Page 40 of King of Ruin

Benjamin dropped his hand and looked straight at Hailey.

"...Then he gets angry because Miss Foster didn't come with him."

Hailey stared at him in stunned silence.

"...But..."

She looked toward the office, then back at Benjamin as though hoping she'd misunderstood.

"...Leaving her behind was his choice."

"I know."

Benjamin answered so quickly it was obvious he'd had this exact conversation with himself countless times.

"I've replayed it in my head more times than I can count."

He shook his head with a tired laugh.

"It doesn't matter whether Miss Foster is genuinely delayed or whether Mr. Chen is the one who leaves without her. If they don't arrive together..." He pointed toward the president's officeagain before letting his hand fall limply to his side. "...this is what happens."

Hailey slowly turned her head to look at the closed office doors.

The tense atmosphere on the executive floor suddenly made perfect sense.

Managers hurried through the hallway without making unnecessary noise. Assistants spoke in hushed voices. Even the sound of keyboards seemed quieter than before.

Everyone was trying not to draw Xavier's attention.

She looked back at Benjamin, her expression filled with disbelief.

"So Mr. Chen..."

She hesitated, trying to phrase the thought that still refused to make sense.

"...gets angry because Miss Foster didn't ride to work with him...even though he's the one who chose to leave without her?"

Benjamin simply looked at her.

Then, with the expression of a man who had long since given up trying to understand his boss, he nodded once.

"Exactly."

Hailey stood there for several seconds, completely speechless.

Finally, she let out a slow breath and hugged her notebook a little tighter against her chest.

"...I don't understand Mr. Chen at all."

Benjamin looked toward the office one more time before sighing under his breath.

"Neither do I. And I've worked beside him for seven years."

Hailey lingered beside Benjamin, her eyes drifting uneasily toward the closed doors of the president's office.

"Secretary Carter... can I ask you something?"

Benjamin, who had been staring at the office as though willing Xavier's temper to settle, turned to her and gave a tired nod. "Go ahead."