Just as Blake was about to send another message, she realized it could not go through. Frustrated, she thought, 'Kevin, you jerk! What makes you think you're so special? Fine, don't reply, then. Who cares?'Blake refused to be disrespected. She blocked Kevin and permanently deleted his contact, thinking, 'Don't you dare ask to be added back.'She then informed Cecilia, "Ms. Stamford, I couldn't reach Mr. Harrison. He's blocked me!"Cecilia snapped, "What use are you then?"Blake kept her distance and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Stamford. It won't happen again."At that moment, Cecilia's gaze met Madelyn's from the third-floor window. Her thoughts darkened with jealousy. 'Madelyn, you think you're better than me?'Despite her anger, Cecilia maintained her composure and called Madelyn.Madelyn answered, waiting silently. Cecilia could not hold back, "Don't get too comfortable, Madelyn. Without Zach, you're nothing."Madelyn, recalling how she once felt helpless, knew she
Blake's worries about her job had vanished. She realized that working elsewhere could be equally satisfying, and the relentless stress at Jardin Corporation was simply not worth it.In the past, Blake spent her workdays casually scrolling through her phone, but Cecilia's return had changed everything, infusing her work life with unending tension.Blake felt misled by Kevin's empty promises of an important role alongside Cecilia. For days, Kevin had left Blake in suspense, never responding to her messages. And now, having exploited her, he had even blocked her number.At her desk, Blake maintained a cheerful facade, her eyes on her phone screen. Her colleagues, not fully understanding her situation, voiced their envy tinged with sarcasm."Blake, you have it easy here. Aside from tolerating Ms. Stamford, you hardly have to lift a finger.""Yeah, Blake, are you actually considering quitting? Jardin Corporation is a goldmine. You won't find another company like this.""Of course she'
As Blake muttered under her breath, the man nearby turned his gaze toward her. Caught off-guard, Blake felt a rare flush of shyness color her cheeks, a contrast to her usual confident demeanor.The tall handsome striking man approached Blake and caught her attention. Among all the blind dates she had met so far, he was by far the most attractive."Are you... Blake?" the man inquired gently.Blake masked her surprise with a composed smile and replied, "Yes, that's me. And you're the person my mother mentioned?"The man nodded affirmatively. "Let's head inside. It's chilly out here."Blake agreed and followed him inside, taking a seat by the window. For a moment, they sat in silence and Blake noticed the man's discomfort as he touched his neck. She initiated the conversation, "I'm Blake. Nice to meet you.""Liam Xander," he introduced himself.Blake pondered, 'He seems socially anxious. But how reliable is he?'After they ordered their meals, Blake continued, "Have you been waiti
When Blake was in middle school, Liam's novel, At the Horizon's End, had been all the rage. Information about him was scarce, mostly a few interviews on his website. It had been his debut sensation.The book had exploded in popularity, amassing over a million subscribers in weekly magazines when it reached a hundred thousand words, soon followed by a comic adaptation.Liam's novel had been a part of Blake's adolescence, a phenomenon that swept her school. Now, sitting across from her was the author she had idolized as a teenager, and he was her blind date!Blake felt like she was dreaming. She discreetly pinched herself under the table, confirming this was reality.Blake burst with excitement and slid into the seat next to Liam. She whispered, "Liam, can I have your autograph? I promise to keep your secret."Liam, a bit taken aback by Blake's closeness but not uncomfortable, replied, "Sure, I'll sign something for you next time.""No need to wait, how about now?" Blake suggested.
Blake kept the conversation lively throughout the meals with Liam. She thought Liam would be annoyed by her chattiness, but he answered her every query patiently, unlike Kevin, who would often interrupt her mid-sentence."Finished with your meal, Liam?""Yes, I'm done.""It's still early. How about a movie? I heard there's a great sci-fi movie playing. Are you interested?""Sounds good to me."When it was time to pay, Liam promptly took care of the bill."You know, you could try digital payment next time. It's super convenient," Blake suggested."I haven't really gotten the hang of it yet," Liam admitted.Blake smiled slightly, "Okay, you've got this one, but it's my treat next time. Don't turn down my invite, okay?""I won't. If you call, I'll be there," said Liam.Blake felt awkward and looked down at the slushy ground. She asked, "Won't going to a movie delay your writing? You mentioned you're updating your novel tonight.""I'm taking a day off for this date," Liam said a
After a two-and-a-half-hour movie, Blake and Liam ended up in a packed elevator. Blake winced as someone accidentally stepped on her foot. Liam quickly guided her to a less crowded spot, asking, "You okay?""Yeah, I'm fine.""Hang in there, just a little longer.""Okay." Blake found solace behind Liam, their hands finding each other's. She glanced up at him, her heart fluttering.When they finally reached the ground floor, Liam did not let go of her hand, his brow furrowed slightly. Blake had noticed him closing his eyes now and then during the movie."Is everything alright? You don't look too good," Blake expressed her concern.Liam looked a bit worn out, and shook his head, "I'm okay. Let me take you home."Blake recalled a text from her mom and asked, "Is it your headache again?"Liam's pained expression reminded Blake of a weary golden retriever, endearing yet pitiful. He gave a weak smile and said, "Just need to take my medicine back at home.""I can't let you suffer like
"There." Liam took his hand out from his pocket and pointed in a direction, toward a high-end residential area."Wow, you're quite wealthy. Let's go... The monthly rent for staying here must be quite expensive."Blake happily chatted with Liam and watched a movie with him. They were like friends who had known each other for a long time. Blake noticed that he did not like to talk much.Liam responded, "Nah, it's not that expensive."Blake said, "Your job's pretty nice. You stay at home every day writing novels. You don't need to network or deal with angry bosses. You know, the people around me are a bunch of monsters."Liam looked away from the road to stare at Blake, "If you're not happy at work, you should quit."Blake chuckled and looked at him, "I'm not like you. I don't earn hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions in a month. Besides, if I don't work, who'll support me? I don't want to burden my aunt."Liam responded, "I have money. I'll support you."Upon hearing
The car started moving. Blake felt highly uneasy. When she got into the car just now, she could immediately sense a pressure that made her feel suffocated and unable to speak. She anxiously lowered her head and did not dare to speak.She thought, 'Until I officially leave the Jardin Corporation, I'm still their employee.'Blake then recalled the disdainful look she gave Kevin earlier and pondered, 'Honestly, no one's as petty as he is. If someone says or does something he doesn't like, he'll react strongly and just bully them.'Is he here for revenge?'The atmosphere remained tense. Blake felt very uncomfortable in this strange silence. After a while, she smelled a mint fragrance which temporarily eased her nerves.She noticed a bottle of air freshener placed under the windshield. Her eyes lit up immediately, "Oh, Mr. Harrison, you're using this cologne too? I recommended this to you last time. This product smells great, doesn't it?"The car stopped at the red light. Kevin remain