Chapter 38
Jessie had arrived at the company two months before Caroline and had a good grasp of all the office gossip. When speaking about Heidi, her voice carried a hint of excitement.
"You don't know about this Heidi—she's legendary. She was hired directly as Design Director without spending a single day at entry level."
"I heard it caused quite a stir in the company at the time. Many senior employees were upset, and Mr. Windsor had to hold three separate meetings to discuss it."
Heidi.
The name pierced Caroline's heart like a fine needle.
Her fingers tightened around her water glass until her knuckles turned white.
"What happened in the end?" she heard the tremor in her own voice.
"Of course Mr. Windsor won," Jessie winked. "He is the CEO, after all. I heard Mr. Windsor particularly favors Heidi. Didn't he arrange a special surprise for her recently? But to be fair, she is truly impressive. Her design projects have won international awards, which silenced most of the critics."
Caroline lowered her head, suddenly finding the situation darkly amusing. Apparently, rules could be broken—it just depended on who you were.
Just then, a tall man in a black suit approached them.
Caroline recognized him as Harry Morales, Arthur's special assistant.
"Ms. Hamilton," he said with a polite tone despite his expressionless face, "according to company protocol, new employees spend their first day getting familiar with the layout. Mr. Windsor has asked me to show you around the various departments to help you with your future work."
Caroline stood up, suppressing her inexplicable bitterness and putting on a standard professional smile. "Thank you for your trouble."
Following Harry through the spacious, bright office area, Caroline's gaze swept over the busy figures around them.
The Design Department was on the second-to-top floor, right below Arthur's level.
Through the glass partition, she saw that familiar figure sitting by the window. Sunlight bathed Heidi, seeming to gild her with a golden edge.
Heidi seemed to sense her gaze and turned, offering Caroline a polite but distant smile.
Harry's leather shoes made crisp sounds against the marble floor.
He glanced sideways at Caroline, noting how she maintained a careful distance, her fingertips unconsciously fidgeting with the edge of her employee card. He knew she was still bothered by the front desk assignment.
"Ms. Hamilton," he began carefully, his voice softer than before, "Mr. Windsor really had no choice. Company rules are clear, and even he can't easily make exceptions."
He paused, then added as if having made a decision, "He mentioned to me privately that your talent is exceptional, but the timing isn't right yet."
Caroline continued walking, a faint smile curving her lips. "Mr. Morales, you don't need to explain for him. I understand."
Caroline knew Harry's lie was too obvious—Arthur would never speak so highly of her in private.
Though her tone revealed nothing, Harry felt inexplicably nervous.
He had worked beside Arthur for five years and met all kinds of people, yet he could never quite read Caroline.
"I'm glad you understand," Harry said with relief, slowing his pace to walk alongside her. "To be honest, the front desk position is beneath your abilities, but compared to other entry-level positions, at least—"
"At least I won't dirty my suit or be exposed to the elements, right?" Caroline finished his thought with self-deprecation in her voice.
Harry's face flickered with embarrassment. He was about to say something else when Caroline interrupted him, "Mr. Morales, you don't need to feel sorry. Since I'm here, I'm not expecting special treatment."
Seeing her candid expression, Harry's doubts gradually dissipated.
He nodded, about to speak, but swallowed his words, his brow furrowing slightly as if troubled by something difficult to express.
Caroline noticed his discomfort and stopped. "Mr. Morales, please speak freely. Here in the company, you're my superior and I'm your subordinate. There's no need to hold back."
After a moment's hesitation, Harry finally spoke, "The thing is, not many people in the company know about your relationship with Mr. Windsor—just a few of us in his inner circle..."
He paused, observing Caroline's reaction. "Mr. Windsor is concerned that if word gets out, it might cause controversy and affect the company's image. He hopes you can temporarily conceal your identity while at work."
After listening, Caroline couldn't help but laugh.
She had expected something serious, but it was just this.
She looked up at Harry with resignation in her eyes. "Even if you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't go around announcing that I'm Arthur's wife. After all, who would believe that the wife of the Windsor Group's CEO would be working as a junior receptionist?"
Hearing her affirmative response, Harry visibly relaxed, his posture becoming less rigid. "Your word reassures me. Please familiarize yourself with your duties, and don't hesitate to call if you need anything."
Caroline nodded and returned to her workstation.
She had just opened her computer to review the work procedures when a sharp female voice cut through the air.
"This position—you must have been yearning for it for seven years."
Caroline looked up to see a woman in a black business suit with impeccable makeup standing before her.
It was Edith Cox, Arthur's personal assistant.
Caroline remembered Edith from previous encounters at the villa, always trailing behind Arthur with undisguised superiority in her gaze.
"Can I help you?" Caroline responded coolly, already sensing the woman's intentions.
Edith looked her up and down, her gaze sharp as thorns, finally settling on Caroline's cream-colored suit. Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "Dressed like you're somebody. Anyone would think you're here for an evening gala."
Jessie frowned at the exchange, about to intervene when Edith silenced her with a glare.
"It seems Mr. Windsor still has a soft spot for you. He knows you can't handle hardship, so he arranged this cushy front desk job," Edith said with her arms crossed, her tone cutting.
"But then again, for a woman like you who only knows how to be a homemaker, serving tea and coffee is probably all you're good for."