“You belong to me,” Alden said.
The man’s face hardened, his gaze full of power as he looked at Hannah.
“Why do you speak to me this way? Do you feel that your dignity must be respected? You have nothing, and only I have the right to say anything about you,” Alden continued.
Hannah swallowed her saliva.
What Alden said hit Hannah hard. But as if fingers snapped in Hannah’s head, she realized that she had once said that her life was in Alden’s hands. Even slaves in the past couldn’t fight their masters.
Hannah’s position wasn’t much different, and if she expressed her feelings to Alden, she would surely be condemned. How disrespectful it might seem in Alden’s mind for Hannah to behave so rudely.
“I’m sorry,” Hannah said.
“What did you say?”
“I won’t do it again. Is there anything else I can do, sir?”
Alden took a long breath. “No. Go get some rest. You have to work tomorrow.”
“All right, sir.”
Hannah’s steps felt shaky as she walked down the hall to her room. But the tears couldn’t be held back anymore, Hannah cried silently. Once in her room, she poured out all of her anxiety.
Hannah’s conscience wanted to contact John, but her father would surely wonder. Hannah wanted her father to focus on his recovery and know that his daughter was okay. So Hannah had to endure living with Alden, whatever the risks.
…
That morning, Hannah felt bad because she had trouble sleeping all night. So during breakfast, Hannah’s downcast face still appeared in front of Alden’s eyes. The man’s reaction was flat as usual.
There was no conversation between them, and Hannah was getting used to it. Perhaps it was better than Hannah having to deal with a nagging man. Hannah emphasized this as an affirmation, rather than actually being depressed by living through days of misery.
“You don’t have to go to the office if you don’t feel well,” Alden said suddenly.
Hannah turned to Alden, but the man’s gaze remained on the plate in front of him.
“I’m fine.” Hannah somehow continued to stare at Alden, waiting for some reaction that would at least make him seem truly human. “I’m going to work anyway,” Hannah continued.
There was no reaction from Alden; he just shoved a piece of fruit into his mouth and looked out the window.
Hannah got up from her chair. “I’m leaving now, sir.”
Surely Alden wouldn’t answer her, so Hannah left the dining room immediately. Honestly, Hannah wanted to take Alden’s advice and not go to the office. But it wasn’t even her first week on the job; what would the other employees think?
Didn’t Hannah need to make a good impression as Alden’s right hand?
A fleeting image of Jeffrey made Hannah cringe. Hannah hoped there wouldn’t be any more problems caused by her brother-in-law, who ironically was her ex-lover.
*
A few steps after Hannah entered the Texco building, Jeffrey suddenly approached. He seemed to have been waiting for Hannah and immediately grabbed her arm and dragged her to the corner.
“Have you gone crazy, Hannah?” Jeffrey hissed.
Hannah didn’t answer, but her eyes glared at him.
“This isn’t a place where you can come and go as you please! I work here!” Jeffrey continued.
“I work here too!” Hannah replied firmly.
Immediately, Jeffrey was stunned, his face looking incredulous.
“Are you stalking me? Can’t you get me out of your mind? Is this your way of getting back at me and Aspen? Can’t you move on, Hannah?” Jeffrey babbled.
“It’s a coincidence I work here.”
“Texco? You think that’s a coincidence?”
“So what?” Hannah nearly cried from being cornered.
“Your ex-billionaire husband can’t support you? Or at least find a job in another company?”
Hannah sighed quietly. “That’s none of your business.”
“Yes, we’ll see. It won’t be me who leaves here,” Jeffrey half-threatened.
Hannah froze for a few minutes after Jeffrey left. Hannah’s heart felt torn apart, betrayed and now accused of stalking her ex-lover. Where was Hannah’s dignity now?
When Hannah stepped into her office, she was met with cynical eyes. Whatever Jeffrey had been spreading, it was working. People began to feel unsympathetic towards Hannah for something they didn’t know the truth about.
“Morning,” Susan greeted as Hannah opened the door to her office.
Hannah’s body sank to the floor and she cried her heart out. Hannah didn’t care what Susan thought, if the woman liked her or hated her. All Hannah felt was the need to vent her frustration.
“Oh my, what’s going on?” Susan hurriedly approached Hannah.
Hannah shook her head and her body felt weak as Susan helped her to sit on the sofa. As if she understood what was on Hannah’s mind, Susan sighed softly.
“Did you see Jeffrey downstairs?” Susan asked.
Hannah nodded.
“Hannah, I don’t think crying is the answer.”
“You don’t understand, he said bad things about me.”
“Yes, don’t we have to accept that?” Susan picked up a box of tissues from the table and handed it to Hannah. “Whether you did the right thing or not.”
“It feels unfair.”
“Nothing in this world is fair, Hannah.”
Susan stood, then walked over to the desk and picked up some files. She walked over to Hannah again and stood beside her.
“Wipe your tears, Hannah. Come on, we have a meeting in ten minutes,” Susan said.
“A meeting? About what? I don’t know much about this company yet.”
“That’s why you need to learn as fast as you can. Hurry.”
Reluctantly, Hannah followed Susan. After wiping away her tears, Hannah walked unsteadily beside Bernard’s secretary. Sure, Hannah’s eyes looked tired from crying, but what else could she do to hide it all?
“Who is the meeting with?” Hannah asked quietly.
Susan glanced briefly. “With several departments, it’s Mr. Gulfman’s orders, since he can’t return from overseas yet. So you and I will be running the meeting.”
“Me?”
They finally arrived at the meeting room and Susan immediately opened the door. The chairs around the long table were already occupied by people. Hannah’s heart felt squeezed when she saw that Jeffrey was already there.
Jeffrey stood up immediately. “Is this a joke?”
Susan gave Jeffrey a sharp look. “What’s the joke?”
“Why is Hannah here?”
“She’s representing Mr. Gulfman with me.”
There was a cynical laugh from Jeffrey’s lips. “Her? What can Hannah do?”