Chapter 2

Rex's voice echoed as he stood a few meters away from Emily. His voice possessed an aura that made the activities around him stop.

It was uncommon to see Rex Hale yelling at someone in the lobby.

Even staff members and clients gave sneaky glances at the scene that was about to happen.

Emily stood still with wide eyes. She had learned one thing in her job:always be ready for embarrassment, it didn't matter what form it came in.

Instantly, the receptionist ran to Rex. She hadn't anticipated Rex being the one to come.

“Forgive me, sir,” said the receptionist with a respectful bow. “She just started asking questions about you.” She didn't dare look at Rex's face.

Without a word, Rex moved past the receptionist and stood directly in front of Emily, who had chosen today to get on his nerves.

“Answer me.” His voice was traced with anger.

Camilla, Rex's personal assistant, noticed the tension and moved closer to him. “People are staring,” she whispered.

Rex blocked her off with one hand, slightly raised, like he didn't want to hear any of that nonsense.

His son's nanny had resigned that morning, the sixteenth one in just two and a half years.

He hadn't figured out how to explain to his four-year-old that someone else had walked out on him. Again.

And now, this desperate lady had just done the one thing he despised the most, questioning his life.

“It's just work, Mr. Hale,” Emily countered, keeping her composure.

“I understand you find it offensive for me to intrude, but that's what my job requires.”

“Work?” Rex muttered, highly affronted. “You do know I could make you lose that.”

“I do,” Emily admitted.

After a short silence, Emily cleared her throat, “I didn't come here to create a scene, Mr. Hale,” despite the wave of heat surging up her neck, she still managed to keep her voice steady.

“I only need a few minutes for an interview, that's all. You can set the limits on what questions I can and cannot ask.”

“Bloggers,” Rex mumbled. “I should have known better. Don't you steal information? Or isn't that the strategy anymore?”

Emily felt offended that Rex had assumed she was a blogger.

“I'm not some blogger,” she retorted, “I'm a journalist and we get our information properly—straight from people like you.”

Hearing this, Rex gnashed his teeth and made a fist, ready to flare up again, when suddenly a voice softened him.

“Dad?”

Drew's tiny hazy voice called out as he rubbed his eyes, tottering towards Rex.

He had fallen asleep in the car while waiting for him.

Rex smiled as Drew approached him, then pulled him into his arms and placed a hand behind his head.

Emily blinked rapidly. The rumors were true, Rex was a father after all. However, it seemed like he wasn't hiding it as the rumors speculated.

Snapping his fingers, Rex beckoned Camilla to come closer.

“Handle this,” Rex said. He wanted Emily to hear him, plainly.

Camilla nodded before Rex sauntered out with Drew still in his arms.

Once Rex was out of sight, everything returned to normal—but there were still some people stealing glances and whispering.

Camilla turned to Emily with folded arms, “Okay… Time's up, you may leave now.”

To Emily, she hadn't achieved her purpose here—so leaving wasn't even an option.

On that note, she raised her hand to check the time on her watch, it was still morning. “He’d be back, right?”

Suddenly, Camilla laughed. She had had enough of this lady. Who exactly did she think she was?

“You don't expect me to answer that, do you? Rex Hale doesn't do interviews, don't bother waiting for him,” Camilla yelled.

If given a chance, Emily would definitely pull her by the hair and push her hard on the floor. Unfortunately, in order to get this interview, she needed to avoid such temptations.

“Okay.” That was all Emily said, before she gracefully went to sit on a chair positioned in a corner of the lobby.

Camilla chuckled dryly at Emily's act, specifically because of how she walked.

“Unbelievable! You’ve got a talent for wasting energy. Well, have fun sitting there. You'd get tired and leave, just like the rest of you media people.”

As soon as she finished, Camilla sashayed away.

Emily made a fist, but her face stayed composed.

She didn't know who she felt like punching the most—Carol, Rex, or this proud assistant of his.

Five minutes later, Camilla returned to see Emily sitting comfortably—her legs crossed together as she scrolled through her phone.

Emily noticed Camilla's presence, then looked up to meet her malicious glare.

“I just got off the phone with Rex. He said you should wait.”

Emily smiled to herself. Finally!

“Hold the celebration. If I were you, I wouldn't be smiling just yet,” Camilla warned stiffly.

“Follow me,” she said, then walked away, while Emily followed behind.

_

The drive back to Rex's office was chaotic. He had just told his son, Drew, that his nanny had resigned.

As expected, Drew didn't take it well. “No! I want Gabrielle!” he wailed loudly from the backseat, kicking the seats with his tiny sneakers.

“I’m not a bad child, dad. Why do they always leave me?” Drew lamented between tears.

Moments like this broke Rex's heart. He hated to see his son cry over the same damn situation.

“It's okay, son. I promise she will be the last one to leave you, okay?” Rex reassured, tightening his hands on the steering.

Thanks to that nosy journalist, he was very certain no nanny would walk out on his son again.

With a smirk, he stepped hard on the accelerator, increasing its speed.

It wasn't long before he arrived at the company. He walked in hastily carrying Drew, who was still wailing profusely.

Going through the elevator and reaching his office, he swung the door open to find Emily, waiting patiently just like he had asked.

“I’d sit for the interview.”