“Stephanie, right? You think too much. It's just thirteen sets of clothes. It's not a big deal.
“Harvey has always had people picking on him when he eats fish since he was a child. It's normal for him to not know what it means for a man to give clothes to a girl.
“But as his personal secretary, you should be more sensible than him in life, don't you know that?”
Stephanie lowered her head in panic and apologized repeatedly.
Harvey had an extremely superior appearance, background, career and outstanding abilities. He became a shining star in the first half of his life.
Absolutely, there were countless women who adore him.
He had always maintained his integrity and independence over the years, so the people who tried to get close to him often only saw his cold and distant eyes.
In the past, he held me in his arms and whispered softly in my ears on countless nights.
He said that I was the most precious thing to him.
But then everything changed.
I saw in his eyes the pain he felt for another woman.
Harvey shook his head and smiled, then took out a black card from his pocket and handed it to the leading salesperson.
He strolled over to me, his movements deliberate and unhurried, before slipping an arm around my waist.
His gaze softened as his eyes locked with mine, brimming with affection that might have fooled anyone watching.
In a low, light-hearted tone, he murmured, “It’s just a dress. I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously. Sure, it’s fine to scare a little girl, but I’d hate for you to fall ill over something so trivial.”
His casual humor brushed the incident aside effortlessly, steering attention away from Stephanie with practiced ease.
A smirk played on my lips as I looped my slender fingers around his tie, tugging him closer, inch by inch, until our breaths mingled.
“Stephanie is interested in you,” I whispered, my voice calm but laced with steel. “You’re a smart man; I’m sure you’ve noticed. I know thirty thousand means nothing to you, but let me make this clear, what happened today is the first time and it better be the last.”
The onlookers, oblivious to the tension, mistook our exchange for a romantic moment and erupted in cheers.
Under the weight of my gaze and the nearness of my breath, Harvey’s usually composed demeanor faltered. A flush crept up his cheeks and cracks formed in his steady facade.
He frowned awkwardly, murmuring, “Claudine, don’t do this. What will our subordinates think if they see us? Stephanie and I are strictly superior and subordinate, nothing more. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”
I snorted softly, loosening my grip on his tie.
It would have been easy to humiliate him further, but doing so would tarnish my own reputation.
Satisfied with having made my point, I decided to let the matter rest, at least for that moment.
After all, I had no hard evidence of their ambiguity.
Then, I took his arm and walked to the stage to give an annual summary of that year's brilliant achievements.
The other branch secretaries, ever perceptive and quick-witted, paraded their newly acquired dresses in front of Stephanie with a purposeful flair.
“Thank you, Stephanie! If it weren’t for you, I’d probably never have the chance to wear such an expensive dress in my lifetime,” one remarked, her tone sweet but dripping with mockery.
“In Mr. Collins’s world, gifting a dress is no more significant than handing out candy to a child. Surely, you wouldn’t have any improper thoughts about him, would you?” another added, her words a thinly veiled jab.
“Stephanie, those eyes and dimples of yours, they’re so strikingly similar to Mrs. Collins. No wonder President Collins holds you in such high regard,” someone chimed in, her smile sharp and deliberate.
One by one, their sneers deepened, their seemingly lighthearted comments carrying unmistakable warnings, leaving no doubt about their true intentions.
Stephanie was afraid since she had never been humiliated like that in her life. As a result, she lowered her head lower and lower, feeling ashamed.
As tears fell to the ground, she ran out with red eyes when the crowd dispersed.
Finally, the annual meeting was over.
After dinner, we tactfully left early, allowing the young employees to truly relax and enjoy their evening.
But, as soon as I got into the car, I discovered that my passenger seat had been moved.
