She'll Be Working With Us

Alexander's frown deepened, the lines on his forehead becoming more pronounced.

Evelyn slowed her chewing, her fork hovering mid-air.

She swallowed carefully.

"What exactly happened last night? Did I oversleep? I feel like I've missed something important," she said, a thread of anxiety weaving through her words.

Alexander drew a sharp breath, struggling to contain his simmering frustration.

The memory of last night—how he had nearly lost his composure because of her—flashed in his mind, fueling his irritation.

He didn't even glance her way.

He simply turned his wheelchair and moved silently toward his study.

"Forget it. I have work," he muttered, his voice tight and dismissive.

Evelyn blinked, watching his retreating back with confusion.

What had happened last night? Had she done something to anger him? He clearly wasn't happy.

But there was no time to figure it out now. She checked her phone.

Time was slipping away.

She quickly finished her breakfast, grabbed her bag, and headed out for Aethelgard Industries.

Maybe she could buy him a small gift after work to improve his mood.

Soon, she arrived at the imposing headquarters of Aethelgard Industries.

After completing her onboarding formalities, she was directed to the Fashion Design Department.

Her new supervisor, Nathanial Reed, noticed her immediately.

He approached with a welcoming smile.

"Come with me, I'll show you to your desk," he said, gesturing for her to follow.

"You're Evelyn, correct? Word about your interview spread quickly yesterday. Your design received unanimous praise from the judges. Quite an impression," Nathanial said warmly, stopping by a clean, organized workstation. "This is yours."

"Mr. Reed." A sharp, familiar voice cut through the office chatter.

Evelyn froze.

Her eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

Why was she here?

Genevieve Prescott, the woman she had encountered just yesterday, strode confidently into the department, her high heels announcing her arrival with each precise click.

Nathanial's smile broadened into a grin at the sight of her. "Genevieve! You're here. Perfect timing. Come over here, please."

He turned to address the entire department, clapping his hands lightly to get everyone's attention. "Everyone, a quick announcement! We have a new colleague joining us today—Genevieve Prescott. I'm sure many of you are already familiar with her name. Effective immediately, she'll be working with us."

Genevieve offered a polished, elegant smile to the room. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Genevieve. It's a genuine pleasure to join this talented team. I know how hard everyone works, so I brought a little something for each of you. Just a small token of my appreciation."

On her cue, several assistants entered, carrying stacks of elegant gift boxes. They moved through the office, distributing them.

As people opened the boxes, it became clear that Genevieve's idea of a "small token" was exceedingly generous. The women found themselves holding the latest, most sought-after diamond necklaces. The men discovered sophisticated, high-end mechanical watches.

A wave of excited murmurs swept through the room.

"This is incredible! Thank you, Genevieve!"

"Genevieve, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Just what you'd expect from a Prescott—such generosity!"

Genevieve absorbed the flood of compliments with a proud yet seemingly humble smile. Then, she picked up a particularly large gift box and walked over to Nathanial, presenting it to him with both hands.

"Mr. Reed, I recall you're quite the connoisseur of this particular coffee brand. I took the liberty of bringing some for you," she said smoothly.

Nathanial's eyes sparkled with interest as he lifted the lid. Nestled atop the premium coffee beans, two gleaming gold bars caught the light.

"Genevieve, you are far too kind. Thank you," Nathanial said, closing the box with a satisfied, knowing smile.

Throughout this entire display, Evelyn stood slightly apart, observing Genevieve's performance with a trace of wry amusement.

It was just a job. Yet here was Genevieve, spending a fortune before even receiving her first paycheck.

What puzzled Evelyn most, however, was Genevieve's presence itself.

During yesterday's interview, the panel had been unequivocal: only one candidate would be selected. Since Evelyn had gotten the offer, how had Genevieve managed to get in?