Andrew returned to his office, closely followed by Agnes, who stuck to him like a shadow. With Andrew giving her no attention, Agnes finally broke the silence.
“What’s your reason for this?”
Andrew turned around and cast an annoyed glance her way.
“There’s no reason. I want to bury her in oblivion.”
Agnes felt a chill run down her spine at his words, but inside, she was elated. This confirmed that her suspicions were misguided. She gently timidly nudged his arm.
“And here I was thinking…”
“Thinking what? That she’s in my heart? Don’t dream.”
Her conviction in their relationship only solidified at his mocking, indifferent smile. She spoke softly, attempting to soothe him.
“I said that just for his sake. I’ve always trusted you.”
Suddenly, Agnes remembered that she was no longer the Chief Editor. So, what was her position here? She looked up at him and inquired.
“So, what is my role here now?”
Andrew looked at the petite woman nestled in his arms adoringly.
“You’re my indispensable right hand.”
His hand gently stroked her stylish hair, a smirk on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes betraying his words as nothing more than a lie.
…
The initial challenge Andrew had set forth was causing Mary quite a bit of trouble. Since the publishing house had fallen into his hands, it no longer prioritized content over sales. Several esteemed authors had been closely tied to the company and had lost interest. They had long since abandoned Young World. The recently published books lacked distinctive content but were chosen to cater to market trends. The discerning readers no longer found books to their liking.
The sales of the publishing house had declined. Reclaiming its reputation and standing was no easy task, let alone reaching two \ billion dollars a year. Andrew had indeed made a strategic move that left Mary floundering. However, she had to win this game to defeat this man. She absolutely couldn’t let him belittle her any further.
The first thing Mary needed to do was find an outstanding manuscript. Only then would she have a chance to turn the tables. She had called many authors she knew, but all had refused for various reasons, the real one being apprehensions about the reputation and current working methods of the Young World.
With no options left, Mary could only hope for one person who might provide her with the best project.
Her phone had started ringing. She was still waiting for someone to pick up the call. It had been a long time since they had last contacted each other.
After the first call ended, Mary dialed again, but no one answered. Not giving up, Mary decided to call one more time, and this time, she succeeded.
On the other end of the line, the familiar voice of a woman echoed – unmistakably, it was Ms. Selina. Mary was moved nearly to tears. After a few words of inquiry, Ms. Selina turned to the main issue.
“Do you have any matter that requires my help besides the health inquiry?” she asked.
Hesitant, Mary began to express her deepest thoughts.
“Do you know any recent authors with quality works that need publishing?” she asked.
Ms. Selina paused for a moment before slowly replying.
“To be frank, with the current capabilities of The Young World, it would be difficult to attract renowned authors. However, I can introduce you to someone. Whether or not collaboration is possible will depend on your abilities.”
Hanging up, Mary could not stop thinking about Ms. Selina’s words. The idea was great, but the person in question might not want to collaborate with her. She pondered till dusk fell, unknowingly.
Pulling back the curtain, Mary looked out; it was raining. The rain was not heavy, but it weighed heavily on the observer. The rain swept away the carefree life she once had at some point.
“Knock… knock… knock…”
Mary jumped at the sound of knocking. Bryan stood there with a large bouquet of roses, offering them along with a tender kiss. She smiled softly, acknowledging that, lately, Bryan had shown the most care toward her.
“Thank you,” she said, gently stepping back.
Not satisfied, Bryan affectionately reprimanded her.
“Why are you being so formal with me? We’re a family now.”
The phrase “We’re a family now” awakened something in Mary. Others had said the same to her, but those were only empty words. She smiled.
“I understand.”
Bryan planted a sweet kiss on her forehead, a gentle chastisement. His tall figure wrapped her in a protective embrace.
After work, they left the company hand in hand. Bryan graciously opened the car door for Mary. She would leave her car at the company as this gentleman would drive her to work the next day. They chatted cheerfully along the way.
Andrew witnessed all this, his eyebrows furrowed, his face grimacing in discomfort. He was filled with contradictions. Even he couldn’t understand his thoughts. He didn’t love her but was jealous of seeing her with someone else. The unsettling feeling gnawed at him, making him feel like he was about to explode.