Chapter 147

“I swear, if I find out who recorded this…” Aubree ground her teeth in frustration. “You all get to work—send the recording to the forensic lab first. I need to figure out how to handle this situation.”

Keeping everyone here won’t solve anything with so much else to handle. Aubree waved her hand and decisively called an end to the meeting.

Aubree propped her chin in her hands. What should I do? Just wait it out, she wondered. “Who knows what other surprises might pop up if I just wait around? Should I ask Emery to come forward and clarify?”

A fleeting thought crossed Aubree’s mind, but she dismissed it at once. ‘First,’ she reasoned inwardly, ‘I can’t be sure if Emery is involved—and even if he isn’t, I just couldn’t bring myself to ask him!’

“Bree, you in there?” A voice called from outside the slightly ajar conference room door.

A voice filtered through the slightly ajar conference room door.

Aubree froze for a moment and looked up. Did I mishear? she wondered. “Why did I just hear Bowen’s voice?”

“I’m coming in,” he said.

A moment later, a series of sharp knocks rapped against the door.

‘Bowen actually came?’ Aubree thought in disbelief.

The conference room door swung halfway open, revealing Bowen’s unfairly handsome face. “Mind if I come in?” he asked.

“Come on in,” Aubree replied.

Bowen walked in, dressed simply and casually, with sneakers on his feet.

“Looks like you’re in a bit of trouble.” Bowen arched a brow, then helped himself to the chair closest to Aubree and sat down.

“You’re here, so you obviously already know, don’t you?” Aubree snapped.

Bowen couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, should I say you really get me now?”

Aubree said impatiently, “I’m really not in the mood for your jokes right now.”

Bowen’s playful demeanor faded as he grew serious. “The club’s issues aren’t hard to resolve. I know exactly what you’re after.”

Bowen leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, hushed tone. “I had Kelvin get the surveillance footage.”

Aubree’s pupils constricted. Before she realized it, his face was mere inches away—his breath brushing her cheek. Uncomfortable with the sudden proximity, she instinctively tilted her head aside.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Bowen asked, genuinely puzzled—completely unaware of how close he was to Aubree.

His warm breath brushed her skin, his intoxicating scent filling the air and surrounding her from all sides, leaving her nowhere to escape.

The conference room was huge, yet she felt suffocated.

Flustered, Aubree quickly averted her gaze. “N–nothing, how did you get the surveillance footage?” she said.

Bowen gave a dry chuckle. “The Turner Group holds shares in the official League of Legends operator.”

The Turner Group primarily operated in investments, with its presence spanning virtually every industry.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—this principle has been the key to the Turner Group’s enduring success. They consistently spot new business opportunities and invest in cutting-edge, profitable ventures.

Aubree had to admit she was impressed. For a moment, she couldn’t even begin to describe the whirlwind of emotions inside her.

Aubree subtly edged back, hesitated for a moment, then quietly asked, “I’m always troubling you. Does that make me a burden to you!”

‘Had Bowen not come to me first, I wouldn’t have thought to ask for his help,’ she wondered.

Aubree knew full well this would be a breeze for Bowen to handle. But the more she relied on him, the more dependent she’d become, and that wasn’t good news for Aubree.

Aubree pursed her lips. “It feels like you’ve been helping me ever since we met,” she said. “I don’t believe in free lunches.”

Bowen mulled over her words, and it suddenly dawned on him. ‘Wait, is Bree actually getting tired of me?’ he wondered.

She wanted to distance herself from him—or even leave him altogether.

This wasn’t supposed to be bad news for him. After all, his original plan was to quietly step back from her life once she became fully capable of handling things on her own.

‘But why do I feel so bothered?’ Bowen wondered.

Bowen’s lips curved in a faint smile, but his eyes turned cold and distant. “I see,” he said tonelessly.

With that, he left only a USB drive on the table.