Chapter 98 Keep the Peace

Chapter 98 Keep the Peace

The tension in my brain snapped tight. I eyed the two of them warily, returning their greeting with a stiff, perfunctory "morning."

I waited silently for whatever came next.

Oliver and Wendy seemed to pick up on my wariness. Their attitudes grew even more humble.

"Ms. Rosewood, we're your team members. Please assign us today's work."

I couldn't help frowning. My mind raced through everything that had happened yesterday.

What could possibly have caused such a dramatic shift in their attitudes?

I forced out a thin smile. "Am I misremembering? Pretty sure our conversation yesterday didn't go well."

Faced with my pointed remark, both looked awkward. They exchanged glances before Oliver spoke again. "Yesterday was just a small misunderstanding. We've come around."

"That's right, Ms. Rosewood. We've thought it through," Wendy quickly chimed in.

I let out a meaningful "Oh." And said nothing else.

More colleagues started arriving for work, all curiously watching our little scene.

According to Oliver's personnel file, she wasn't the showy type. In fact, she hated being watched like a zoo animal.

That's why yesterday when I'd gone to their work area to find them, Oliver's face had turned stormy and she'd looked so reluctant.

So right now, wanting to escape the attention quickly, she chose to apologize.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Rosewood. Yesterday I was out of line. Please be the bigger person and don't hold it against me."

Wendy caught on fast and quickly apologized as well.

Their heads hung low, hiding whatever emotions flickered in their eyes.

I grew even more guarded. I tested them with a few casual questions. Both maintained their humble attitudes throughout.

What new game were they playing now?

I wondered silently.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed quite a few coworkers whispering about us. Continuing this scene wouldn't do me any favors.

Taking a breath to calm myself, I looked at them both. "Head back to your desks. I'll send work assignments to your emails soon."

Oliver and Wendy agreed and hurried off.

Overnight, they'd become completely different people. What had caused this?

Could it be because they thought I had connections too?

I felt both annoyed and slightly relieved. But digging deeper, a new worry surfaced.

Blake was Nicholas's close friend. If Nicholas and I had a falling out in the future, would Blake still help me?

Whether it was connections or power, only what you held in your own hands felt secure.

A new plan formed in my mind. Blake needed to become my friend too.

After dealing with Oliver and Wendy, instead of rushing to start work on my computer, I headed to Mr. King's office in HR.

When he saw me, his expression was calm, as if he'd been expecting me.

My frown deepened. Had something happened between these people that I didn't know about?

Pushing down my doubts, I got straight to the point about yesterday's situation.

"Mr. King, yesterday Oliver and Wendy clearly expressed their dissatisfaction with me, and I requested new team members. So what's the next step?"

"They apologized to you this morning, didn't they?" Instead of answering, Mr. King asked me a question.

My heart sank. I nodded slowly.

"Catherine, the workplace isn't a game. You can't act on impulse. Since they apologized for yesterday, take the out they're giving you and let it go. Focus on doing your work well and earning the salary the company pays you. That's what you should be thinking about right now."

Mr. King was basically showing me the door.

I realized I wasn't going to get any more useful information from him. I left in a daze.

The moment the cold air hit me, my mind cleared again.

As I walked back, I quickly processed the current situation.

If Mr. King already knew what Oliver and Wendy were going to do, it meant they'd had another conversation after Blake and I left yesterday.

Oliver was proud and couldn't stand people with connections, yet because she didn't have any herself, she had no choice but to bow her head.

Wendy had a weak personality—a total pushover.

Both were hot potatoes. If I didn't handle this right, who knew what new disasters were waiting.

I took a deep breath, feeling exhausted. Then again, what were these little setbacks?

Compared to everything I'd been through in my past life, at least this crisis wouldn't destroy my health.

I rekindled my fighting spirit. After returning to my desk, I sent both of them work assignment emails based on the project timeline.

I tried using work to numb myself, forcing myself not to overthink things.

But my brain wouldn't cooperate. It kept pulling up that news report.

"Recently, a photography expedition team mysteriously vanished in the Wolfshead Mountain region..."

I kept telling myself I'd severed ties with the Rosewood family. Jason's situation had nothing to do with me.

I pushed that thought down, only for worries about Oliver and Wendy's schemes to surge up instead.

My heart wouldn't settle.

That afternoon, I got a call from the front desk downstairs. "Ms. Rosewood, Mr. Harrington is here in person with his team to discuss the collaboration. Please come down to receive them."

Nicholas came himself?

I was stunned for a moment. Remembering how important this collaboration was, I didn't dare delay. After quickly notifying Oliver and Wendy, I headed to the reception room to prepare refreshments.

When Nicholas arrived, Oliver and Wendy still hadn't shown up.

I didn't have time to chase them down. I put all my energy into hosting Nicholas and his team properly.

"You all prep the materials. I'd like to talk to Ms. Rosewood alone for a moment."

Nicholas casually gave the order, gesturing for me to follow him out.

I followed in confusion, about to ask what he wanted when I saw Nicholas clear his throat with a light cough. "I'll pick you up after work."

His tone was somewhat awkward. For a moment, I actually sensed some... shyness?

Ever since Samuel told me my parents' deaths were connected to Nicholas, I hadn't known how to face him. I'd chosen to solve the problem by avoiding it.

I'd refused to commute with Nicholas. Other than preparing dinner for them as agreed, I'd had no extra contact with him.

Last night's dinner—Blake had deliberately tried to break the ice between us. But...

The refusal was right on the tip of my tongue when I looked up and happened to catch sight of Oliver frozen like a statue a few steps away, and Wendy with her eyes wide in shock.

Clearly, they'd heard what Nicholas just said.

My thoughts shifted.

Since they already assumed I had connections, actively denying it wouldn't mean anything. They'd already misunderstood anyway—might as well use this opportunity to cement that impression.

So I nodded slightly and agreed to Nicholas's request.

"Let's talk work first."

Then I deliberately engaged Oliver and Wendy. "What are you two standing around for? Mr. Harrington's team is here. Get in there with the materials."

At my words, Nicholas followed my gaze and glanced at the two of them.

The oppressive aura of someone in power was like a mountain crushing down on ordinary people.

Both of them jolted, exchanged glances, and hurried to catch up.

"Mr. Harrington, please, right this way."