Therefore, Calla decided it was better to ignore everything. This way, nothing could affect Calla anymore.The watch in the package was a Longines, worth at least several thousand dollars. Pierre could afford better but probably feared she might refuse something too expensive. He bought a watch that was in the mid-range, not quite high-end but not cheap either.Calla eventually put away the watch with its packaging intact. Due to the rapid obsolescence of certain tech products, it was a good idea to upgrade phones from time to time. Since her old one broke, she decided to use this new one for now. Looking at the new phone in her hand, Calla hesitated. After some consideration, she put the phone in her pocket. Floyd's request could wait. His travel agency had been running for years without any issues, after all.A week later, Calla successfully resigned from the travel agency. She then began searching for a new job.With her CPA certification in hand, she set her sights on accou
Calla left Miriam Accounting Firm and headed straight for the hospital. At the hospital, Calla realized how severe this flu outbreak was. The hospital was completely overwhelmed with patients. Calla frowned as she looked at the long line of people ahead of her. She figured it would take a couple of hours to get her prescription filled.Feeling exhausted and weak, she decided to go to a small clinic instead. She soon picked up some medicine and then went home to rest. After taking the medication, Calla drifted off into a hazy sleep.In the evening, she felt chills all over her body. At this point, she somehow managed to get up and pour herself a cup of hot water.Having eaten a few crackers and taken more medicine, Calla went back to sleep. This time, she slept until dawn and found herself too weak to even get up.…At 10:00 am the next morning, Avery knocked on Miriam's office door. "Come in," Miriam said, looking down at an accounting ledger on her desk.Avery entered ju
"Hello?" Miriam said just one word into the phone. But when she looked down, the call had already been disconnected, leaving her frustrated. She tossed her phone onto her desk, feeling disappointment and irritation with nowhere to direct her feelings.A little over a month ago, after a long period of no contact whatsoever, Pierre reached out to her. What's more, he even personally came to Greendale to invite her to dinner. Miriam dressed up and happily went to the appointment, only to find out that Pierre's purpose for inviting her out was to ask her to look after Calla, who had just successfully landed a job at her accounting firm.At that moment, Miriam felt like a herd of wild horses were running through her mind. However, she couldn't refuse Pierre's request, as that would make her seem too petty. Besides, she was also curious to know what kind of woman could make Pierre give up on Wanda.In reality, what Pierre asked for wasn't much. He just wanted Miriam to keep him update
"Are you awake?" A familiar voice suddenly came from beside her. Calla turned her head and saw Pierre sitting by her bedside, smiling."What... are you doing here?" Calla struggled to sit up.Pierre quickly helped her raise the bed and placed a pillow behind her back."You had a high fever and were convulsing. It's a good thing I got here early; otherwise, it could have been much worse." Pierre sighed as he sat down.Hearing this, Calla lowered her head and tried to recall the earlier incident. She remembered trembling from a high fever. She had also taken some fever-reducing medicine. However, she couldn't remember what happened after that. It seemed she had passed out from the fever.Looking up at Pierre, who had once again saved her, she thought about how she might not have made it this time if it weren't for him. Why was it that she and Pierre seemed to cross paths every time? No matter how much she tried to avoid him, he always appeared just when she needed help. Could he
Miriam responded cheerfully, "I'll give you three days off. Take care of yourself and come back to work only when you're fully recovered. Otherwise, someone might accuse me of being a capitalist who exploits you."As she said this, Miriam glanced sideways at Pierre."I never said that," Pierre quickly replied.Miriam teased him, "You may not have said it, but didn't you call me to complain that the work I assigned Calla was too exhausting and that I worked her to the point of getting sick?""You took that joke seriously?" Feeling a bit awkward at being called out, Pierre reached up to fiddle with his tie."When have I ever not taken your words seriously, Mr. Lawyer?" Miriam laughed.Calla noticed the light-hearted banter between Pierre and Miriam and couldn't help but ask, "Do you know each other?""We—" Pierre began to say."Know each other?" Miriam cut him off, quickly interjecting. "We're old friends! Right, Mr. Garland?" She looked at Pierre, a slight smile playing on her l
Seeing that he had been exposed, Pierre flashed an awkward smile. "Your door was just really sturdy." He could still joke around even in this situation.Calla smiled as she replied, "You should get your leg checked out, just to make sure there's no serious injury.""No need. I'm strong as an ox, you see. A few days of rest and I'll be fine," Pierre responded nonchalantly.Seeing his attitude, Calla didn't press the matter further.Still puzzled, Calla asked after a moment, "So you and Ms. Johanson are that close? Is she the friend who owns the accounting firm you mentioned before?"Pierre paused for a moment before admitting, "Yes, she is."Hearing this, Calla couldn't help but think how small the world was. She had been determined not to rely on his connections for a job, yet the position she had worked so hard to secure turned out to be the very one he had tried to arrange for her."Was it Ms. Johanson who told you I had a severe cold?" Calla continued, realizing he couldn't h
Knowing that further explanations would be unnecessary, Pierre grinned. "The watch... I just bought it along with the phone."Calla couldn't help but smile. She was holding back from laughing. The next moment, she insisted, "I've never worn such an expensive watch before. Once I'm discharged, I must return it to you. As for the phone… I've already used it. I'll transfer the money to you, though!"Pierre was well aware of Calla's personality and knew she wasn't joking, so he nodded in agreement. "I'll take the watch back, but please don't send money for the phone. Just do me a favor. Don't make me look bad, okay?" At this point, Pierre looked a little awkward. Calla started to feel a bit uneasy herself. However, she didn't want to compromise her principles."How can I just accept something worth thousands from you? There's a saying that one shouldn't take something for nothing. You understand that, right?" Calla truly felt she had no reason to accept his gifts."You could always r
After Calla finally recovered, she threw herself back into her busy work routine. Just like that, two months quickly went by.With the arrival of early summer, the men started wearing short-sleeved shirts, while the women donned light dresses.One afternoon, just before the end of the workday, Calla received a message on WhatsApp."Ms. Sherman, would you be available for dinner tonight?" The message was from Pierre. Seeing it, Calla furrowed her brows slightly.Since that day, he had seldom sought her out. Occasionally, he would bring some local specialties from Riverford when he visited Greendale. They had even shared a meal or two. And every ten days or so, he would send her a message on WhatsApp, mostly wishing her well on holidays or reminding her to take care of herself, just like any ordinary friend.Calla couldn't find a reason to refuse these gestures. After all, Pierre seemed like a good choice for a friend.She stared at the message for a few seconds before replying