My Needy Boss Won't Divorce Me

Chapter 6 Proposing

Lola hesitated at the door. At this point, she had figured it all out.

Elijah, the man who could shatter her life with a single word, could also control her career with just a gesture.

She had heard the rumors — the current head of Genesis Knight Corporation was rumored to have framed his own brother when taking over the company.

Lola took a deep breath. The gap between them was huge, but even so, she refused to let herself be manipulated.

She was a person, not some pawn to be moved at will!

The most crucial thing was, if she were to get promoted, she wanted to do it on her own merit, not through some backdoor maneuvering!

With that thought in mind, Lola walked into the office and said, "Mr. Vaughn, I need to talk to you about something."

*****

Elijah raised his chin, signaling her to continue.

Landon, who had just returned, leisurely found a seat and leaned in, eager to listen to what was going on.

Lola stood tall, not humble but not defiant either. "I believe that with my abilities, I'm not suited for the secretarial office. I'm better suited for the lab."

Elijah had expected this and calmly replied, "You haven't even started working here yet. How do you know it's not the right fit?"

Lola, already fuming, paused for a moment and remembered the video Nina posted on social media. Ashton had said that Nina was the one he had been in love with for three years.

She took a deep breath, regained her composure, and said, "I have a natural talent for perfumery. 'Ethereal Glow' has been very well-received since its launch, and experts have praised its quality — priced like a second-tier fragrance, but with the quality of a first-tier one. This shows I'm more suited for the lab. Mr. Vaughn, if I'm in the lab, I can help you capture a larger market share."

Elijah nodded, acknowledging her point. Taking advantage of his moment of agreement, Lola pressed on with her request to be transferred back to the R&D department. He refused, "Talent shines no matter where it's placed. Whether it's the secretarial office or the R&D department, as long as you have the ability, there will always be a place for you."

*****

Lola, uninterested in wasting more time, turned to Landon. "Mr. Pierce, I remember your company has a perfume line, don't you?"

She was free, and no one could control her.

Elijah furrowed his brow, sensing that Lola was subtly threatening him. Things were slowly slipping out of his control.

Lola would rather leave and work for someone else than stay in a position with broader career prospects but no personal freedom.

Landon's invitation to join his company echoed in her mind.

Elijah couldn't help but remind her, "What about the non-compete agreement?"

Lola's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "There's a penalty clause, yes. But you wouldn't impose such an outrageous fine just to restrict my freedom, would you?"

She had joined to Genesis Knight Corporation because of its wealth, the rare perfumes in their lab, and the inspiration they provided her.

With "Ethereal Glow," she had already made a name for herself in the industry. Now was the perfect time to leave.

Did he think she'd just stay and obey because he gave her a promotion?

She had grown up under the oppression of her stepmother and had never learned to obey.

But then Elijah surprised her. "I can arrange a lab for you on the 34th floor."

Lola looked at his stern face, her blue eyes gleaming with cunning.

*****

Elijah's response was unexpected. He didn't continue to push her and even offered a solution. Though it wasn't exactly what she wanted, he had made an effort.

Since both of them wanted a resolution, Lola offered a solution of her own. "How about we get married?"

Landon, taken aback by her bold statement, accidentally knocked over his coffee. No one paid him any attention, and he had to grab napkins to clean up the mess.

Lola calmly laid out the benefits.

"Mr. Vaughn, people speak their minds. You can't be everywhere controlling my words. To prevent any misunderstandings, the only way to maximize both our interests is to bind ourselves together. Also, your brother failed me, hence, you as the older brother would have to take responsibility. It's not an unreasonable request."

Elijah tried to find signs of her joking in her eyes but failed. She was deadly serious.

He thought about it.

His parents had been pressuring him to marry, arranging blind dates for him. Recently, they had even tried locking him in rooms with women, hoping to force his hand.

He and Lola didn't like each other, but a fake marriage would solve both of their problems. It was the perfect solution to escape his parents' matchmaking efforts.

"I need to think about it."

*****

Three days later, at Adrian Harris' birthday party, the venue was filled with business moguls and entertainment stars. Everyone present was either rich or famous.

Lola had her light blonde hair pulled back, with a few stray strands casually hanging by her ears. She wore a green strapless gown with a green gemstone-encrusted belt, sparkling in the light. She looked like a fairy dancing in the forest.

Her makeup was impeccable, and her blue eyes appeared even more mysterious with green contact lenses.

From the moment she entered the ballroom, holding Adrian's arm, all eyes were drawn to her. The other socialites and stars faded into the background.

Elijah, seeing the two of them together, narrowed his eyes. She knew Adrian?

The Harris family and the Vaughn family had always been rivals. To see them walking together at such an important event could only mean their relationship was more than just casual.

He felt a surge of frustration. If she told Adrian anything about the Vaughn family, things could get complicated.

Adrian had a tendency to use any information he could get his hands on to make Elijah's life difficult.

Lola had already spotted Elijah. The fact that he hadn't responded to her marriage proposal in three days confirmed it — he wasn't going to agree.

Both brothers were equally indecisive. Not a single one of them was worth her time.

She saw Ashton's smug smile. That scumbag was lucky today. He would be able to leave unscathed.

*****

Elijah watched Lola as she engaged in conversation with the man beside her, her neck elegantly exposed, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She was dazzling, drawing all eyes towards her.

The man next to her seemed thoroughly captivated, occasionally glancing up at Elijah, his surprise barely concealed, which only fueled Elijah's growing irritation.

Ashton noticed the shift in Elijah's demeanor.

Following his gaze, he saw his ex-girlfriend laughing it up with his brother's fiercest rival.

When the rival was called away, he shot a cheeky wink at Ashton, almost as if daring him. Suspicion flared in Ashton's chest, and he moved forward, ready to confront Lola.

*****

But just then, a voice cut through the air, sharp and unmistakable.

"Lola Bennett?! What are you doing here? A woman like you doesn't belong in this kind of place! You'd better leave!"