“I’m going to be Mr. Goldman’s secretary, are you kidding me?”
Hannah’s voice sounded freaked out as she talked to Alden on the phone.
“What about Susan? You may not realize it, Mr. Alden… but Susan may hate me. Because it seems like I’m taking her position,” Hannah continued at length.
There was only a small chuckle on the other end, as if Alden was laughing at Hannah’s panic.
“I’m serious, Mr. Alden,” Hannah pressed.
Alden’s soothing voice only replied with a short statement, “I know.”
“Maybe I’m just a toy or whatever, but don’t make me suffer and feel uncomfortable any more. Can’t I just stay at home? I’d rather serve you than face a hellish office situation.”
This time Alden’s laughter was uncontrollable. “You’re so funny when you’re scared, aren’t you?”
Hannah couldn’t find the words, she just took a long breath and tried to calm down.
“Do you like your new office?” Alden diverted the conversation.
“If this isn’t Mr. Gulfman’s office, then… of course I like it.”
“It’s your office,” Alden said firmly. “Start learning to be a leader, not afraid behind a desk. Do you understand?”
“What about Susan?”
“What about her, what do you mean? She’s still working at Texco, her salary is the same, nothing has changed.”
“Susan’s position as a secretary, Mr. Gulfman can’t have two secretaries. That sounds very greedy, doesn’t it?”
“That’s not a problem. Besides, your position as secretary is only temporary.”
Unconsciously, Hannah nodded. “Alright.”
“Is there anything else you want to ask me?”
Hannah actually wanted to talk about her meeting with Maxim Harrison, but she dismissed it immediately.
It didn’t feel right to discuss it over the phone; Hannah wanted to see Alden’s reaction for herself.
Including the question of what it meant for this man to want to marry Hannah when Alden himself didn’t want to marry Aspen.
“No, thank you.” Hannah took another long breath. “Then I’ll get back to work.”
“Good. Work hard.”
Alden hung up without saying goodbye. Meanwhile, Hannah just stared intently at the darkened screen of her phone. She put the phone down on the table and began to study the company files.
Hannah wondered, even though Alden was very cold and unfeeling, there were behaviors of Alden that showed concern. He contacted her as soon as Hannah arrived at the office.
Yes, Hannah was well aware that Alden only made her his right hand, but it still touched Hannah.
If Alden was really cruel, he might have kept Hannah at home, making her a servant who never stopped working and lived in misery. But this was the opposite. Although Alden was very cold.
Maybe this iceberg would melt little by little.
A knock on the door startled Hannah, and when the door opened from the outside, Susan’s figure was already standing there. Susan approached Hannah with a thin smile.
“It’s time for lunch. Come on, let’s eat,” Susan invited.
Hannah stood up awkwardly. “Oh, okay.”
The two walked out of Hannah’s office side by side. Hannah felt uncomfortable; she glanced at Susan, who always had a cold demeanor. Like Alden, they both felt the same way.
“I want to talk to you about something,” Hannah said.
“What about?” Susan looked at her briefly.
“About my position as Mr. Goldman’s secretary. I know you’re his secretary, I mean…” Hannah lost her words. She tried to calm the tension that was building. “I never intended to replace you.”
“I’m still employed and very well paid, don’t worry, Hannah.” Susan smiled again. “Is it all right if I call you Hannah? Or Mrs. Harrison?”
“Just Hannah,” Hannah replied quickly.
For some reason, Hannah thought Susan was being sarcastic. Calling her Mrs. Harrison? As if Susan knew that with Alden’s power, Hannah could walk into any office.
But Hannah couldn’t possibly explain her position at Texco to Susan. Not yet.
The two of them got off the elevator, then Susan walked toward the staff cafeteria. When they arrived, Hannah was truly amazed.
The cafeteria was different from Hannah’s previous office; several types of food were already provided. And it was all free for employees, no need for discount coupons.
“Texco really takes care of its employees,” Hannah murmured.
“Yes, that’s one of Mr. Gulfman’s management styles. A full stomach makes employees loyal to the company.” Susan chuckled softly.
“An interesting thought.”
Susan and Hannah entered the line to get their trays, when Hannah was suddenly startled by the figure in front of her.
It was Jeffrey!
And Hannah was about to leave.
Unfortunately, Jeffrey turned around. They were both surprised to see each other.
“What are you doing here?” Jeffrey looked annoyed.
“Hurry up, lunch break isn’t that long. If you want to chat, do it at the table,” Susan urged.
Hearing Susan’s comment, Jeffrey was flustered. He quickly grabbed some food and then hurried away from Hannah and Susan.
Hannah felt a chill run down her spine; she knew she would run into Jeffrey eventually.
When Hannah looked over to where Jeffrey was sitting, he was with his friends. Jeffrey’s gaze, watching as he talked to his friends, made Hannah think the worst.
Maybe Jeffrey was gossiping about Hannah.
Susan put a bowl of mashed potatoes on Hannah’s tray. “Eat, Hannah. You don’t have to worry about anything. Just concentrate on your work and your food.”
Hannah nodded and smiled slightly. “Thank you, Susan.”
*
During dinner, Hannah was already in the dining room, eagerly waiting for Alden. As soon as she heard the sound of the wheelchair entering, Hannah turned immediately.
Alden looked neat, although the hair on his face was still unkempt. Hannah smiled at him.
“Good evening, Mr. Alden,” Hannah greeted warmly, perhaps a little too excitedly.
Alden didn’t respond; he moved his wheelchair and stopped in front of the table, at the empty seat set aside for him. Hannah swallowed her saliva, then looked at the food on the table.
“Are you comfortable at Texco?” Alden asked suddenly.
“Decent.”
“You look happy. Is it because you ran into your ex-boyfriend there? Isn’t it nice to see him every day?”
Hannah looked at Alden, stunned. How could Alden say such a thing? Was it a joke or a sarcastic remark? Even if it was a joke, it felt like a very bad one in Hannah’s eyes.
Hannah’s eyes stared sharply at Alden. “If you think I’m happy to see Jeffrey, the answer is no. If this is your game to make me suffer more, I won’t be affected.”
“Is that so?”
“I think it’s very low of you to ask me to be your right hand at Texco just to see my reaction to Jeffrey.” Hannah put the napkin on the table in her lap. “I thought you asked me to work there because of my potential. Not to create drama and cheap gossip.”
Hannah got up and hurried out of the dining room.
“Hannah! Wait!” Alden called.
Then Hannah’s body stopped and she turned back. “My day was very bad, by the way. But I was happy because Susan didn’t treat me like an enemy at the office. That made me feel better.”
Alden just looked at Hannah without saying anything.
“Do you know what it’s like to have a father-in-law who doesn’t know I’m his daughter-in-law? He doesn’t even know that he helped treat my father.” Hannah exhaled.
Still no reaction from Alden.
“I don’t know what’s on your mind, but… I’m still a human being, Mr. Alden. Even though I belong to you, please don’t treat me like a pet you can play with at any time!”