Melinda let out a small "oh" but stayed on guard. She'd seen these kinds of tactics to win people over too many times before. Still, she politely took a sip of her drink.
"Hey, Melinda, do you think Celestia's related to Mr. Thomas? Everyone's buzzing about it!" Kathy, sitting across from her, asked with a gossipy tone.
Melinda smiled and shook her head. "I have no idea." She had zero interest in diving into such rumors.
Just then, the office phone rang. Melinda reached over and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hey, I might not be able to pick up Sam this afternoon. I'll go with you tomorrow."
Raymond's deep, slightly apologetic voice came through the line.
Melinda's heart tightened, but she quickly regained her composure. "No worries, Mr. Thomas. You're busy. I'll handle picking up Sam from now on." She replied politely.
"Are you mad?" Raymond's magnetic voice carried a hint of teasing.
"No," Melinda said calmly.
She would never admit that she felt a pang of disappointment because Raymond was spending time with the new deputy manager, Celestia.
After hanging up, Melinda found herself curious about Celestia. To be so young and already a deputy manager, she must be quite capable. Melinda decided to wait and see.
She walked into the newly opened break room with a cup of coffee to calm her nerves.
Inside, she overheard a conversation. "Ms. Banks, are you free tonight? How about dinner?" A single male employee's voice carried a hint of hope.
Melinda paused and looked over. She saw Celestia politely declining the invitation with a smile. "Sorry, I have plans tonight."
Watching Celestia's polite yet distant smile, Melinda couldn't help but feel a ripple of emotion.
Celestia was indeed impressive. What was her real intention in joining the lab? And having Raymond personally escort her here, it was no wonder others were eager to curry favor.
The more Melinda tried to ignore it, the more it seemed to attract her rival's attention.
As Melinda sipped her coffee, Celestia's sharp gaze locked onto her.
Celestia smiled and walked over to Melinda. "Ms. Sharp, hello again. Although we're on the same level, as a newcomer, I hope you can guide me. Let me formally introduce myself. I'm Celestia. My father is a close friend of Raymond's father, so Raymond and I have known each other since childhood."
Celestia elegantly sat across from Melinda. "Ms. Sharp, we've actually met before."
"Really?" Melinda was taken aback. She had no recollection.
"At Larry's birthday party. Remember? You fell into the pool, and I was there, worried for you."
Celestia smiled faintly, her eyes fixed on Melinda's reaction.
Melinda's face warmed as she recalled Raymond giving her CPR that day, feeling a wave of embarrassment.
But she quickly composed herself and said lightly, "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Banks."
"Ms. Sharp, you and Mr. Thomas seem to have a good relationship," Celestia probed, a sly glint in her eyes.
Melinda's heart tightened, and she immediately denied it. "No, we're just colleagues."
Celestia was slightly taken aback.
She hadn't expected Melinda to so straightforwardly deny any relationship with Raymond.
Could her information be wrong? Did Melinda have no feelings for Raymond, or was she hiding something?
"Ms. Sharp, as a newcomer, I hope we can work well together."
Celestia maintained her smile but was already plotting how to get closer to Raymond.
"Don't worry, Mr. Thomas always takes good care of his team," Melinda reassured her, though she felt a bit uneasy.
Celestia keenly noticed the change in Melinda's mood and felt a sense of triumph.
It seemed Melinda's feelings for Raymond weren't as indifferent as she appeared.
"Ms. Sharp, do you like Mr. Thomas?" Celestia suddenly asked bluntly.
Melinda was startled, almost spitting out her coffee.
She coughed a few times and awkwardly said, "I told you, we're just colleagues."
No matter how much Melinda denied it, Celestia had her own agenda and wouldn't be deterred from getting closer to Raymond.
After leaving the break room, Melinda returned to her office, feeling a growing sense of frustration from her conversation with Celestia.
Just then, her phone rang.
She instinctively answered, hearing Raymond's deep, magnetic voice. "Come to my office."
"I'm about to pick up Sam," Melinda instinctively refused.
Raymond frowned slightly. "It's work-related."
"Let's talk tomorrow!" Melinda said, ready to hang up.
But within five minutes, Raymond appeared at her office door.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his tall frame and refined demeanor made Melinda instinctively stand up. Raymond raised his voice, "Can you show some respect to your boss?"
Melinda was momentarily stunned but quickly regained her composure.
She took a deep breath and calmly said, "Mr. Thomas, what do you need?"
"Come to my office," Raymond insisted, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.
Melinda had a feeling Raymond's request wasn't about work.
"Not saying? Then forget it." She decisively ended the call.
The atmosphere in the office turned icy.
Raymond was silent for a moment before saying, "I have a dinner tonight with Celestia's father. I can't refuse."
Melinda was taken aback, looking at Raymond incredulously. "I'm not anyone to you. You don't need to tell me."
"Do you really not care?" Raymond's deep eyes locked onto hers.
"Care? You and Ms. Banks have a matching background. If you're in a hurry to get married, she's a good choice," Melinda said defiantly.
Raymond's face darkened instantly. "Say that again?"
Melinda's confidence wavered. "You have plenty of women around you who like you..."
"I don't lack women," Raymond leaned in slowly, looking into her eyes. "But I lack you."
Melinda tensed up, awkwardly smiling. "Enjoy your dinner."
Raymond's face darkened further. "I'll talk to you later."
With that, he turned and left.
Melinda sat at her desk, her thoughts even more chaotic.
She left work early to pick up Sam from kindergarten.
When she arrived, the teacher told her Sam had already been picked up.
"His grandmother picked him up. I called to confirm, and she said not to worry," the teacher explained. Melinda quickly called her mother, Connie.
"Mom, did you pick up Sam?"
"Yes, you were busy, and Sam missed me, so I brought him over for dinner."
Relieved that Sam was safe, Melinda asked, "Mom, send me the address. I'll come over."
Connie sent the address, and Melinda headed over.
When she arrived, she didn't see Sam or Connie.
"Are you Ms. Sharp?" A young man with a handsome face approached her.
"I am. And you are?" Melinda asked, puzzled.
Leo smiled politely. "I'm Leo Schmidt, introduced by Mrs. Lowe."
Leo looked nice, but why was he here? Melinda was confused.
"Ms. Sharp, please sit. I didn't know what you like to eat, so I ordered a variety. See if you like any," Leo said, handing her the menu.
Was this a setup for a blind date?