Yelena expected such a commotion but still... she was in a daze. It's evident. She wasn't used to this kind of attention.

"Yelena, what's going on?" Felix who was on the other line, felt a bit anxious when she fell silent.

​​

At his voice, Yelena slightly shook her head, forcing herself to think clearly. "I think the news spread here now. Let's talk later." She said and promptly ended the call. Then she turned her attention to Julia Corell.

"What will be the best way to calm down the situation?" She asked her.

Julia Corell read some of the articles which were just published when she heard that reporters gathered near the company building. So, she quickly thought about how to amend the situation. "Let's ignore them for now and when you are ready, you can give a statement. This is not a small matter, Chairwoman. We should not rush things."

Nicole rose from her seat and stared at the ground through the glass walls. She realized that the reporters were much more than she thought! How will she even get off from work while they linger around the company?!

"They are so many." She commented in a low voice. Her quiet life had finally come to an end.

"Don't worry, Chairwoman. The security guards will clear paths for you after work. You just have to ignore them and stay quiet." Julia Corell advised her.

Yelena nodded and briefly thought of Felix press conference. She wondered if the reporters were there because of the incidents or her relationship with the Prince. No matter what, she already received unwanted attention. But still, she didn't regret. She finds it worthy.

After she attended meetings and work again for a while, Yelena was ready to go home. Sitting on her chair, she glanced at the outdoors through the glass walls. Because she was sitting a few steps away, she couldn't see the ground nor the reporters.

Bracing herself, she was about to rose from her seat but... her phone went off. She glanced at the caller ID and was hesitant to answer the call. However, after much thinking, she finally swiped the green button.

"What is all this mess, Yelena? I briefly went home to get changed but... reporters flocked near our house. They cannot enter but it's impossible to drive them away." Her father's voice echoed in her ears before she could even greet him.

"I'm sorry, Father. I should've warned you beforehand." She promptly said.

Major General Ethan heavily sighed. "I told you to stay away from him. Why must you be so stubborn? Now, the whole world knows about your relationship. I only want you to be safe and sound, Yelena."

Yelena fell silent for a while and said, "I know, Father. But... this is the path I chose. I really want you to support me."

Major General Ethan who was all set to go back to the hospital, now sat on the bed, thinking about his only daughter's words. Ever since the Prince returned, it affected her to a great extent and he knew that. Her genuine smile was gone with him.

He indeed wished for her safety but... he didn't want her to lose her smile either. That's why his thoughts troubled him a lot these days.

"How are things there? I bet it's the same as here." He finally said after a while.

Yelena understood her father thoughts and she felt relief. "Don't worry. I will be able to leave safely. I think I shouldn't return home for a while."

"Where will you sleep then? In your old apartment?"

"No." She promptly replied. "I will stay at a hotel for a while. I already vacate my apartment."

"Alright. Take care."

"You too, Father." Yelena ended the call and after quietly sitting for a while, she finally rose from her seat and walked out of her office.

When she walked out, not only Julia Corell but also Jason was there. Alan went down the garage to prepare the car.

"I was about to enter but Mrs. Corell said that you are going home." Jason glanced at the files in his hand. "How about working at home to distract yourself? I will help you."

Yelena narrowed her eyes at the files and gave a quick thought. "That would be great but I don't plan to go home. My father told me that things are the same in my family mansion. Reporters."

"Oh! That's too bad."

"But we still can work. I plan to stay at a hotel for a while." She promptly said.

"Alright. Let's do that." Jason said and they ride the elevator down to the base where the garage was located. Usually, she would leave through the main door but today was different with all those reporters flocking there.

Just as expected, reporters crowded Yelena's car the moment Alan drive it out from the garage. The security guards tried their best to hold them back and clear the path.

"It's her! It's the Chairwoman!"

For a few seconds, Alan had to stop the car due to some reporters who were standing on their way.

"Are the words of the Crown Prince true?"

"Are you really abducted by Prince Alonzo?"

"Is it true that you're marrying the Crown Prince of Edeladon?"

"Please give us your response."

Though the car windows were all rolled up, Yelena could clearly hear the questions thrown at her. She shut her eyes, trying to remain calm while Jason who was sitting in the front seat glanced at her with concern through the mirror.

Almost a minute passed until the guards finally cleared the path and Alan started driving again right away. Though most of the reporters went after her car, Alan was able to lose them somehow.

"I contact one of our Hotels to prepare a suite for you. It's about half an hour drive from the company, so everything will be ready by the time we arrived." Jason informed her when it was finally quiet.

"Thanks." She muttered and stared outside through the rolled-up windows. When will she finally have a quiet time again? She didn't expect to regain her normal life but... it will be too suffocating if the reporters keep on crowding her like that!

In no time, they reached the hotel which Jason mentioned and one of the managers of the hotel greeted them in the garage and escort them straight to the hotel suite which they prepared. Alan went home as his work was done for the day.

"Mrs. Corell will bring your belongings after a while. You can wait for her and no need to bother it yourself." Jason said to her while she was sitting on the couch.

"Your brain works faster than me," Yelena remarked which made him smiled a bit.

"That's not the case. It's because you're new to this kind of situation. I have gotten through it several times while working for your mother." He explained.

"You also help her in this kind of situation?" Yelena asked, slightly raising a brow.

"I help her in every situation," Jason responded and put the files on the small table. "Shall we start working then?"

Without saying anything, Yelena took the file which was on the top. When she looked at the contents, her eyes flickered. "These are... "

"That's the joint project between us and the Royal Group. It started more than two months ago, so it's still at the beginning stage. But your mother paid much attention to this." Jason informed her.

Royal Group? Yelena blinked. Wasn't that the business of the Edeladon royal family? She immediately read the details of the project.

Jason was hit by a realization when he thought of Royal Group. How could he forget that she had a connection with them?

"Why do you make that face?" Yelena suddenly asked him and he darted his eyes to her.

"What face?" He asked, confused.

"The face of someone who did a wrong thing." Yelena mused.

"It's not like that."

"Then what is it?"

He sighed at her persistence. "I tried to work with you but I think I distract you more." He said, narrowing his eyes at the file on her hand. "To be honest, I was quite shocked when I read the articles."

Yelena stared at him dumbfoundedly. "Why? Didn't my mother tell you everything about our family?"

"I already told you that she doesn't tell me everything, just a few. What I heard today is all news to me."

Yelena slightly smiled when she heard him. "You don't have to worry. This file won't distract me as much as you thought."

He narrowed his eyes at the ring on her finger which caught his attention ever since the first time they met. "I finally knew who is responsible for that ring." The phone call on the hospital too. He wished to say these words but refrain himself from doing so.

Yelena touched her ring and slightly smiled. However, she didn't say anything and quietly continue studying the files.....