The next day, Emily showed up at the company right on time, still in her professional getup, only to find her desk completely empty.
Shirley, looking all innocent, said, "Emily, I packed your stuff and put it in the storage room. Patrick wanted it all thrown out, but I managed to save it for you."
This kind of trick might work on Patrick, but Emily wasn't buying it. Still, she didn't feel like getting into it with Shirley right then.
Emily glanced up, the red mark on her collarbone from yesterday's passionate encounter still visible. "Okay, thanks."
Shirley remembered Patrick leaving in a rush yesterday. Could it be related? She was so mad she was shaking.
"Emily, Mr. Rivera asked me to tell you that starting today, you're transferred to the project team at Canyon Ridge," the HR manager said, walking over. "You'll need to stay there for a while."
"Alright."
Canyon Ridge was out in the boonies, with a so-called project team of just a dozen people. In the summer, it was mosquito central, and the office was basically a few small cabins. Apart from end-of-month payroll, there was hardly any contact with headquarters. Even the janitors at HQ didn't want to talk about the place.
Shirley's mood instantly lifted. She thought, 'Patrick's trying to make Emily quit on her own. She thinks she's all that!'
Emily, on the other hand, was actually pleased. Her younger brother was at a special school in Canyon Ridge, and the company's project site was just a ten-minute drive from there. Plus, staying at HQ would just mean more gossip.
After handing over her work, Emily grabbed her stuff from the storage room, packed it neatly in a box, and left the company. The over two-hour drive made her a bit restless. When she got to Canyon Ridge, she didn't report to the project team right away. Instead, she headed to the special school.
The school was more like a children's sanatorium. With the sun shining warmly, Emily walked in, feeling happy.
In the classroom, she immediately spotted her brother Gordon Thompson sitting in the corner. She quietly walked over to him. Gordon looked up, then went back to his painting, like it was just him and his brush in the whole world.
Emily smiled helplessly. She understood Gordon's situation. Even though he couldn't talk to her like a normal kid, seeing him healthy and safe made her heart swell with happiness.
She sat quietly next to him, enjoying this rare moment of peace and closeness. Just then, a familiar figure walked into the classroom.
Marlon looked puzzled. "Emily, what are you doing here?"
"Mr. Hughes?" Emily was surprised. Marlon was known as a playboy from a rich family, so seeing him at a special school was unexpected.
"I got transferred here to take over the Canyon Ridge project. What about you?"
"I'm volunteering here." Marlon noticed Gordon next to Emily. "Gordon, is that an aircraft carrier you're drawing?"
"Yeah."
Emily looked at Marlon, totally surprised. Even if she invited Gordon to dinner, he wouldn't respond. For a while, Emily even thought Gordon had aphasia instead of autism.
"Actually, every kid with autism is like a star in the night sky. They were in their own unique universe," Marlon said.
Emily listened, intrigued by Marlon's unique take on kids with autism.
"They're curious about the world, eager to connect, but they're scared of rejection and misunderstanding. This conflicting mindset makes them feel lonely and helpless, and over time, they get stuck in their own little world," Marlon continued.
"I've never heard it put that way before," Emily said.
"If you're interested, how about we grab a meal later and keep talking?" Marlon suggested.
Emily smiled. "No, I have to head to the Canyon Ridge project team later."
"Perfect, just wait a sec, I'll drive you there," Marlon offered.
"Thanks, but I drove here."
"Remember, you promised to treat me to a meal last time. Don't back out! Plus, I know a great restaurant near the Canyon Ridge project team. It's super delicious," Marlon said, looking at Emily with innocent, eager eyes.
"Alright, I'll wait for you here then," Emily agreed.
Seeing her agree, Marlon's face lit up with a handsome smile, his lips curving up, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous yet charming light.
Meanwhile, Patrick was pacing in his office, deep in thought. He finally called the Canyon Ridge project team.
"What? Emily still hasn't arrived yet?" he asked, surprised.
It was a two and a half hour drive from the company to Canyon Ridge, and it was already afternoon. How had she not arrived yet?
Patrick paced anxiously in his office.
"Shirley, cancel tonight's cocktail party!" he ordered.
"Patrick, weren't you expecting a lot of industry bigwigs at the party tonight? Why cancel it all of a sudden? Is something urgent?" Shirley asked, confused.
"I have to go somewhere important," Patrick replied.
"Then take me with you," Shirley insisted.
Patrick had no choice but to agree.
He drove fast, countless scenarios flashing through his mind, each one making his heart race.
As they neared the project team, Patrick spotted a familiar figure at a roadside restaurant.
He slammed on the brakes, ignoring Shirley retching on the side, and walked straight to Emily. At that moment, Emily was discussing autism in children with Marlon. Marlon's unique metaphors occasionally made Emily smile knowingly, a smile Patrick had never seen before.
"Emily, are you that eager to date other men?" Patrick snapped, his anger flaring.
Emily looked up at him, a hint of surprise and even delight in her eyes.
Just then, Shirley ran over and clung to Patrick's arm.
"Patrick, so this is the important place you were talking about?" Shirley asked, confused.
"Emily, aren't you supposed to be at the project team now? Why are you here with Marlon? Are you two up to something behind our backs?" Shirley asked, a cunning smile on her face.
"Emily, you're really something!" Patrick said, enraged. He turned and walked away, with Shirley getting into the car. Patrick then drove off in a hurry. Before Shirley could react, Patrick made a sudden stop and said coldly, "Shirley, go back on your own."
He left Shirley standing there, speechless, as the wind blew around her.