Under Samantha’s expectant gaze, Andrew nodded in agreement and instructed his assistant to check on the traffic surveillance tapes right away.
Samantha narrowed her eyes slightly as she thought about the young girl’s appearance. She said, almost half–muttering to herself, “That girl was quite good–looking, you know. And she’s about the same age as you, so. The both of you might make a good couple.”
She couldn’t help but tease Andrew. “Why don’t you help me to repay the favor by offering your hand to her in marriage?”
Andrew remained expressionless.
Samantha clucked her tongue in disappointment. “You’re no fun at all. You haven’t changed that stone–faced look of yours since you were a kid.”
She paused for a moment before adding in a serious tone, “You know, Andrew, you don’t have to stick to the wedding arrangements so strictly. You’re the head of the family, and the Sinclair family doesn’t need to bolster their power through a marital union.”
Andrew simply hummed in response.
He didn’t have anyone he fancied at the moment. With the exception of his sister and grandfather, people were nothing more than pawns to be used and dispensed with.
Rather than indulge in lovey–dovey relationships, he preferred to help the Sinclair family rise to greater heights.
That was why he refused to break off the engagement with the Harper family.
Samantha let out a soft sigh.
She knew her younger brother was doing everything he could for her sake, but she had never asked for that. Everyone should have the freedom to live their own lives however they wanted.
Back then, she had gone against her family’s wishes and insisted on marrying her current husband, who was a mere pauper at the time. But she had felt happy and fulfilled.
Samantha wanted her brother to experience the same.
The next day, at the third design department of Kayson Designs, Nora had just entered when she heard a loud commotion involving Ruby and some of the others.
“So going on a coffee run is beneath you, Sadie?” Ruby exclaimed. “Don’t forget you only came a few days before Nora did. It’s only right that you return the favor to your seniors and run some errands for us for teaching you about design.”
Sadie was carrying an armful of papers and struggled to explain herself. “It’s just that the boss told me to shred these papers right now…”
Ruby sneered, “You seem to have all the time in the world when you’re speaking up for Nora though.”
Nora’s eyes darkened and she felt her hairs stand on edge. Just her luck for running into this idiot first thing in the morning.
Sadie pursed her lips tightly, panic written on her face.
Nora spoke up then, in a crisp and threatening tone, “Did you all forget that we’ve got surveillance cameras in the office? How about we release the footage on it so you guys can get first–hand experience of cyberbullying too?”
1/4
Chapter in
Ruby’s face flushed with anger. Despite being a newcomer, Nora was turning out to quite a handful, and Ruby had trouble putting her in her place.
The others around Ruby tried to get her to let it go this time by murmuring that Anita was about to arrive. Ruby could do linle else but swallow her indignation and return to her seat.
“Thank you,” Sadie whispered to Nora. “This is the second time I owe you”
“You helped me out the last time too,” Nora replied. “Don’t be afraid of them. The more you try to avoid them, the more they’ll seek you out.”
Sadie nodded cautiously.
She didn’t know why, but when Nora was around, she felt grounded and strong. At worst, she’d resign and leave Kayson Designs. She’d had more than enough of bullying and harassment from her coworkers.
“Nora, Anita’s looking for you,” one of the coworkers called out.
“Got it.” Nora put her bag away at her desk and headed to Anita’s office.
She stood before Anita, looking at her with a straight face.
“The office was cleaned up pretty nicely last night,” Anita said. “So I’ve got a different assignment for you today.”
Anita pulled out a paper bag from her drawer and placed it on her desk, in front of Nora.
“Bring this document to the Sinclair Group and hand it to Andrew Sinclair. Find a way to make him approve this design,” Anita instructed. “If you don’t manage to do that, you can forget about your salary for this month.”
The moment Nora heard the nante, her stoic expression wavered and she thought, ‘Andrew Sinclair? Again? Why does this bastard keep haunting me?”
Seeing the frown on Nora’s face, Anita eyed her with disdain. “Is there a problem?”
Without hesitation, Nora picked up the paper bag and said, “No. Consider it done.”
Anita was dumbfounded by Nora’s swift agreement and departure, but in the next moment, she mused to herself, ‘As expected of a newbie. She doesn’t know what she’s in for. We’ve worked with the Sinclair Group for three months and Andrew has only approved the design draft once.
The designers who had to work on Andrew’s account tried desperately to squirm and weasel their way out of it. In the worst. case, they quit the next day after sending the designs over.
Anita chuckled to herself. Since she couldn’t intimidate Nora, she’d leave it to Andrew to do it for her.
Word in the department spread that Nora was heading over to Sinclair Group, and there were several people who snickered in glee.
Ruby, in particular, seemed extremely pleased. She was looking forward to see Nora’s sorry state after returning from a ruthless scolding.
Sadie was the only one who sympathized with Nora, saying, “I heard Andrew is notorious for being hard on the designers, so he’ll definitely make things difficult for you…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Nora patted Sadie’s arm in a soothing manner before placing the paper bag in her bag and making her way to the Sinclair Group.
2/4
3:38 am M MAO
Chapter 16
After signing in at the reception desk, Nora got on the elevator that provided direct access to the director’s office.
She knocked politely on the door, but in her heart, she was rolling her eyes to no end. If it wasn’t for wanting to keep her identity a secret at Kayson Design, there was no way in hell she would have come to deliver the designs to this scumbag.
“Enter. Show me what you got,” Andrew said.
He was dressed in a white shirt with his sleeves slightly rolled up, and wearing gold–rimmed glasses. He took his eyes off the computer screen for a moment and his gaze landed on the visitor.
Andrew was obviously stunned when he realized who it was. Disbelief flashed in his eyes for a moment before he regained his composure.
“It’s you,” he said. “You’re a designer at Kayson Designs?”
Andrew had instantly recognized the visitor as the stranger who had explained about his medical condition the other day.
He looked at the name that was written on the paper bag. Nora Harper.
“Harper?” Andrew couldn’t hold back from saying out loud.
Nora knew that he had made the association with the Harper family, and deliberately asked, “Yes. Is there a problem, Mr.
Sinclair?”
She wanted to throw off any suspicion he might have by being candid.
“No. It’s just a unique last name,” Andrew replied.
“Yes, that’s what my coworkers say. It’s the same last name as the big boss,” Nora said.
It did seem like she had nothing to do with the Harper family besides sharing the same last name.
Andrew pulled out the designs from the paper bag. He took a glance at it and tossed it to the side, dissatisfaction clearly written on his face.
He stared at Nora and asked her curtly, “Are you a really a designer or a doctor?”
“I’m currently a trainee designer in the third design department of Kayson Designs, and I know a little bit about medicine. Is there a problem, Mr. Sinclair?” Nora replied matter–of–factly.
Her expression remained the same and she hadn’t bothered to read between the lines of what Andrew was saying.
She continued, “That was a personal question, though. Since you’re not pleased with the design, I’ll bring it back to the
office.”
If she was going to have her salary deducted, so be it. She wasn’t in want of that money anyway.
Besides, before she came, Nora already knew how Andrew would respond. Petty men were predictable, after all.
“Wait a minute, Miss Harper. Are you planning to leave, just like that?” Andrew asked.
3/4
