There had probably been an issue with the makeup that day, and Alexander should have trusted me. It wasn't easy to get the famous CEO Blackwood to apologize.
I stayed silent for a moment, lowered my head, and said softly, "Don't bring it up. You've already apologized over the phone."
"You mentioned before that you needed time for yourself and wanted a break. How about hiring a few more assistants so you can take some time off without worrying about work?"
I shook my head. "There's no need for that."
I had already decided to leave the city under the excuse of a vacation so my grandmother wouldn't worry. As for what would happen after that… I would find a way to deal with it.
As my belly grew and my pregnancy became more obvious, it would soon be impossible to hide it from the people around me. I wasn't sure if Alexander would even allow me to keep the baby, and even if he did, there might be a custody dispute. No matter what happened, I would never let him take my child from me.
So I needed an escape route.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me."
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. I looked up at Alexander.
"I do have a request."
"Except for resigning."
"Not that."
I had already guessed Alexander would never let me resign, especially now that he believed it was because of Aiden. So for now, I planned to set that idea aside.
"Then say it."
"What I want is to be in charge of public relations for Éclat Beauty again, just like before. What do you think?"
I gently set down my spoon, waiting for Alexander's response. Seeing that he remained silent, I smiled faintly and continued eating.
"Forget I said anything."
I had already anticipated this outcome. He was still cautious around me, using Sophia to balance things out. He didn't trust me not to do anything against Lilian.
"You can ask for something else," he said.
"No need."
I replied flatly, already knowing that whatever Alexander could offer was clear—nothing I truly wanted.
Alexander looked into my eyes, his brow furrowed, but he remained silent.
"Nana wants us to come to the mansion for dinner tonight," he said after a while.
"I know," I replied.
I quietly set down my spoon and stood up.
"Thanks for the meal. If there's nothing else, I'd like to take my leave, CEO Blackwood."
He looked at me, visibly confused.
"You haven't eaten much. Why don't you eat a little more?"
"I can't eat anymore."
Seeing my distant attitude, he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.
"Alicia," he called when I was about to leave.
He picked up a paper bag and walked toward me.
"I got your favorite cookies from the bakery."
I was surprised that he remembered, but I took the bag and thanked him.
When I walked out, I felt relieved. The hallway was still quiet because, before coming here, I had made sure everyone had already gone to the cafeteria.
That evening, Alexander and I went to the Blackwood mansion.
Nana was sitting in the living room with Nadia, a distant cousin of theirs. She was one of the few relatives who got along well with the main Blackwood family.
When they saw us enter, they greeted us and gestured for us to sit.
"Alicia, I heard you hurt your foot a few days ago. How is it now? Better?" Nana asked.
I smiled and replied, "Nana, it's all better. Look…"
I lifted my leg slightly.
Both of them chuckled.
"Good to hear that. No problem, no problem," Nana said as she stood up and headed for the kitchen, leaving the three of us in the living room.