Chapter 136 Come to See Him
"Peter?"
Mrs. Ginger kept working, not missing a beat.
Quinley's heart jumped. "How did you know?"
Mrs. Ginger let out a soft sigh. "At the recycling center, that newspaper you were reading was about the Apex Global Group CEO. You looked so panicked—I figured you must know him. Lily, if you're sure about going back, I'll do anything to help you."
A wave of warmth crashed through Quinley's chest. For a moment, she couldn't find the words.
"Mrs. Ginger, thank you."
After Mrs. Ginger helped her pack, she immediately reached out to Peter. The next morning, he showed up at her house. Just like last time, he came loaded down with gifts.
Mrs. Ginger still wasn't thrilled to see him. She opened the gate and said coldly, "Come in. We need to talk."
Peter forced an awkward smile. He was actually around the same age as Mrs. Ginger, but because of Lily, he was terrified of her.
"Okay."
He nodded and followed her inside. Quinley had made tea in the kitchen. She brought it out to him, speaking in her practiced Mandarin with a heavy local accent. "Mr. Martin, have some tea."
"Thank you, thank you."
Peter glanced up, his eyes passing casually over Quinley's face. He still didn't recognize her.
Mrs. Ginger sat in the main seat, her expression serious. "How high up are you at Apex Global Group?"
Peter looked confused for a second. "I'm in the finance department. Director level."
"You got any real power there?"
Peter was getting more confused by the second, but he answered whatever Mrs. Ginger asked. "In the finance department, I've got the most authority. But in the whole company? Not really."
"Can you get someone a job there?"
Peter looked relieved, a slight smile appearing. "Don't worry—when your son graduates college, I'll make sure he gets into Apex Global Group. I'll train him myself."
Back when Quinley had let him off the hook, she'd made him promise to take care of Lily's family. At least he had some conscience—he'd kept his word.
"I'm not talking about my son."
Mrs. Ginger frowned slightly, like it didn't matter to her.
"Then who?"
Peter looked confused, then glanced over at Quinley. The way she looked now, she was the definition of average—someone who'd disappear in a crowd. Simple clothes, plain appearance. But she had good manners. While Mrs. Ginger and Peter talked, she stood quietly to the side without butting in.
"This is my daughter's cousin, Cindy Promise. I need you to get her into Apex Global Group."
Peter turned to Quinley. "Ms. Promise, can you tell me about your background?"
Back when Quinley had asked Detective Wilson to help her get a new identity, she'd been so focused on escaping that she hadn't thought things through. Her only requirement was that the new identity had to be low-key.
Detective Wilson had come through fast, finding her Cindy's identity. Orphan, high school dropout. It was definitely low-key. But now it was kind of embarrassing.
"High school dropout. No special skills."
Quinley was honest about it.
Peter's brow furrowed. This was going to be tricky. Apex Global Group was a prestigious company in Rosewood City. They hired people with at least a bachelor's degree. With her credentials, she'd have a hard time even getting hired as a janitor.
"What, you can't do it?"
Mrs. Ginger raised her voice, putting pressure on him.
"My daughter died at Apex Global Group. You people told me not to make a fuss, and I didn't. Now you can't even help my niece get a job?"
"No, no, you've got it wrong. I'll arrange it. I'll take care of it right now."
Peter pulled out his phone right there and started making calls in front of Mrs. Ginger. Quinley heard him talking to someone named Basil in HR. Peter clearly wanted to get Quinley into the finance department, but everyone knew that department had high standards—not just for education, but for skills too.
After a bunch of back and forth, Peter wasn't having much luck. Finally, Basil seemed to cave.
"The custodial department has an opening. If she's willing, you can bring her in to start."
When he hung up, Peter looked at Quinley apologetically. "The company's pretty strict about education requirements. How about this—I'll get you into custodial for now. Do that for a bit while I figure out the degree situation, then when there's an opening, I'll move you to finance. Sound okay?"
"Custodial? You want Promise mopping floors? Doing grunt work? Peter, are you serious right now? Did my daughter die for nothing?"
Anger flashed across Mrs. Ginger's face. She was ready to fight for Quinley.
But Quinley spoke up. "It's fine. I'll take custodial."
"Okay, okay, great. I'll set it up right now."
Peter looked relieved and immediately got back on the phone. Everything fell into place quickly.
"I'll go with you today," Quinley said.
Peter didn't think twice. "Sure, coming today works. I'll get you set up with a place to stay, and you can start work tomorrow."
Just like that, they were leaving. Quinley didn't hesitate for a second.
Right before she got in the car, Mrs. Ginger pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and tried to give it to Quinley. "Promise, take care of yourself out there. Come back soon."
After six months together, she'd already started thinking of Quinley as her own daughter.
Quinley hugged Mrs. Ginger tight. "I'll come back to visit you soon."
She didn't take the money—she tucked it back into Mrs. Ginger's pocket.
The car started up and headed toward Rosewood City. Lakeside City faded into the distance as Rosewood City drew closer. She'd worked so hard to escape, and now here she was, voluntarily going back.
They arrived in Rosewood City before dark. Peter got Quinley settled into a hotel first.
"Promise, stay here tonight. Tomorrow I'll get an apartment sorted out and you can move in. Tomorrow morning, just take a cab straight to Apex Global Group. I've got everything arranged on that end. If anything comes up, call me."
"Okay."
Quinley took Peter's business card and thanked him. He still hadn't recognized her—not even a glimmer.
As soon as she got back to her hotel room, Quinley changed into all black, threw on a baseball cap and mask, and headed straight back out.
The hotel wasn't far from Serenity Health Center. She grabbed a cab and got there in about ten minutes.
The second she arrived at the hospital, she spotted Lucas. He was walking quickly, talking on his phone, clearly in a hurry. Of course, he didn't notice her.
Quinley followed him inside, slipping into the elevator right behind him. He pressed fifteen. She pressed sixteen.
There were several people in the elevator at first, but they got off one by one until it was just Quinley and Lucas.
He seemed to sense something. His eyes slid over to her.
Quinley had earbuds in, eyes down, pretending to listen to music. But her heart was hammering away in her chest.
Lucas stared at her for what felt like forever. When the elevator stopped at fifteen, he quickly stepped out.
Quinley immediately pressed her hand to her chest. She was scared, her palms slick with sweat.
When she reached sixteen, she took the stairs down to Zachary's floor. But the second she stepped out of the stairwell, her heart sank.
The entire floor was crawling with security. There was no way she could get close.
She peeked out from the stairwell for a moment, about to turn back, when she heard a voice call out.
"Who's there?"