Chapter 2
1 paused for a moment and said nothing. Harlan ignored me, turned to Tamara, and said, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask
Charlene”
Tamara blinked, casting a timid glance at me. “What if Charlene doesn’t know either!”
Then come to me, Harlan said.
I looked at Harlan and chuckled. “Mr. Shannon, remember that you used to come to me when you
had questions?”
Harlan’s brows furrowed. He glanced at Tamara, who was biting her lip, and his voice turned cold. “Charlene, the past is in the past.”
With that, he answered a phone call and got up to leave.
Tamara only spoke after his figure disappeared from view. “Charlene, Mr. Shannon and I have known each other for a long time, so he looks out for me. Don’t take it personally.”
They’ve known each other for a long time!
I frowned as memories rushed back to the time when I had just gotten together with Harlan. Back then, his close friends would always give me veiled warnings, saying that someone else occupied his heart and advising me not to fall too deeply.
Yet all these years, I had never once seen that person by Harlan’s side. Eventually, I dismissed those warnings as nonsense.
Now, hearing Tamara’s words, I suddenly understood. So she was the one they had been talking about.
out, I was just a
Looking closely, Tamara’s face did bear some resemblance to mine. No wonder Harlan had approached me in the first place–turns of replacement for Tamara.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for me. After all, I never truly loved him either.
I lowered my gaze and began tidying my
desk.
The head of the planning department, Natalie Murphy, walked over and slammed a stack of documents onto
to my druk.
I looked up to see her wearing a haughty expression. “The proposal is due tomorrow. If you can’t get it done, your performance bonus will be docked”
ir, if I remember correctly, I told you to handle this last week, didn’t tro
I glanced at the documents on my desk. “Natalin, Natalie’s face darkened. “Charlene, you need to understand your position. You can’t talk back to your superior unless you’re trying to get yourself fired.”
Flet
a mocking laugh and was just about to retort when Tamara quickly stepped in. “Charlene, don’t argue with Ms. Murphy. The work is assigned by Mr. Shannon. If you don’t like it, I can talk to him.”
I fixed my gaze on Tamara until she lowered her head, her lips turning pale. Only then did I look away.
Just then, a faint voice sounded from behind me. “Charlene, don’t make things difficult
I turned around and immediately met Harlan’s indifferent expression.
He handed Tamara a glass of water before looking up at me. “Come with me”
I hesitated for a moment, then stood up and followed him into his office,
Harlan asked, “Are you upset that I transferred you to the planning departmeņu”
I remained silent. He glanced at me and said coolly, “You need to learn something. You can’t rely on me forever”
His words made me laugh. Smiling, I asked, “Haven‘ I already learned enough, Mr. Shamson?
He frowned diglaly “You’re part of the planning department now. What you knew before doesn’i cuunt anymore.” Before it could respond, he hesitated for a moment and then added. “Natalie can’t come up collaboration with Regal Corporation is to me?
p with a decent proposal. You know how important this
My expression must not have looked too pleasant at that moment, because Harlan softened his gaze and gave in
the a
faint smile, coaxing me in a
me on, don’t make things difficult for me. There’s a business duster with Regal Corporation tonight. Come with me,” he said.
6:56 PM
Chapter 2
I had to admit, I was easy to appease, Whenever he smiled, his features softened, making me momentarily dazed. I looked up at him. “What should
you wear?
“Pick whatever you like,” he said.
I understood what he meant. Just as I was about to leave, Harlan called me back.
I turned around and heard him say, “Don’t make things difficult for Tamara. She just came back from abroad and doesn’t know anything yet.”
I stared at him for a moment, then nodded
“Help her out more,” Harlan said. ‘She needs to prove herself.”
Back at my desk, Harlan’s words were still lingering in my mind.
Tamara had gone into Natalie’s office and hadn’t come out for a long time.
Left with no choice, I had to work on the proposal myself, even handling minor tasks like data collection on my own.
I spent the entire day busy, but Tamara was nowhere to be seen
I wasn’t until I went to pick out an outfit for Harlan that she finally returned.
