Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1178

Dinner was a blast. John was a little down at first, but as soon as they started talking about research and projects, he perked right up. The three of them kept the conversation going all afternoon. It was already evening by the time Emmy got back to her dorm.

She started by gathering up all her head scan reports and CT images from the past year, zipped them into a folder, and sent them off to Harlene. After that, she sat at her desk and spent two solid hours outlining her research project.

By the time she finished, it was almost midnight. Emmy rubbed her aching neck, grabbed her phone, and called James on video.

He picked up right away. The screen lit up and instead of his bedroom, Emmy saw the soft glow of beige leather seats and a round window beside him. He looked completely at ease in a black designer shirt, collar open just enough, a cup of black coffee in his hand. He gave off this vibe that was both disciplined and effortlessly relaxed.

Emmy stared for a second. “Are you on a plane?”

“Yeah.” James took a sip of coffee, his eyes never leaving her. “I’m using the plane’s Wi-Fi, so there might be a delay.”

“I thought you were staying in the Capital for a week before heading to the resort.” Emmy glanced at her calendar. “It hasn’t even been that long. Why are you already leaving?”

James set his coffee down. “Something urgent came up. I have to take care of it sooner than planned.”

“Oh, okay.” Emmy didn’t dwell on it. James was always working, so last-minute schedule changes were just part of his routine. “Just make sure you get some rest.”

She told him about her day, hitting the highlights. “And next Monday, I’ll be at the Global AI Annual Gala. Once that’s over, I’ll fly to the resort to see you.”

She hesitated, voice dropping to a softer tone. “A deal’s a deal. I know I managed to recruit two people, but I still lost the bet. I’ll keep my word. When I get there… you can do whatever you want.”

On the other end, James swallowed hard. “Alright. I’ll wait for you.”

His voice was low and a little rough, his eyes dark and intense. Emmy felt her cheeks warm and quickly checked the time. “I should go. It’s time for my run.”

She never skipped her daily five kilometer run, no matter how late it got or how busy she was. Staying fit was non-negotiable.

Harlene was standing there in a fur coat, a just-extinguished cigarette between her fingers. “Hey, boss. Can I come in?”

She didn’t really wait for an answer, squeezing inside as she spoke. Emmy just smiled and handed her a pair of slippers.

Harlene tossed her coat onto the sofa, glancing at the neatly stacked laptop and files. She raised an eyebrow. “Heading out?”

Emmy nodded. “Yeah, the research topic is set. I was going to meet John at the coffee shop.”

“Forget it. It’s freezing out there.” Harlene swiped Emmy’s phone, her fingers moving fast. “Tell him to come here. I actually need to talk to him about how we’re going to help you get your memory back.”

Emmy’s eyes went wide with surprise. “Harlene, you really have a way?”

A confident, almost mischievous smile appeared on Harlene’s face. “Don’t forget, this is my domain. I can’t promise you’ll remember everything right away, but I’ll make sure you get your memories back as fast as possible.”