Last night, after drinking and being utterly exhausted, she felt completely drained today, with no energy at all. All she wanted was to lie in bed and do nothing.
Clara lay in bed, playing on her phone. As she was playing, her phone rang.
It was Ethan calling.
Clara didn’t want to answer, but she dared not ignore it. If she didn’t answer, Ethan would surely be upset.
Clara obediently picked up the phone, “Hello…”
Just saying “hello” made her inexplicably blush. She touched her face quietly, unsure why she was blushing, but her face was indeed red.
“Awake?” Ethan asked casually.
Clara thought Ethan’s question was pointless. If she wasn’t awake, how could she answer his call? Was she supposed to be sleepwalking and answering in her dreams?
But she only thought this in her mind and obediently replied, “Yes.”
“Have you had lunch?” Ethan asked.
Clara answered obediently, “Yes.”
Ethan said, “Come to work this afternoon.”
Clara felt Ethan was being unreasonable. He wanted her to work this afternoon? Didn’t he know how tired she was?
Could he understand the exhaustion and weakness of a petite woman after being drunk and drained?
Was he a slave driver? Treating people like this.
Knowing how uncomfortable she was, he still wanted her to work in the afternoon?
Absolutely heartless!
Clara was very upset.
But she dared not argue, reluctantly replying, “Okay.”
Ethan said, “Consider the morning as leave. Don’t be late in the afternoon… or your salary will be docked.”
Clara: “Okay.”
Ethan hung up.
Clara pouted at the phone. Docking her salary? A monthly salary of five thousand dollars-did he think she cared? Though not very wealthy, she wasn’t desperate for a five-thousand-dollar salary!
She was a student from a prestigious university with a major in finance-a hot commodity… Finding a job anywhere would surely pay more than five thousand dollars.
Hmph…
She really didn’t want to go.
But she dared not anger Ethan. In the end… Clara cursed Ethan in her mind before reluctantly getting out of bed to wash up and change clothes… then headed to work at the company.
When Clara arrived at the company, it was just time for the afternoon shift. As soon as she entered the secretary’s office, she saw Nora…
Nora’s desk was right next to hers.
She wondered who arranged the seating.
The secretary’s office seating was like this: Alayna and Hanna sat together, while Stephanie, Nora, and Clara were grouped together. On one side of Clara was Stephanie, and on the other side was Nora.
She felt like a sandwich cookie, wedged between Nora and Stephanie.
She, the legitimate wife, was caught between Ethan’s first love and a suspected lover.
It looked odd no matter how she viewed it.
The more she looked, the stranger it seemed.
She really couldn’t understand what Ethan was thinking.
Arranging their desks together-was he hoping they would all serve him harmoniously?
Perhaps… this was every man’s ultimate dream.
“Clara…” Nora greeted Clara with a smile.
You don’t hit a smiling face; Clara forced herself to smile and nod at Nora.
She felt she was too thin-skinned and kind-hearted, not wanting to embarrass others… Actually, considering Nora’s previous attempt to frame her, anyone else would certainly not show Nora a friendly face.
She really didn’t want to be nice to Nora either, but… seeing Nora so enthusiastic made her feel awkward about embarrassing her.
Meanwhile, others in the secretary’s office were watching Nora and Clara.
Everyone in the company knew about Nora’s relationship with Ethan…
This was something Nora herself had spread around.
Intentionally or unintentionally spreading it throughout the company-as if afraid others wouldn’t know she had dated Mr. Logan before.
The atmosphere in the secretary’s office felt strange.
“Clara, why didn’t you come to work this morning?” Nora feigned concern and asked, “Is something wrong?”
Before Clara could answer, Nora continued, “Do you not want to come to work? If you don’t want to come, then don’t. Ethan probably wouldn’t force you.”
Clara looked at Nora; Nora seemed eager for her not to come to work. If Clara didn’t work, it would be more convenient for Nora to interact with Ethan.
Ugh!
Wishful thinking.
“No,” Clara replied with a smile to Nora. “I don’t mind coming to work; being able to work with my husband every day makes me happy… Today…” A hint of shyness crossed Clara’s face as she blushed slightly and said, “I was just too tired last night… overslept today.”
As soon as Clara said this… everyone in the secretary’s office looked at Clara.
Too tired last night… overslept?
Nighttime is supposed to be for rest and relaxation; how could one be tired?
Everyone understood immediately.
They got it.
Surely there were intimate activities last night that drained both mental and physical energy, hence the fatigue.
Nora’s expression changed as she looked at Clara. She wanted to say something to regain her composure… but realized that no matter what she said now, she couldn’t recover the situation.
Regardless of her relationship with Ethan, Clara was Ethan’s wife, a legitimate wife, a status that Nora could only dream of having.
Seeing Nora silent, Clara felt quite pleased and sat down at her desk. Then… Stephanie discreetly gave Clara a thumbs-up gesture with an encouraging look in her eyes.
What did that mean?
Was it saying she did well?
Stephanie always gave Clara a strange feeling; initially, Clara suspected Stephanie might be Ethan’s lover… but after interacting for a few days, it seemed less likely.
However… if Stephanie wasn’t Ethan’s lover, why did Ethan keep her around?
During these days in the secretary’s office, Clara hadn’t seen Stephanie do any actual work. She spent her days doing nails, styling hair, playing games and even applying face masks during work hours…
What kind of secretary does that?
“Nora, come with me; Mr. Logan wants me to take you,” Alayna said with a smile to Nora.
Nora nodded. “Okay.”
She glanced at Clara.
Why look at her for no reason?
Nora felt quite proud inside.
She had some understanding of Ethan’s secretary team; Alayna was Ethan’s top secretary responsible for important matters. For Ethan to have Alayna take her along clearly showed he valued her greatly.
Nora followed Alayna out.
Stephanie leaned over to Clara and said, “Madam, how could you agree to let Nora work in the secretary’s office?”
“… It’s useless even if I disagree.”
She didn’t want to agree.
But she couldn’t make decisions on this matter herself.
Stephanie paused for a moment; as Ethan’s secretary, she knew somewhat about how Clara married Ethan under certain circumstances.
So… did Clara have no status or voice in front of Mr. Logan?
But from what Stephanie observed, that didn’t seem true.
From an outsider’s perspective, Mr. Logan seemed quite fond of his wife.
Anyway… Stephanie felt Mr. Logan treated his wife differently; she’d seen Iris, Nora, Belle… women who had emotional ties with Mr. Logan before-but his attitude towards them was always normal and ordinary.
Even towards his fiancee Iris-very normal and ordinary.
Only towards Clara did Stephanie feel there was something different.
She believed it.
Believed Mr. Logan loved Clara.
Who wouldn’t love such an adorable and beautiful girl like Madam?
“Madam, don’t worry,” Stephanie said to Clara. “I’m on your side.”
Clara: “… Thank you.”
Not knowing what else to say, she could only thank her.
“Madam, keep going,” Stephanie encouraged Clara with a fist-pumping gesture.
Clara: “… Okay.”
The internal phone on the desk rang.
Clara picked it up.
It was Ethan.
“Make me a cup of coffee,” Ethan said.
Clara responded affirmatively.
Ethan hung up the phone.
Clara went off to make coffee for Ethan.
Once the coffee was ready, she brought it into his office and placed it on Ethan’s desk. She said, “Mr. Logan, your coffee.”
Ethan looked up at Clara and gestured for her to come closer. He said casually, “Come here.”
Unsure of his intentions, Clara walked around the large desk and approached Ethan. He took her hand gently and pulled her into his arms.