They Want Me Back When It's Too Late (Jessica and Brian) novel Chapter 293

Chapter 293

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Jessica didn’t immediately grasp Brian’s t meaning until a female colleague passed just ahead of her car.

The moment startled her, and she shot out sharply, “Are you insane? Why are you parking here?”

She was used to entering the underground garage directly.

The dim lighting there masked identities, but outside it was a different matter altogether.

If Brian got out here, rumors about their possible reconciliation would spread through Grant Group in no time.

Brian quickly owned up. “Sorry, I didn’t think it through.”

Jessica ground her teeth in frustration. “Well, if you knew that, why not just park in the garage?”

She thought bitterly, ‘Why the hell are we still sitting here? What, hoping someone spots you?‘

The urge to punch him rose uncomfortably.

“Look, why don’t you get out now and I’ll park? I can bring you the keys at lunch,” Brian offered, still smiling.

“No way!” Jessica cut in immediately, knowing exactly what he was planning.

“Drive to the garage. I’ll get out there.”

That would allow her to take the elevator straight to her office, far more discreet than entering through the main lobby.

Jessica couldn’t help thinking Brian was being deliberately difficult today,

Brian glanced at her thin jacket. “I’m just worried you’ll catch a cold.”

The unexpected concern made her hesitate.

“The forecast says rain today. You should bring a warmer coat,” he added, slipping off his own jacket and holding it out.

Jessica snapped back to reality and barked, “If you want to make a scene, be my guest.”

She opened the door and stepped out briskly.

Brian instinctively wanted to follow but paused, realizing Jessi didn’t want to be seen together now.

With his point made, he chose not to push further.

Closing the door behind him, Brian steered the car toward the underground lot.

Inside the building, the receptionist greeted Jessica politely, “Good morning, Ms. Grant.”

“Good morning,” she replied with a faint, somewhat forced smile.

As coworkers passed and greeted her, she responded in kind, though her smile stiffened with every exchange.

Inwardly, she blamed Brian once more, mentally tallying another mark against him.

In the dim light of the underground parking garage, Brian barely had time to settle his car when a sudden sneeze escaped him.

Quietly, he murmured, “God bless me.”

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Chapter 293

Without hesitation, he reached for his phone and called Jackson, asking him to come pick him up.

Jackson, who had been trailing them at a distance, soon arrived behind the wheel.

As Brian slid into the passenger seat, Jackson wasted no time asking, “Mr. Atkinson, should we push back the 9:30 meeting!”

The distance between Grant Group and Atkinson Group was considerable, and with rush hour traffic tightening, even Jackson’s skitted driving coxíton I guarantee a timely arrival.

Brian’s voice was calm and measured. “Inform the secretarial team to delay the morning meeting by thirty minutes.”

“Understood, sir.” Jackson acknowledged, then used the brief pause at a red light to relay the update.

Brian’s gaze drifted to the shops lining the street.

Suddenly, he paused and directed, “Pull over at the next intersection.”

Jackson glanced ahead and spotted the source of Brian’s request, a small cake shop, its entrance flanked by a long queue.

“Got it,” Jackson sighed silently and, with little choice, extended the meeting delay another half hour.

Brian said nothing.

Minutes later, standing at the back of the line, Brian’s striking figure, tall, poised, and undeniably handsome, stood out among the crowd.

It wasn’t long before someone captured his image, posting it online.

At their desks, office workers scrolling through social media stopped dead in their tracks. The fresh photo of this captivating stranger exploded across screens, likes and shares piling up, comments flooding in.

[I want to know everything about this guy!]

[Passerby? No way, looks like some hot new idol.]

[I swear I’ve seen him before on another blogger’s page.]

[Me too, he even made trending once.]

[Exactly. Rare to find someone with such novel–like charisma.]

[So handsome. Why hasn’t anyone claimed him? The buzz’s enough already.]

[Someone, please, which entertainment company is this? Claim him! I’m ready to stan.]

[Calm down, the blogger said he’s just a guy waiting in line.]

[Maybe a total civilian.]

[Such a shame. I want him to debut.]

[No way. He’s not debuting.]

[Why not? You know him?]

[Of course. That’s our CEO.]

[Wait, seriously? He’s a real big shot CEO and he’s queuing up?

[Wow, CEOs these days are surprisingly down–to–earth and foodies!]

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Chapter 293

[I’ve seen him outside food shops several times.]

[Shattered my CEO fantasy.]

Inside the car, Jackson’s face tightened as he glanced at his boss waiting in line. Hastily, he typed out a quick reply under a burner actua

[Stop the rumors. Our CEO isn’t a foodie.]

[Haha, not a foodie, but always outside snack shops.]

[Haha, not a foodie, but always outside snack shops.]

The flood of mimic comments left Jackson’s head spinning.

Trying to salvage the CEO’s reputation, he quickly fired off clarifications.

[He’s really not a foodie. These treats are all for his wife. He’s very disciplined himself.]

[Really? That’s adorable.]

[If true, that’s so romantic.]

[Which CEO is this? Someone ID him, I want to ship them!]

[Count me in! Who’s the lucky lady? Claim him already!]

Jackson buried his face in his hands, realizing his efforts might have only made things worse.

The threat of losing his bonus loomed.

Meanwhile, the keen–eyed netizens had already uncovered Brian’s identity and began tagging Atkinson Group’s official account.

Jackson could already imagine the PR team’s confusion and panic. This was a disaster.

When Brian returned, cake in hand, he found his assistant slumped over the driver’s seat, exuding exhaustion.

Raising an eyebrow, Brian asked, “What’s going on?”

Jackson snapped to attention and, after a moment’s hesitation, chose honesty.

“Mr. Atkinson, you’re trending again. Should I have the PR department step in?”

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