“No, I’m in the middle of my internship right now. I can’t ask for leave, sorry! When you get back, I’ll treat you to a huge meal!” Evie answered, her voice full of regret.
“Well, it’s not every day you get a foot in the door at Sterling Group. I’ll let it slide this time! I’ll come straight to the company to find you after I land,” Charlie sighed, giving in.
“Okay, I’ll be waiting! Have a safe flight!”
“Alright, see you tomorrow!”
“See you tomorrow!” Evie replied with a smile.
She hadn’t seen Charlie in ages. They talked on the phone and chatted online often, but it wasn’t the same as meeting in person.
Just thinking about Charlie coming back lifted Evie’s spirits.
She glanced at the elevator panel and realized she had stepped inside but forgotten to press the floor button.
She reached out to press it, but just then, the doors slid open again.
Confused, Evie looked up to step out, only to crash straight into the arms of someone about to enter.
Even thinking about it later, the scene felt awkward.
Evie looked up at the man. He stared back, equally puzzled, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked down at her.
Blue eyes. Deep and distant.
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!” Evie snapped back to reality, apologizing as she stepped back.
He pressed the button to close the doors and went straight to the first floor.
Evie’s face burned.
“Long time no see,” the man said.
“Huh?” Evie turned her head, staring at him in confusion.
She looked around. Was he talking to her?
But there were only the two of them in the elevator. He wasn’t on the phone.
“Last time, outside Sterling Group, you got into the wrong car. Remember?” He turned to look at her.
Evie’s mouth formed an ‘O’. After a long pause, she stammered, “Sorry, I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else!”
He just smiled and didn’t argue.
Evie felt even more embarrassed.
Because she remembered that day perfectly.
Back then, she had hoped he had face blindness.
Later, she figured they’d never meet again, so it didn’t matter.
She never expected to run into him again here.
And she had knocked him over.
Great. It seemed like she and this man were destined to be at odds. From now on, she’d take a detour whenever she saw him from a distance.
Just in case something went wrong.
“Are you here on business?” he asked.
“Just making a delivery,” Evie answered.
“A delivery?” he asked, half-jokingly.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m a courier!” Evie nodded eagerly, like a chicken pecking at rice.
“Which courier company?” he pressed.
“SF Express… no, wait, the post office!”
“You don’t even know where you work?”
“I’m a part-timer!” Evie replied with a forced smile.
The elevator reached the first floor.
Evie watched him walk out and politely waved.
After the doors closed, she realized she was still standing inside the elevator.
Feeling incredibly foolish, she quickly opened the doors and followed him out.
She walked to the lobby entrance, only to run into him again. He was still there, by his car.
“Need a ride?” he asked, looking at her.
“No, no, I have my own car!”
“Is that so?” he replied with a knowing smile, clearly seeing through her lie.
“That’s my car!” Evie spotted a delivery truck nearby and pointed at it with a grin.
He glanced at the truck, said nothing more, and simply told her, “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye!” Evie answered reflexively.
She regretted it the moment she said it.
She should never see him again. Otherwise, who knew what disaster would strike next time.
Evie walked toward the bus stop with her head down.
The company driver was out today, so she had taken the bus to deliver the documents herself.
Sterling Property Group was a real estate company and an important client of Sterling Group.
When Secretary Harper had asked her to deliver the documents, she had stressed how important they were. Don’t lose them.
The whole way there, Evie had felt like she was carrying a huge sum of money.
After handing the documents to the general manager’s secretary, she finally relaxed.
Walking toward the bus stop, she spotted a chain dessert shop she loved. She hesitated for a moment, then turned around and went in to buy some pastries.
She bought one for everyone in the secretarial office. She also secretly bought one for Alexander, just in case she got a chance to give it to him. If not, she’d just eat it herself.
Decision made, Evie carried the desserts and took the bus back to Sterling Group.
Instead of going straight back to the secretarial office, she snuck over to the president’s office. She knocked, and after hearing Alexander’s voice, she opened the door and went in.
When Alexander saw her, a smile tugged at his lips. “Is the sun rising from the west today? What advice does Mrs. Sterling have for me?”
“I wouldn’t dare give you advice. But I can give you some snacks!” Evie replied with a smile, placing the less sweet pastry she had specially chosen for him on his desk.
“Is this a blatant attempt to bribe your boss during work hours?” Alexander asked.
“Ha! You’re not my direct supervisor. What good would bribing you do?” Evie said with a laugh.
“Even if I’m not your direct supervisor, I still have enough authority to give you a direct promotion.”
“Where could an intern be promoted to?” Evie asked, amused.
“To the position of president’s wife!” Alexander looked directly at her.
“No way, no way! I’d rather stay a low-key little intern! I can’t talk anymore. I have to get back to the secretarial office, or people will notice I’ve been gone too long!” Evie replied with a smile, then turned and walked toward the door.
“Little intern, your memory is getting worse and worse,” Alexander sighed.
“Huh?” Evie froze for a second, then turned to look at him. The next moment, she realized what he meant.
She had to go back. She bent down and quickly pecked him on the lips.
Alexander didn’t tease her this time. He just asked with a smile, “Is this the boss openly seducing an employee?”
“Hmph. I’m kissing my own husband. What does the boss have to do with it?” Evie answered, trying to look serious. Then she turned on her heel and walked out of the president’s office.
When Evie returned to the secretarial office, she gave each secretary a dessert.
“It’s great having Evie as an intern in our office. There’s always something delicious!” Secretary Parker said with a smile.
“I happened to pass by that dessert shop today, so I bought some,” Evie explained.
Later, Secretary Harper reminded her gently, “Evie, you’ve just started your internship. Your salary isn’t very high yet. Don’t spend money treating us to dessert in the future. Once or twice is fine, but if you do it too often, people will start to expect it. That’s not a good thing. Even though we can tell your family is probably well-off, since you’re working now, you should learn how to manage your money. Don’t waste your salary.”
“Okay, thank you, Secretary Harper. I understand,” Evie said humbly.
“I’m just being a nag. I don’t mean anything else. I just want to share some advice as someone who’s been through it all before.”
“I know. I’ve learned a lot from you, Secretary Harper,” Evie nodded.