A rhythmic clacking of heels rang in the hallway. I lifted my head and noticed that it was Rachel. She was carrying some documents. After noticing the food in my hands, she asked, “Are you sending lunch to Mr. Fuller?”
I nodded. There was no common topic for us to talk about, and I did not try to stretch our conversation. After a brief pause, the woman looked at me and said, “I guess you should be quite busy lately.”
Oh, so she has something to say to me.
As expected, she continued, “I know you’re busy, but don’t neglect your family. Some things can really sneak their way in when you’re not paying attention.
Surprisingly, I was not as vexed as I thought I would be at her remarks. I merely replied, “I think you can be more outright with what you’re trying to say. There’s no need to beat around the bush.”
She shrugged and said nonchalantly, “I’m not trying to beat around the bush, actually. It’s just some words going around, maybe I’m overthinking this.
“Hmm, I really have a lot of work to do. I’d better get going then, talk later,” she said as she trotted away with documents in her hands.
I pursed my lips as I watched her silhouette walking away. Damn it, this is really starting to get on my nerve.
I reached the entrance of Ashton’s office, and his door was ajar. I stood at the door with the food clutched in my hand and hesitated for a moment before deciding to just go inside.
However, a voice rang just when I was about to push the door in. “Mr. Fuller, since you’re already done with these documents, I’ll send them downstairs.” It was Stella Collins.
“Okay.” Ashton’s voice sounded impassive.
Seeing that he was still busy with work, I did not rush to head in. Instead, I played with my phone in the visitors’ room.
Exchanges from inside the office could be heard. Everything seemed normal. After half an hour, his office door sprung open, and Stella headed out with a pile of documents in her hands. She was stumped at the sight of me before she snapped out of it and smiled. “Mrs. Fuller, when did you get here?”
I gave her a thin smile. “It’s been some time. I didn’t want to interrupt you guys working.”
She smiled in response. “Mr. Fuller is reviewing some documents. He’s been swamped with work lately since a lot is going on in the company, and he might not have time to accompany you recently. I think he’ll be able to spend more time with you after this.”
With a thin smile, I mumbled a response and said nothing further.
Ashton heard my voice and came out of his office. His furrowed brows eased a little, and his impassive face lit up with a warm smile at the sight of me. “What did you bring me?”
I looked at him and gestured at the food I brought. Looking directly at Stella, I said, “I heard the girls over at the Publicity Department saying that you would bring Mr. Fuller dessert every day. I have a sweet tooth too. Am I in luck for any today?”
Her smile stiffened for a brief moment before she said, “I brought Mr. Fuller some because he did not have lunch just now. He’s always had some trouble with his stomach, and I was worried about him getting gastric. What do you think if I bring you some when you come over next time, Mrs. Fuller?”
I smiled at the woman and nodded. “Thanks for the trouble then, Stella.”
Ashton had shown no interest in our exchange and had already removed the packaging of the food that I brought over. Noticing that Stella kept talking to me, he furrowed his brows and ordered her, “Go get busy.”
The woman nodded and took the documents away.
As I watched her leave, I could not help but think that the girl really was something else.
Ashton noticed that I was eyeing her. Frowning, he asked, “What’s the matter?”
I turned around to look at him, my annoyance with what happened back in the elevator just now dissipated into thin air. “Is Joseph going to stay for long at Moranta?”
He nodded. “The project is quite demanding. He wouldn’t be able to come back for some time.”
I noticed that he was wolfing down on the food that I brought over and asked, “Does it taste good?”
Maybe I had changed the topic too abruptly, as the man paused and looked at me. “Why do you care about when Joseph is coming back suddenly?”
I pursed my lips in frustration. “So you like having Stella around?”
Bemused, the man furrowed his brows. “Something is off with the way you talk. Aren’t you quite close to her? What’s the matter with you lately?”
“What do you mean I’m close to her?” I was surprised at his remark. What have I done that made him think I was close with that woman?
He raised a brow in response. “It seems like I’ve misunderstood. No big whoop. I’ll just swap her out after a few days.”
I frowned at his nonchalant reply. “What will other people think when you promote her and dismiss her for no apparent reason? Since you like having her around, just put her to good use, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your work.”
Maybe I was being too sensitive about the matter.
His phone rang after a few bites. He picked up the call, and dived right back into work. Noticing that it was almost time for him to get off work, I decided to just wait for him for a visit to Summer later.
A document appeared right in front of me when I was preoccupied with my thoughts. Ashton handed over the document to me and said, “Mrs. Fuller, would you be a dear and send this over to the Finance Department?”
