Chapter 13
I left Jonathan’s office in a daze, still reeling from the shock of the 100–million–dollar compensation.
He had an international meeting to attend and thus asked me to walt for him in the break room. I didn’t want to, so he had Bob send me home instead.
Even though I had lost my memories and couldn’t remember the details of our life together these past few years, I could tell from our interactions these past few days that he was a very domineering man.
Maybe it was because he was used to being in power, but there was always a slight condescending air about him.
It was the same when he spoke to me. He didn’t allow further explanations or objections, he didn’t allow anyone to make changes to his plans either.
and
Still stunned by the 100–million–dollar compensation, I wasn’t paying attention as I was walking through the corridor when a slender figure bumped into me.
I snapped back to my senses and was about to apologize out of reflex when I heard a cold snort.
“Serves you right.”
It was a familiar–sounding female voice.
I looked up in surprise and saw a face I recognized.
“Gabrielle?”
I froze, looking at the woman who clearly held hostility toward me.
When Gabrielle heard me say her name so casually, her expression turned oddly strange. The hostility she had shown earlier suddenly disappeared, as if it had been doused with water.
“So, you do remember my name,” she muttered, her tone still sour, but no longer antagonistic.
I was very surprised. “You work at Millenia too?”
Gabrielle Harrison was my college roommate. She came from a well–off family and was a beauty with a tall stature and a certain aloofness about her. But once one got to know her, they’d find her very loyal and easy to talk to.
She had been ostracized before, so she often gave off a “don’t mess with me” vibe, which in turn made a lot of people dislike her.
I, too, only realized she was actually a very good person after getting to know her.
I had been feeling very insecure after losing my memories, and everything seemed confusing. Thus, I couldn’t help but feel very excited to suddenly see someone familiar.
Gabrielle, however, gave me an odd look. “I’ve worked here for five years. Why are you acting so surprised?”
I inhaled a deep breath before glancing at Bob and composing myself.
“Sorry, my emotions have been all over the place recently…” I explained, brushing it off.
Hearing that, she looked even more suprised and gave me a once–over.
I was worried that Bob would suspect something, so I asked her, “Can we talk?”
Bob instantly frowned. “Ms, Sawyer, Mr. Ford asked me to send you home.”
Gabrielle’s expression turned annoyed again when she heard this, but I merely retorted, Jonathan isn’t my father. Do I really need his permission just to speak to someone?”
Gabrielle turned to look at me in shock, as if she were looking at a complete stranger.
“Elise, you…”
She seemingly had a lot of things to say, but after moving her lips a few times, she turned to Bob and said, “Mr. Bilber, I’ll just chat with her for a bit.”
Bob frowned. He didn’t outright refuse this, but he didn’t agree either.
After a long while, he finally said in a low voice, ‘Mr. Ford doesn’t like you meeting with Ms.
Sawyer.
I was very shocked to hear this. Gabrielle was my best friend. Who gave Jonathan the right to stop us from meeting?
Unexpectedly, Gabrielle shot me a cold glance before turning to Bob and saying, “You heard her. She’s the one who wants to talk to me.”
After a long deliberation, Bob finally gave in.
When I followed Gabrielle into her office, I couldn’t hold in my exclamations.
“You even have your own office now, Gabrielle?”
The moment those words left my mouth, her expression, which had softened a little earlier, turned dark again.
“That’s right. I got to where I am today on my own accord, and not by riding your coattails. Surprised?” she asked passive aggressively.
