Of course Nora was reluctant to attend. It was Kingsley’s company, and perhaps he would just cancel their bidding qualification directly once her name was mentioned.
Her eyebrows tightened and she tried hard to explain, “Shawn, I am a newcomer and there are a lot of things that I do not know…”
“That is exactly why you should attend it.” Shawn interrupted her and continued to persuade her tactically, “You are new to the company, and you cannot be careless though you are just in the trial period. It would also affect the appraisal report of your probation if you did not attend the bidding session. Moreover, it is a good opportunity for us to know other designers’ ideas given that there would be other competing companies, right?’
Nora felt so depressed!
But Shawn made up his mind to have her attend and said, “You don’t need to do much, just stay by my side and hold the documents for me. I should help you get familiar with your work as soon as possible since I am regarded as your supervisor now. And you’d better be more active or it would be hard for me to explain to the director!”
Nora listened to Shawn’s monologues which did not give her a slightest chance to refuse. She bit her lip, pointed at the name of Kingsley on the document and asked, “Will the CEO of Rivertown be present at the bidding session?”
“No, he is a very busy man and will only be responsible for making the final decision.” Shawn grinned. Actually his high-sounding monologues were merely clichés and what he really wanted was to spend more time with this new coming beautiful younger schoolmate for he considered himself was not a bad choice for a boyfriend. So perhaps there was a chance between them?
Nora of course didn’t know what Shawn was thinking, and she just felt it seemed that she was not so hurry-scurry as a newcomer since there was a reliable upperclassman.
After a long hesitation, she finally agreed.
When it was time to get off work, Kingsley still hadn’t texted her back. Nora took time to go to the hospital and paid the medical fees.
Nora sat down beside Sibyl who lay in the bed of ICU lifelessly. Her nose twitched and tears streamed down while holding her mother’s skinny hand, “Mom, I am so tired and feel it hard to hold on.”
She was still a junior when her mother had the accident. She was so distraught at the news and she thought she couldn’t bear it. But she just managed to hold on until now.
Nora always gave others the impression of an optimist with contagious smile. But that was merely the pretended façade. Life itself was hard enough, how bitter would it be if she even lost her smile.
“Mom, I am married, with the one I like.” Nora smiled, actually she had said it before, then she continued, “He is outstanding and successful, but he did not like me, even… kind of hate me. He won’t be happy no matter what I do. But sometimes he treats me very well and quite generous. He came to rescue me when I almost got into trouble and even fought with others because of me.”
At this point, Nora pursed her lips, her eyes shone with determination: “So no matter what, I still want to be with him. I like him for a long time and simply like him, just as he is.”
Even if Kingsley was a nobody who was down and out, Nora liked him. But apparently he would not believe it and instead would only satirize her as a hypocrite full of lies. In that case, she did not intend to make a fool of herself by telling him.
“By the way, Mom, Rosaline is going to fly back home from abroad.” There was confusion in her eyes while she gave a wry smile: “If it is said that her mother took you the man you loved most, back then, am I considered to be the one who had taken her man now?”
The woman lay in bed remained motionless.
The ward was quiet for a long time, and finally Nora got up: “Mom, I got to go now. I will see you next time and I will work hard to make money. You must wake up soon!”