“Also, there’s an appointment with Mr.Watson in the afternoon at Gradient Hall,” Juan added.
“Understood.”
It was past 3 PM when Zachary arrived at Gradient Hall to discuss a partnership with Jeb Watson.
He was early, while Mr.Watson arrived after over ten minutes, and in the company of a beautiful woman.
Zachary recognized her, because it was Ember Lidnt!
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Jeb said, holding out a hand.
Zachary ignored Ember’s presence right then and shook his hand.
“I just arrived myself.”
“This is my secretary,”
Jeb introduced Ember then.
Zachary merely gave her a slight nod without showing any recognition, as if she were a stranger.
Jeb and Zachary had met because of their business before, so the talk was pleasant, and they immediately signed an agreement after coming to an understanding.
Zachary kept things brief, and excused himself soon enough.
Juan was darting looks from the rearview mirror as he drove, and spoke after hesitating for a while, “She’s Mr.Watson’s secretary in appearance only, sir…She’s actually her mistress.”
Zachary looked up coolly.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Even after all that, she was your wife—”
“was.”
Zachary cut him short, refusing to listen to another word.
After the Lindts were destroyed and Peter Lindt jailed, it was understandable that Ember had to go that far just to survive.But no matter what she did, it had nothing to do with Zachary.
After returning to the office, Zachary had another meeting that lasted until the evening.He ate something at the cafeteria then before resuming work.
It was past eleven when he took out his apartment keys, and he took the elevator down to the basement parking lot.
The car’s headlights flashed as he pressed on the button and he got in.
However, he had just driven to the exit when someone suddenly jumped in front of his car!
Zachary managed to jam his foot on the brake pedal in time and his car barely missed the person in front of the car.
As he frowned, Ember called out to him from the front of the car.
“Zachary.”
She was not throwing a fit or being hysterical—she merely watched him calmly.
Even so, Zachary did not want anything to do with her.
“Move, or I’ll call security.”
Ember held his gaze for a while from across the windshield, but she said, ”Call them if you want, and if you don’t mind me coming again.Because I’ll do it if you refuse to talk to me.”
Zachary narrowed his eyes.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No, I just want to talk to you,” Ember replied.
“Do you think that you’re in a position to discuss terms?” he asked icily.
“I’m not discussing terms.Can’t I just talk to you?”
“No.” Zachary refused determinedly.
“I don’t want to see you, and I don’t want to know a thing about you.”
“You’re really being merciless even though we were once married, ” Ember murmured.
“I’ve never hated you for destroying my family, I know.”
She certainly understood many things after going through so much, and most of all was that what goes around comes around.
“If anything, you should have taken it out on me, but my parents should have been spared.It’s all because I fell for you and married you, or I’d still be an heiress.How could I be so stupid and so obsessed with you back then? You’re just human, albeit a little better-looking than most, but that should never have counted.If I could start over, I’d rather be with someone who loves me even if his looks are average.Shame that I won’t even have that chance— my life has become a tragedy since I fell for you.”
“It’s a tragedy because you were possessive,” Zachary replied.
“Probably.” Ember simply smiled.
“You heard about me, haven’t you?”
Zachary did not answer, though his silence was almost affirmative.
Ember laughed bitterly.
“I’m pathetic, aren’t I? After you destroyed my family, my mother became sick and I was penniless.How else could I save my mother?”
“Is there a point in telling me all this?”
Zachary certainly was not interested in listening to her story.
“There isn’t.I just wanted to see if you could feel any sympathy for me, but I was just delusional.You’re now so cold you’d disown your own family, right?”
Ember straightened her clothes and stepped aside then.
“Sorry for bothering you.”
Zachary did not hesitate to jam his foot on the gas pedal and leave right then.
Ember remained there, watching as his car sped into the distance with various emotions flooding in her eyes.
Zachary glanced at her from the rearview mirror, and saw that she was no longer capricious or spirited like before, and looked away.
Abigail had read through all the files on every employee, as well as the organizational structure of Hotmesh Research, more or less having a general idea then.
Her work would not go smoothly if she did not make interpersonal relationships work at the office, and the first thing she must do as director was to make peace with them.She called Finn Crowe to her office, but he arrived with another man.
Abigail did not recognize him and she was unsure if he was an employee.
“He’s looking for you,” Finn told her.
Abigail raised her brow.
“Me?”
“Yeah.He was asking for you at the walkway, so I brought him here.”
Abigail studied the man from head to toe.
“You’re looking for me?”
The man handed her an envelope.
“Are you Abigail Bernstein?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m a courier.Please sign on this sheet of paper to acknowledge you have received this item.”
“Who’s the sender?”
“I don’t know.”
Abigail signed on the paper then, and opened the envelope to find a letter inside.
Even as she wondered if it was Lulu Adams making contact, she noticed that it was not Lulu’s handwriting, and she took out the letter.
The letter read: [Dear Abigail, I will be leaving.Don’t come looking for me—I’m an adult who can take care of myself.]
[I’m sure this letter would surprise you, but I have to tell you that I’ve thought this through.]
[I’ve actually heeded your advice, and I found it to be true.I’ve also read that chasing after butterflies never work—one should instead plant flowers to draw it to you, and it was more or less the same as what you said: be successful, and draw that butterfly I love to me.]
[I don’t know if I would actually make it, but I just wanted to tell you that I’m determined to make something for myself, and I won’t be coming back before I succeed.]
[I know that I would have a better chance if I stayed with you, especially with my brother-in-law’s help— but I don’t want to be helped.I want to see how far I can go myself, if I’m a person who has what it takes to build something for himself.]
[I just might be too ashamed to return if I fail, but you have nothing to worry about.I would keep living regardless, and become a worker if I have to instead of giving up on myself.]
[I’d rather not call or text because I wanted to leave you something, and I’ve always wanted to tell you that I feel lucky that I have you, sis.]
[Maybe we would have been closer if we shared the same mother.]
[Farewell.]
[Yours sincerely, Ricky.]
Abigail did not react for a while after she finished reading it, while Finn became impatient.
“Why did you call me here?” he asked.
Coming to her senses, Abigail folded the letter and returned it into the envelope.
Then, mustering her spirit, she asked, “Do you know Mr.Turner’s address?”
“Why?” Finn asked warily.
Abigail shot him a cool look.
“What do you think? I just want to meet him to discuss certain matters.Don’t give me that look.”
Finn pursed his lips.
“And I was starting to appreciate you.Here you are, flexing your authority as soon as you’re promoted.There’s a reason everyone hates you.”
Abigail did not bother to explain—she was already in a bad mood and did not have any intention to play nice, even with Finn.
“Cut the crap and tell me!” Finn said reluctantly, “506, Block 2, Bliss Homestead, Bliss Mile.”
Abigail noted the address and said, “Sort all of this, and arrange them on top of my desk.”
Then, she took off her lab overalls, slipped the diagnosis report into her bag, and started to head outside.
Pausing at the doorway, she turned to look at Finn.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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