Love Together, Be With You Never

"It's literal. Men tend to cherish things they spend a lot of effort to get instead of those that come their way. I believe you understand what I mean. Besides, you have passed your wayward years. Since you want to start a family, you should figure out everything about your future husband, especially the women in his life!"

Emmalee stood up in anger and roared, "Rachael, are you messing with me? You set me up with a man who has a girlfriend?"

She attracted a lot of attention. I calmly pulled her, and she was reluctant to sit down. Gazing at her, I explained patiently, "Emmalee, let me be clear with you. Nowadays, people get divorced a lot, and mistresses have a shot to win. Besides, Kaleb isn't married. Does it matter if he has a girlfriend? The important thing is who walks down the aisle with him. Give me a break. You are not exactly Virgin Mary, right?"

She did not refute but glanced at me. After a while, she warned me, "Rachael, don't play tricks on me. Otherwise, you will see what I am capable of!"

I smiled noncommittally.

"Then what should we do next?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Don't make sudden moves. Hit on him the way you always do. He has already taken the bait. Once you check the bitches out, you can have them...." I stopped talking with a grin. I knew she understood.

Just then, Everly called me. I picked it up and heard her icy voice. "Rachael, do you know what time it is? Do you think Universal Group is your home? How dare you go rogue? Don't say you have signed the contract. I give you ten minutes to show your ass. Otherwise, there are consequences!" She hung up before I could reply. I put away my phone expressionlessly.

I wrapped things up with Emmalee and left the coffee bar.

The minute I entered the gate of the company, Everly bawled me out, "Rachael, you're going too far. Look at the time. It's already ten o'clock. Why don't you come back after lunch? Tell me. What are you trying to pull this time?"

My colleagues were all gloating with their heads low, dying to see how I made a fool of myself.

I looked around and slowly said, "The contract has been signed. Of course, I don't need to do it again!"

Everly got something on me and grilled me, "Since that is the case, why are you an hour late today? Did you have trouble getting up because of all the fun you had last night?"

I looked up at her and smiled, "Yes, I did have a ton of fun. I was surprised by how long it took to have a meal with Kieran. But that is not why I am late. The truth is I met Mr. Redford of Marlon Group and discussed the details of the project on the way here." As I spoke, I approached her. "I am flattered and taken aback you care about me so much. I'm truly sorry you got worried!"

I paused before adding, "If you don't believe me, please call Mr. Redford. I don't want there to be any wrong impression, especially between us. We will put Kieran in a tight spot that way. It's the last thing I want!"

Her face turned gloomy. "Rachael, you can't survive here with your glib tongue. I suggest you keep it down a notch. Or you will find yourself in the center of the storm!"

I just kept smiling.

She left for her office, and I returned to my seat. Then I realized Yanis had moved her desk beside mine.

"Rachael, you were kick-ass!" She said to me in excitement after Everly left, "I thought Ms. Everly would raise hell because you were late. But you showed her what was what!"

Yanis' desk was in a corner like mine, away from others. I felt somewhat responsible. If it hadn't been for me, she would have been popular here. At least they would have respected her. But now, we were both outcasts like the germs everyone hated.

Yanis seemed to have seen through my thoughts and comforted me, "Rachael, I moved here because I like you. It doesn't matter where I sit. Besides, I'm your assistant, so I should sit closer to you!" She smiled brilliantly at me.

I acknowledged her but didn't say anything else. Then I began to work on the project with Marlon Group. To my surprise, I discovered this R&C was not so much a project as a trap that Alicia had designed for

me.

The project looked shady, and the cooperation was a big, fat joke. The R&C Brand was owned by Marlon Group, but Universal Group was responsible for all the product designs. In other words, I had to do all the heavy lifting alone as was stipulated in the contract that the person in charge, and not anyone else, could handle the design. Moreover, the Marlon Group could ask me to modify things until it was satisfied. If the products couldn't meet its standards, it could terminate the contract at any time and require Universal Group to pay up to 500 million in damages.

Looking at the information in my hand, I couldn't help but laugh. This was a trap contrived by Everly and Alicia to doom me. Alicia couldn't be certain if this project would be entrusted to me, so Everly made sure of it.

However, I couldn't figure out when they formed an alliance, not that I cared.

Because I would fight for the project anyway, whether they had a hand in it or not.

When I was focused on the R&C Project, I felt creepy burning gazes on me. I assumed it was just me, but then I looked up and met my colleagues' eyes that were oozing disgust and disdain. Something was different. As if it could penetrate my soul, the antipathy was ten times as intense as before.

I was bewildered.

"Rachael...." Yanis called out to me but seemed to have trouble telling me what all this was about.

I suffered in silence. Were they putting on a pantomime?

Everly walked up to me arrogantly on her high heels. I braced myself for her harsh criticism, but she slapped me fiercely. Before she could land her hand on me again, I stood up angrily and grabbed it, staring at her coldly. "Everly, do you think I'm a wussy? Or is Kieran not important enough for you?"

She shook off my hand violently and stared back at me with disgust. "Rachael, don't say Mr. Charles' name! You don't deserve to! Your filthy deeds have been exposed. Shame on you! You actually had the cheek to yell at me! I hate you!"

"That's right. You disgusting bitch. You are the worst person I have ever met!"

"Exactly. You defiled our womenfolk with your loose morals. You have no shame and no self-esteem. How repulsive!"

"Get out! You don't deserve to be in Universal Group! Scram!"

"Go! Leave! You sickening troll!" The moment Everly finished speaking, everyone in the office was riled up. They all stood up and threw things at me.