I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Are You Third Brother’s Girlfriend?

Though the words were directed at Leah Sinclair, Sheila Hughes and Zion Sawyer burst out laughing.

Sheila Hughes put an arm around Leah Sinclair’s shoulder and said, ”This woman right here is the future president’s wife. What, you didn’t know President Keating’s girlfriend was back? You’re a pretty lousy assistant, aren’t you?”

”Exactly! And you’re going to accuse us of taking the president’s elevator without permission? Give me a break, Tiana Vaughn,” Zion Sawyer said, rolling her eyes at her. ”The future president’s wife is the one who brought us up. What about you? You ride this elevator all day long. Who knows if the president or Assistant Yates even gave you authorization?”

”What future president’s wife? Asher has a girlfriend?” Tiana Vaughn stared at Leah Sinclair, her heart skipping a beat.

Previously, while Leah was abroad and not returning for winter or summer breaks, Mabel Grant had specifically arranged for her to take etiquette courses.

The courses weren’t complicated. It wasn’t that Mabel looked down on Leah for being unrefined; she just wanted to use these lessons to improve her bearing. After all, Leah was prone to low self-esteem, and Mabel didn’t want her to stay that way.

As a result, even though Leah wasn’t wearing any particularly luxurious clothing, she carried herself with a distinct air. Her expression was placid, her casual demeanor laced with a hint of aloofness.

When Tiana’s eyes landed on the several hickeys on Leah’s neck, her eyelid twitched.

”Don’t believe me? See that? Two floors selected. One is for our department on the 31st floor, and the other is your floor, the 68th. Go on up and ask around later.”

Sheila Hughes lifted her chin and whispered to Leah, ”Later, we’ll give you the full scoop on this little white lotus’s bizarre antics.”

Leah Sinclair gave a slight nod. The elevator arrived at the 31st floor. Sheila Hughes and Zion Sawyer said to her, ”Take care, Madam President. See you later!”

Leah Sinclair smiled and waved at them. As the elevator doors closed, silence fell inside. Tiana Vaughn was secretly observing Leah, while Leah had only glanced at the name tag on her chest. It read ’Tiana Vaughn.’ Looking at her face again, she recalled that this was the girl standing next to Asher Keating in a social media post Ethan Shaw had once shared.

She didn’t know why this girl was also at the Keating Group. The previous night, Asher Keating had only told her that he had sponsored the girl’s education; he hadn’t mentioned that she worked for the Keating Group.

After a moment of hesitation, Tiana Vaughn spoke up. ”Hey, are you really Asher’s girlfriend?”

Leah Sinclair gave her a cool glance, her mood souring. It wasn’t just that she called Asher Keating by his familiar name; for someone who worked in the Keating Group’s President’s Office, her words were simply too rude.

’Who says, ’Hey’?’

DING.

The elevator doors opened. Leah Sinclair ignored her and walked straight out. Tiana Vaughn stepped forward and grabbed her, her tone sharp. ”You haven’t answered me yet. Why are you on the 68th floor? Are you really...”

”Second Miss Grant, you’re here! President Keating is in his office.”

Sean Yates had just come out of Asher Keating’s office and immediately hurried over when he saw Leah Sinclair. Seeing Tiana Vaughn grabbing her hand, he frowned and snapped in a low voice, ”Tiana, let go of Second Miss Grant.”

Tiana Vaughn immediately let go of Leah Sinclair’s hand, her face paling. Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes filled with disbelief, making her look rather pitiful.

Leah Sinclair glanced at her face and spoke leisurely, ”Assistant Yates, I recall Aevon had a rule, didn’t it? That the president’s elevator can only be used by the president or those at the senior assistant level and above who have been authorized.”

”If a regular employee uses it, the first time is a reminder, the second is a warning, and starting from the third time, there’s a fine, right? I wonder if the Keating Group has the same rule?”

Sean Yates was taken aback. This was the first time he’d seen Leah Sinclair speak with such an attitude. Seeing Tiana Vaughn’s expression, he inwardly clicked his tongue and quickly replied, ”Yes, we do. Starting from the third time, it’s a fine of one hundred per use.”

Leah Sinclair smiled and lifted her chin. ”Then this woman who just came up with me... Tiana Vaughn, was it? Does she have authorization from President Keating or you?”

”...No.”

”Then calculate how many times she’s used it in total. From what I heard earlier, it’s been quite a lot. That should be at least a month’s salary deducted, shouldn’t it?”

This floor housed the president’s office, as well as the staff from the President’s Office and administration. Hearing the commotion, many people poked their heads out, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Tiana Vaughn’s face went pale, then red, then pale again. As Leah Sinclair turned to leave, Tiana couldn’t help but cry out, ”By what right can you dock my pay? You don’t even work for our company!”

Leah Sinclair turned back to look at her, a faint smile on her lips. ”I don’t have the right to dock your pay. But... can Assistant Yates?”

”Yes. I will make the arrangements.”

Sean Yates replied immediately. Although he didn’t know what Leah was up to, he knew listening to her was always the right move.

Asher Keating opened the door. He thought he had faintly heard Leah Sinclair’s voice, but when she didn’t come in after a while, he came over to see what was happening, just in time to overhear the exchange.

Tiana Vaughn saw him first. Her eyes instantly reddened, and aggrieved tears welled up as she pleaded, ”President Keating... I... I don’t want my pay docked. I really need the money. My little brother has tutoring fees due next month. I can’t have my pay docked.”

Leah turned and saw Asher Keating slowly walking over. She felt a pang of guilt, but upon hearing Tiana’s words, an inexplicable irritation rose within her. She pressed her lips together lightly and looked at Asher.

Asher Keating took Leah Sinclair’s hand, his face expressionless, and said coolly to Sean Yates, ”Do as Leah says.”

”Yes, sir.”

”Asher!”

Tiana Vaughn cried out in shock. She never imagined Asher Keating wouldn’t even spare her a glance before taking that woman’s hand and leaving.

He had sponsored her for two years, and after graduation, he had let her join his company without hesitation, even though she only had a vocational diploma.

But now, right in front of so many people, he was docking a month of her salary for this woman.

Leah Sinclair entered Asher Keating’s office. Asher didn’t say anything, so she was the one who finally couldn’t resist asking, ”Is she the university student you sponsored?”

”Mhm. She started working here after graduation.”

”She likes you,” Leah Sinclair stated, carefully observing Asher Keating’s expression.

”Plenty of people like me.”

Asher Keating didn’t even lift his gaze, his long fingers gripping a pen as he signed documents with swift strokes. After speaking, he paused the tip of his pen, looked up at her with a playful glint in his eyes, and said, ”Or are you jealous? Do you want me to fire everyone who likes me?”

”Of course not!”

’Is he kidding?’ Leah thought. ’Forget half, at least a third of the women in the entire Keating Group probably have a crush on Asher Keating. If he fired them all, how many people would be unemployed? Would any work even get done at the Keating Group?’

But hearing Asher Keating say that, Leah’s mood inexplicably brightened. She stood up from the sofa and began to wander around the office.

This office was much larger than his old one at Aevon. Located on the 68th floor, it had an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that let in an abundance of light. Standing by the window, she could even see Riverfall Lake. The floor was so high, however, that a single glance made Leah turn back, feeling a little dizzy.

After signing all the documents, Asher Keating leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. He watched Leah as she looked here and touched there, her expression one of utter fascination, and the corners of his lips curled into a smile.

Seeing that he was finished with his work, Leah leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck, and nuzzled against him. ”Asher.”