Chapter 161 New Secretary
The car pulled up at the South District apartment. Zachary got out, flowers in hand, takeout box in the other, and followed Quinley upstairs.
But when they reached her door, Quinley didn't invite him in.
"Mr. Jennings, I'm pretty tired. You should head back."
Zachary's somber gaze settled on Quinley. Their eyes met, a thousand unspoken words hanging between them, but neither said a thing.
"Come back to Apex Global Group tomorrow. Use your current identity. Don't worry about anything—I'll have Lucas arrange everything."
Zachary let out a long breath, extending the invitation.
"Let me think about it."
Quinley still had reservations. It wasn't that she hadn't considered Zachary's offer. But she wasn't ready. Going back to Apex Global Group as Cindy, becoming Zachary's chief secretary—wouldn't that just be repeating the same mistakes?
But this time, Zachary wasn't giving her room to hesitate.
"It's settled then. Eight o'clock tomorrow morning. I expect you at your desk, on time."
As he finished, a smile suddenly broke across his face. He reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately. For some reason, Quinley's heart skipped a beat.
He walked away quickly. Quinley closed the door and sat on the sofa for a long time.
Should she go back to Apex Global Group? Did she have the courage to return?
That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. But when the familiar alarm went off, another voice rose inside her.
Why not? What was there to be afraid of?
That voice somehow gave her courage. She got up immediately, applied light makeup, put on a semi-formal business suit, and headed out.
Walking into the Apex Global Group lobby, the receptionist greeted her.
"Ms. Promis, good morning!"
Quinley's heart stuttered slightly, but she quickly put on a professional smile and nodded. "Morning!"
Taking the elevator to the executive floor, her fear evaporated completely, replaced by excitement. Just as Zachary had promised, he'd arranged everything. Her workstation had been cleaned and restored to its previous neat and orderly state.
The moment she sat down, secretaries came to brief her on work. Quinley showed no signs of panic. She opened her computer, compiled all the tasks, and categorized them by priority.
By the time Zachary appeared in his office, the schedule she'd prepared and all the documents requiring his signature were already neatly arranged on his desk.
"Ms. Elikin's back."
Lucas's face lit up with a brilliant smile. The corner of Zachary's mouth also curved into a faint smile. That dim light in his eyes finally brightened again.
"It's Ms. Promis."
Zachary corrected him.
"Right, Ms. Promis."
Lucas echoed. Besides Zachary and Lucas, no one else knew Quinley's true identity.
In the break room, two junior secretaries held coffee cups, voices low as they gossiped.
"Ms. Promis is really something, huh? We all thought she was just a janitor. Who knew she had these skills? Pretty impressive."
The tone was dripping with acid. The other one sighed heavily.
"Can't help but be impressed. Look at her—first day back and she's got everything running like clockwork. Ms. Gomez never managed things this smoothly. Although, I have to say, her working style reminds me a lot of Ms. Elikin."
"Shh—why are you bringing up Ms. Elikin out of nowhere?"
As they gossiped in the break room, Quinley happened to be in the bathroom just on the other side of the wall. She walked out calmly, her cool gaze sweeping over the two secretaries.
"Ms. Promis..."
They greeted her nervously.
"Are you done with your work?"
Quinley's tone was neither servile nor arrogant, neither light nor heavy, but it carried a unique authority.
"Not yet. We'll get right on it."
The two scurried back to the office like their feet were on fire. Where there are people, there's always gossip. And gossip stops with the wise.
Quinley let out a long breath. After a busy morning, she realized that facing things was far easier than fearing them.
"Ms. Elikin, Mr. Jennings wants to see you."
Just as Quinley sat down in her office, Lucas came to get her. She walked straight to Zachary's office and knocked. His voice came from inside.
"Come in."
"Mr. Jennings, you wanted to see me?"
Quinley walked in with professional composure. Zachary squinted, taking her in. She was back. The person who'd haunted his thoughts was back.
"Come with me somewhere."
He stood and headed for the door.
"Business or personal?"
Quinley didn't move. She kept work and personal life separate. It was work hours—she knew what mattered.
"Business."
Zachary's eyes were inscrutable as he glanced at Quinley. She followed him into the elevator.
In the underground parking garage, Lucas was already waiting in the car. Once Quinley and Zachary were in, the car shot out.
"Where are we going?"
Quinley asked suspiciously.
"You'll see when we get there."
Half an hour later, the car pulled up at Rosewood City's most upscale shopping mall.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Quinley was confused. Zachary's sharp gaze swept over her.
"You need a new wardrobe. You're the chief secretary of Apex Global Group now. This outfit doesn't cut it."
He was blunt. Quinley understood. As Zachary's chief secretary, her appearance had to be polished and refined. It was a symbol of her position—and of Zachary's image.
"I can buy things myself after work. It's work hours now. If there's nothing else, Mr. Jennings, I should get back to the office."
She had that all-business demeanor, ready to leave.
"There's a dinner meeting tonight. You're coming with me."
Hearing this, Quinley stopped. She was Zachary's chief secretary. Accompanying him to business dinners was part of her job. So she couldn't refuse.
Clothes, shoes, bags—Quinley moved quickly and decisively, each piece she selected tasteful and high-quality. Once everything was done, Quinley walked over to Zachary.
"Can we go now?"
"Not yet."
Zachary turned and headed for the elevator. "Your makeup, your hair—everything needs to change."
Right now she had short hair with no particular style. That obviously didn't fit the secretary image.
Fortunately, Quinley accepted the change. Soon, stylists and makeup artists surrounded her. The stylist worked the scissors skillfully. Instantly, that elegant, refined air became part of Quinley.
But when it came to makeup, Quinley deliberately had the artist erase traces of the original Quinley.
Not far away, Zachary leaned against the sofa, his gaze fixed on Quinley in the mirror. He could see it—Quinley was still afraid to face the past.
"Still scared?"
"Not scared. Just cautious."
Quinley stared at herself in the mirror for a long time. Right now, she looked polished and glamorous, all traces of plainness gone. Similarly, her sharp edges were gradually emerging.
She was Quinley, but she no longer wanted to be Quinley.
Zachary didn't push. He nodded. "Take your time. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
As they talked, Lucas came in to hurry them along.
"Mr. Jennings, we're running out of time. We should go."
Dinner meetings were typically set for seven. Quinley glanced at the time—one hour left.
"Who are we meeting?"
She picked up her clutch and followed Zachary, asking casually. Usually before business dinners, she'd do her homework. Better to be prepared.
But Zachary didn't stop walking. He just turned his head, his gaze deep as he looked at Quinley.
"Someone neither of us really wants to see."