Chapter 129
Vivian knew with her eyes closed that Sloane was sabotaging her.
She'd had a confrontation with Sloane just last week, and now at the weekly meeting someone conveniently popped up to file a complaint. The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence.
Listening to them go on and on with their accusations, her irritation built higher and higher.
"Is this petty nonsense really worth wasting everyone's time at a weekly meeting?" She finally couldn't hold back. "You're all great at monopolizing everyone else's time."
"What's your attitude!" The man who'd been complaining shouted at her angrily.
"My attitude is—you just want me gone, don't you? Fine! I quit!" Vivian stood up. Her voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the entire conference room. "I'm done!"
"Miss Brown, we're all working for the company's benefit. Please calm down." Sloane spoke up unhurriedly, her tone the picture of gentleness.
Hearing her words, Vivian let out a cold laugh.
She was leaving anyway. Might as well say what needed to be said.
If she was going down, she wasn't letting Sloane off easy either. "Sloane, you know why everyone at this company who worked with Evelyn can't stand you?"
She locked eyes with Sloane, enunciating every word. "Because you're always playing dirty behind people's backs!"
"Compared to someone as straightforward as Evelyn, you don't even come close!"
With that, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
At the threshold, she paused, her gaze sweeping over those who'd been piling on earlier. "A word of advice to certain people here—don't let yourselves be used as pawns without even knowing it."
"Miss Elikin is particularly good at poaching other people's resources and sabotaging them behind their backs."
"Watch yourselves. Don't end up swallowing bitter pills you can't spit out."
She pulled open the door and walked out without looking back.
Everyone in the conference room exchanged uneasy glances.
Sloane sat there, her face cycling between shades of green and white, like she'd been slapped in front of everyone.
News of Vivian's resignation from Limbo Inc. quickly reached Evelyn.
Her assistant Mira Collins was the one who told her.
Ever since leaving Dairy Haven Group last time, Mira had been keeping a close eye on Sloane.
She'd quietly developed a few informants at Limbo Inc., constantly monitoring the situation there.
The commotion Vivian caused at the weekly meeting spread fast.
"Vivian?" The name sounded vaguely familiar to Evelyn, though she couldn't immediately place it.
Mira professionally pulled up a photo on her phone. "This person. Word is she's a sales powerhouse at Limbo Inc."
Seeing the photo, Evelyn's memory clicked into place.
Right, there was someone like that—she'd joined the company around the same time as Evelyn.
Though they hadn't interacted much, Evelyn remembered Vivian as a capable woman who got things done efficiently, no nonsense.
"Follow up on her. See if we can sign her to our side." Evelyn set down the phone. "There'll probably be plenty of other companies approaching her, so move fast."
"Got it." Mira responded crisply.
She never questioned Evelyn's decisions.
For Evelyn, this was more about recognizing talent.
The company didn't immediately need sales staff, but the Gray Group had a significant gap in that department.
Rather than let another company snatch up Vivian, better to bring her in first.
"Adam, we'll arrive at the new office location in ten minutes." Mira sounded a bit excited. "This'll be my first time there!"
Evelyn smiled, anticipation gleaming in her eyes too.
New office, new beginning.
She hoped her path in Novaria would only get smoother.
Arriving at the new office, the moment she walked in, the receptionist came up to her. "Adam, someone sent you two bouquets of flowers."
Evelyn paused. Flowers?
She looked in the direction the receptionist indicated.
A massive bouquet of red roses and another of daisies, piled so high they nearly dwarfed the reception desk.
Water droplets still clung to the leaves—clearly just delivered.
Not many people knew she'd come to Novaria. Who would send flowers?
She walked over and picked up the card attached to the flowers.
One glance and her eyes turned cold.
Mira leaned in to read the card, but Evelyn tore it up and tossed it in the trash.
Other colleagues emerged from their workstations at the commotion. Seeing the two bouquets, their eyes lit up.
"It's rare to see someone send daisies."
"So many daisies! They're gorgeous!"
"Yeah, yeah, and those roses look expensive."
"If you like them, split them among yourselves." Evelyn said flatly, turning and walking into her office.
The flowers were from Matthew.
She'd had a relatively peaceful few days, never expecting Matthew to pull something like this.
It reminded her of the past.
All those years with him, she'd never received a single bouquet from him.
Not on her birthday. Not on Valentine's Day.
Now that "Evelyn" was dead, he was sending flowers—and he even remembered she liked daisies.
Wasn't that ironic?
Affection that comes too late is cheaper than weeds.
Evelyn took a deep breath, forcing down the churning emotions. She opened her computer and started working.
Across the street at a café.
Matthew sat by the window, watching the entrance to the new office from afar.
He saw Evelyn walk up to the reception desk. Saw her tear up the card and throw it in the trash.
Saw her distribute the flowers to her colleagues. Saw her walk into her office with an icy expression and not come out again.
He sat there, heart sinking to the bottom.
Matthew's fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of his coffee cup.
He'd debated whether or not to come, and in the end, couldn't resist.
He just wanted to see her from a distance, even if it was only her silhouette.
His phone rang.
His assistant's voice carried urgency. "Mr. Perkins, Miss Elikin collapsed with heart trouble and was rushed to the hospital for emergency care!"
Matthew's brow furrowed.
He didn't recall Sloane ever having heart problems.
"Please go to the hospital right away! Before Miss Elikin lost consciousness, she kept calling your name."
"...Got it. Send me the address."
Matthew stood, his gaze falling one last time on that tightly closed office door.
She never came back out.
He turned and left the café quickly.
At the hospital, Sloane lay in the bed, feeling a bit uneasy.
It had been a long time since she'd been to the hospital after her "recovery."
But with blow after blow lately, she'd been forced to resort to this tactic again.
Faking illness couldn't be overused—it had to be saved for critical moments.
She held her breath, listening intently.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, drawing closer.
She quickly arranged her expression into one of weakness, even deliberately making her breathing light and shallow.
The door opened. Matthew walked in.
Seeing Sloane's pale face, his frown deepened. "Sloane, what happened? How did you suddenly have heart problems?"
"The doctor said it was triggered by severe emotional distress." Sloane's voice was soft and fragile, as if it might break at any moment. "It's nothing serious. Just need rest."
"Severe emotional distress?" Matthew's tone carried a hint of inquiry.
"At the morning meeting..." Sloane had only gotten a few words out when tears started falling.
She bit her lip, her entire demeanor trembling and fragile.
On the way to the hospital, Matthew's assistant had already briefed him on what happened at the meeting.
Before he could speak, Sloane said tremulously, "I never knew... that's how Miss Brown saw your relationship with me."
Matthew stood there silently.