After mentally calculating the overtime pay, Eva was nearly overjoyed. However, upon further reflection, she hesitated and said, “What if you handle it in person tomorrow? I’ve never dealt with such a significant case, and I’m worried about making the wrong decision.”
During her time at Hans International Corporation, Eva’s responsibilities mainly revolved around administrative tasks. This was her first experience with handling a case and communicating with clients on business matters. She wasn’t entirely confident in her ability to handle it successfully.
Hearing Eva’s words, Estelle gave her an encouraging smile and said, “You’ve got this. I believe in you.” She couldn’t help but think, ‘And if things get too tough, you can always turn to Cristofer for help.’
“Okay, I won’t disappoint you,” Eva replied with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Estelle continued, “I know it was Cristofer who sent you here to help me. I appreciate his kindness. Both the company and the children need me, and I genuinely need your help. Once I get the company back on track, you can return to Cristofer’s company.”
Eva, caught off guard by Estelle’s revelation, felt a bit flustered and replied, “Ms. Hudson, I’m your employee now, and I’m no longer associated with Mr. Hans.”
Before coming here, Vincent had advised Eva to distance herself from Hans International Corporation when talking to Estelle. Eva had even suggested, “Mrs. Hans is incredibly astute; she might easily see through our intentions. Should I let Mr. Hans fire me first?”
Vincent had been left speechless by Eva’s exaggeration and had responded, “There’s no need to go that far. Just let Mrs. Hans hire you.”
Overhearing their conversation, Cristofer, who had been silently attending to his work, uttered calmly, “Even if you distance yourself from Hans International Corporation, Estelle will likely see through it.”
Eva turned her eyes to Cristofer, saying, “Then what should I do, Mr. Hans?”
Cristofer replied gently, “Just do your job. She won’t refuse to hire you. She’s intelligent, practical, and strong. She knows what’s best for her. Even if she doesn’t want to return to me personally, she will accept my help for the sake of her company.”
As it turned out, Cristofer had been right all along, and Estelle’s response to Eva was just as he had anticipated.
Seeing Eva’s initial unease, Estelle reassured her gently, “Don’t worry, I won’t be upset with you because of this.”
Eva let out a relieved sigh, finally at ease. She then asked, “What would you like me to do, Ms. Hudson?”
“Leave the tasks you can’t handle to him; he’s eager to help,” Estelle calmly advised. “Let him know I’m willing to pay him overtime if he’s interested. I have confidence in his abilities.” With that, the elevator arrived, and Estelle quickly stepped inside. Waving at Eva, she added with a relaxed and cheerful tone, “See you tomorrow.”
“See you,” Eva replied with a chuckle, finding Estelle’s words amusing. After Estelle left, Eva returned to her office and dialed Cristofer’s number.
Cristofer, busy at work in his own office, answered his phone quickly when he heard it ring. He asked, “What did she say?”
Eva struggled to contain her laughter on the other end of the line as she replied, “Mr. Hans, Mrs. Hans said she’d pay you overtime.”
Upon hearing Eva’s response, Cristofer glanced at the time and asked with a smile, “Is she done with work for the day?”
“Yes, Mrs. Hans has gone to pick up the children,” Eva replied. Her role now straddled that of a secretary and a personal assistant, and she was content with the arrangement since she was effectively earning two salaries.
When Estelle and the children were mentioned, Cristofer involuntarily softened his tone. “So, Estelle has seen through our plan and now sees me as a tool to help her solve work-related issues, am I right?” he asked.
“I believe so,” Eva admitted quickly, finding the metaphor quite fitting. To avoid making Cristofer feel downcast, she added, “Mr. Hans, Mrs. Hans has a great deal of trust in you. The tasks she entrusts to you are crucial and involve collaborations with several major clients.”
Cristofer found some consolation in Eva’s words, and his mood improved. He chuckled and remarked with a mix of helplessness and amusement, “She’s still the same as always. She knew I wouldn’t refuse to help, so she handles the easy tasks and leaves the challenging ones to me.” In his thoughts, he added, ‘Estelle, you’ve always relied on me to handle what you couldn’t since you were young. It’s been so many years, and you haven’t changed a bit.’
Judging from Cristofer’s tone, Eva could tell he was in better spirits. After reviewing the documents, she emailed them to Cristofer and playfully remarked, “You must enjoy solving problems for her, don’t you? It’s clear that Mrs. Hans holds a special place in your heart. I’ve sent you the documents. Please take a look.”
Cristofer heard the notification sound on his computer a moment later, checked his email, and downloaded the documents Eva had sent. After thoroughly reviewing the project plan, he commented, “The project plan looks excellent as it is. You’re sure to win over the client.” He couldn’t help but praise Estelle further, saying, “She’s continuously improving. Make sure to convey these words to her when you report back.”
Eva felt delighted that her first day had gone so smoothly. Encouraged, she gathered her courage and asked, “Mr. Hans, how about you share these words with Mrs. Hans in person?”
Everyone around Cristofer and Estelle could see that the two still cared deeply for each other. They believed that life was short and that the couple should reconcile as soon as possible. So, they often tried to bring them back together.
Cristofer certainly wished for Estelle’s return, but since she wasn’t ready to reconcile at the moment, he respected her decision. He had settled not to disrupt her life anymore and would never force her into something she didn’t want. Therefore, when Eva made her suggestion, he didn’t respond directly but instead playfully quipped, “Let’s stick to work-related topics, or I might have to ask the HR department to deduct your salary.”
****
After leaving work, Estelle first went to pick up Yohan from his primary school. Then, she headed to the kindergarten to pick up Yvonne and Christina, her two daughters. When she saw them, she gave each of them a hug and said softly, “I’m sorry, I’m late, my darlings.”
Yohan, looking at his smartwatch, said seriously, “It’s alright, Mom. You’re just five minutes late. You can make it up to us by getting us some ice cream.”
Estelle saw his serious expression as cute and chuckled. Yvonne and Christina, on the other hand, were excited when they heard Yohan mention ice cream.