned the party. Her attitude clearly shows that she has no interest in being with him. Alexis was being hated for the first time in his life.

"If I drink too much, call my driver." he hands out a card to her.

"I understand." Elly took it with both of her hands. The atmosphere in the car was less intensive.

The car stopped in front of a shopping mall. Alexis turned to Elly "Get off!"

Elly was a bit surprised but she quickly does as her boss commands. She followed him to a female clothing store.

"Select the most elegant gown for her," Alexis commanded the saleslady.

"What?" Before Elly could react, the staff already handed her multiple dresses.

Elly stopped in front of the changing stall, she looked at Alexis and reluctantly said. "I already have a suitable gown at home, we don't need to buy another one. Please just wait while I go back home to..."

"I don't have time for you to go back home" Alexis interrupts.

"But I don't have enough money." She pleaded.

"I deduct this from your salary. Don't worry, I don't overuse my employees."

Elly involuntarily goes into the changing stall but, each time she gets out, Alexis would look and then said "Change it."

After about ten gowns, Elly loses all her patience. "Why don't you let me do the choosing? Maybe your sense of fashion is too eccentric"

Alexis ignores Elly "We will buy the one she's wearing, put all the previous gowns in a box for me."

Elly cannot believe what she heard, each of these gowns costs a fortune. She panics when the shop workers handed her the bags.

"Can't you just buy this one?" Elly does not know what was going on in her boss's head.

"I don't want my secretary to wear the same thing each time we're going to a party."

"You're so unbelievable! Don't you have anywhere else more helpful to spend your money with?" Elly said loudly without thinking twice.

The staff giggled then leave hurriedly.

Alexis looked at Elly with his piercing eyes. Elly puts her head down while she holds her own hands.

"This is an important party. So, you better shut your mouth."

"I understand, sir."

"Put this on."

Elly foolishly took the jacket on Alexis' hand without knowing what to do with it.

"Do the buttons up! Do I have to teach you that as well?"

Only when she heard it when she realized her gown was showing too much of her chest, she puts on the jacket immediately. Alexis was pleased. Elly has no idea that the man walking in front of her was smiling. He chose her gown, made her wear it the way he likes it, Alex was extremely happy.