Seeing him fumble with the coffee, Summer cocked a brow and jabbed, saying, “You’ve got a problem with your kidneys?”
Leonardo pursed his lips and put the cup back on the coffee table. He did not bother to wipe the coffee stain on his suit. Instead, he said, “The only way to find out is to try.”
Summer whisked her hair to the back of her ear. She glanced at him, spun around and headed to the door. And with a haughty tone of voice, she snorted, “In your dream!”
How dare she talk to me like that! Leonardo snorted in his mind.
Once out of the mansion, Summer gave herself a pat on the chest and took a long breath as she exhaled. Enemies are just like a spring; you are weak when they are strong.
After jabbing “Douglas” with such self-confidence, she started to feel that she was invincible. After all, “Douglas” was not that frightening. She vowed she would not let herself get threatened by him again, ever.
…
Summer took a cab and came to Jarrett Group.
When she was small, she used to come once with Vicky. But when she grew up, she would only get a glimpse of the building every time she passed by. Her biggest wish of the day back then was for Karen to pay attention to her, even if it was just slightly. She had never thought of joining Jarrett Group. Let alone owning a share in it. But it seemed that the saying ‘Every dog has its day’ was true; she was invited to work in Jarrett Group.
Coming in front of the entrance, she took a deep breath, holding her chin up a little, and she walked right in.
It was her first day, so she had no employee tag yet. One receptionist behind the counter stopped her and asked, “Can I help you, Miss?”
Summer turned to look at the pretty receptionist with a smile, her cat-like eyes sparkling. “My name is Summer Jarrett. First day at work.”
Jarrett? Those receptionists looked at each other.
“Who is here?”
Behind Summer came Vicky’s voice, her high heels click-clacking up from behind. She came up before Summer and got the shock of her life. She looked transfixed at Summer’s face, her voice changed. “Who… who are you?”
“Sis, it’s me, Summer. Don’t you recognize me?” Summer spoke in a very soft and gentle voice but sounded spooky in Vicky’s ears.
Vicky took two steps back involuntarily. “How… How come… You…”
“This is how I’ve looked all this while. Sis, hope you will take care of me here. If you don’t even recognize your younger sister, wouldn’t that make me look like a fool?” Summer moved toward her as she spoke.
Vicky was still in shock. When Summer took a step closer, she involuntarily took a step backward. It was apparent that Vicky now knew that the trap she laid for Summer in the Violet Gold Club had failed, but she wondered how. It was a perfect plan, how did Summer escape? So she had asked Karen to ask Summer out for lunch; she wanted to see for herself if Summer had really gotten away unscathed.
Meanwhile, the receptionists behind the counter were rooted to the spot. Was it not that the youngest daughter of the Emerson family was dumb and ugly? Did she have plastic surgery abroad? It seemed that the usually domineering and arrogant second lady looked a bit cowed in front of the youngest lady.
When Vicky came out from her awe, she fought back her confusion and anger, gritting her teeth. “You’re my real sister and I love you dearly. How could I not recognize you when I have even let you have my fiance?”
Bloody hell, she went online not long ago accusing Summer of stealing her fiance. Now she turned around and said that it was she who willingly let Summer have him.
Summer did not argue with her on this point. Instead, she smiled and said, “You’re such a generous elder sister–so generous that you’ve let me marry such an outstanding man.”
“You…” It had been always Vicky trampling Summer under her feet. Now seeing Summer gloating over her victory, she could not wait to tear Summer apart.
Summer grabbed Vicky by her arm, looking like a pair of loving sisters. With an unchanging smile, she said, “Sis, let’s go upstairs. Dad must be waiting for us.”
It was not the place to do the table banging stuff here, especially in front of the other employees, so Vicky had to grin and bear it for the moment. They turned around and walked toward the elevator.
Just a couple of steps down the elevator corridor, Vicky heard the receptionists debating among themselves about which of the sisters was better-looking.
“I think the youngest lady looks pretty. Did she have plastic surgery?”
“But it looks natural!”
“If she hasn’t gone for plastic surgery, then surely she was better of the two!”
Hearing the content of the gossip really got her goat. Vicky flung Summer’s hand away, glaring at her in disdain. “Don’t touch me!”
Summer dusted her arm as if some dirt was stuck on it. It disgusted her to think about how promiscuous Vicky was.
On the other hand, Vicky would have bitten her head off if not for Lynn’s instruction, though she was struggling to keep the lid on her simmering anger.
…
Once out of the elevator, they both went into Lynn’s office.
Not that Lynn liked Summer, but he still put up a welcome smile on his face. “You are here, Summer!”
Seeing Lynn was giving Summer such a warm reception, Vicky was pissed off. She made him some tea and put the cup down in front of him with force to make her point.
Summer took that all in her eyes and started to feel it funny how agitated Vicky was.
“So what position you’ve got for me?” Summer sat facing him and spoke in a nice and soft tone.
Without waiting for Lynn to speak, Vicky chimed in. “I know there is a vacancy for a market surveyor in the marketing department. I’m sure Summer will like the challenge. You can go there.”
Summer shot her a glance and said, “But I really don’t fancy a challenge. I’d prefer a more relaxed role.” She had a major in drama and arts; sales and marketing were totally alien to her. And she knew that market surveying was hard work.
“Summer, you’re still young. A little challenge will do you good. Let’s just give it a shot. Later if you find it really not suitable, we can then talk over it.” Lynn made it sound like he was a good father. In reality, he just wanted to send her off doing marketing surveys. He and Vicky had been expecting her to bow to their will all along. So they wanted to take this opportunity to cut her down to size.
However, to Summer, their dirty tricks were plain for her to see. “In that case, I’ll go. Thank you for your kindness, Dad.”
“Vicky, please bring Summer down to the marketing department.” That said, Lynn buried himself in a stack of files.
Thinking that Summer was going to get what she deserved, Vicky put up a straight face, trying hard not to laugh as she said, “Come with me.”
Summer began to wonder how submissive she had been when she was living under the shadow of the Jarrett family, so much so that they still thought they could boss her around at their whims and fancies now.
They wanted her to work at the lowest rung of the marketing department as a surveyor. No problem. She had only thanked Lynn for his ‘kindness’, not that she was going to grin and bear it this time as if she would work as they would expect her to.