Looking apologetic, she said, “Sorry, Charlene. Mr. Shannon took me to the hospital for a check–up this afternoon, so I couldn’t come back to help you li must’ve been tough on you
I didn’t respond. Tamara continued. “Let me help you pick an outfit. Mr. Shannon really likes the clothes I choose for him.”
Without waiting for my approval, she began selecting on her own. In the end, she picked out a white suit.
I glanced at it and said, “This isn’t suitable for tonight’s event”
Tamara stroked the fabric of the suit, and her eyes instantly reddened.
1 frowned slightly, not feeling that my words had been hurtful
I wasn’t in the mood to comfort her.
Even when I had finished selecting both the outfit and the gift. Tamara still stubbornly packed the white suit as well.
I gave her a glance. She sniffled and said, “Why don’t we let Mr. Shannon decide for himself?”
With that, she turned and walked out.
By the time I arrived at the CEO’s office, Tamara had already handed the suit to Harlan
I overheard her say, aggrieved, “Harlan, Charlene said the outfit I picked wasn’t good.”
“Don’t listen to her nonsense,”
“Harlan replied, his voice calm but carrying a faint trace of amusement. “You have good taste.”
I lowered my gaze and looked at the neatly pressed suit 1 had prepared before stepping inside. “Harlan, your suit is ready”
The white suit Tamara had brought was casually spread out on the table, its fine wrinkles still untouched. Harlan was a clean freak–he probably wouldn’t choose that one.
But unexpectedly, he spoke without hesitation. “Charlene, take yours back.”
I looked up and met his gaze just in time to hear him say, “I’m tired of it,”
I wasn’t sure if he meant the outfit–or me.
But it didn’t matter either way. I nodded and took the clothes back.
Tamara’s eyes curved into a smile. ‘Clurlene, see! I told you
Harlan would like the one I picked
Her face was tinged with a faint blush, looking delicate and charming
I stared at that flush on her cheeks for a while before finally looking away.
She really died resemble my past self quite a
Harlan glanced at me, seemingly displeased. “Tamara will be accompanying me to tonight’s banquet”
on the table, and prepared to head home. Since I wauit needed. Loould lock out early
23
6:56 PM
Chapter 2
But for som
some reason, Harlan seemed irritated a
again. His brows furrowed, his voice devoid of warmth. “You’re coming too.”
He paused, his deep eyes locking onto mine. Tamara can’t drink”
Oh, I sec..
He wanted me there to drink in her place.
Because Tamara had stomach issues, I was the reluctant backup.
I looked at him. “Mr. Shannon, how considerate of you. But I don’t feel like drinking.”
Harlan’s frosty gaze fell on me.
After a moment, his tone dropped even lower. “Charlene, don’t make a scene.”
stared at him silently. A few seconds later, his tone softened. “Go ahead first. Il take Tamara to buy a dress”
I looked up at him, remained silent for a few beats, and in the end, obeyed.
When I arrived at the venue, I realized I didn’t have an entry pass. The receptionist at the entrance was new and didn’t recognize me, so I couldn’t get in.
The early spring air was quite chilly. I had left in a hurry without a coat and was now shivering in the evening breeze.
I wasn’t someone who could handle the cold well. After hesitating for a moment, I pulled out my phone and called Ashton Hopkins
This banquer was hosted by the Regal Corporation. Ashton was the eldest son of the Regal Corporation’s chairman and the company’s future
successor.
He and I were on good terms.
It wasn’t long before Ashton arrived.
When I saw him, I smiled. He draped his coat over my shoulders and sighed helplessly. “It’s cold. You should dress warmer.”
I nodded in response. Just as
was about to enter with him, the headlights of a nearby car momentarily blinded me.
Squinting. I looked over as a car pulled up in front of me. Harlan and Tamara stepped out
Tamara was draped in Harlan’s expensive suit jacket. The two of them were chatting and laughing. But when Harlan’s gaze landed on me, the smile in his eyes faded slightly.
Tamara glanced at Ashton, then turned to me in surprise. “Charlene, is this your boyfriend?”
E
