Chapter 7
I arrived at Glacier Corp. After telling the receptionist why I was here, she asked me to wait in the lounge area.
I sat quietly on the sofa, but memories flooded my mind uncontrollably.
Kean used to walk toward me with a smile on his face, holding my hand with his warm, large hands, telling me gently about his day.
The next instant, the man's gentle face in my memory turned cold. Jason's indifferent, mocking gaze pierced my heart deeply.
We could never go back.
"Ms. Wilson."
Assistant Samuel's voice pulled me back from my memories.
I blinked, forcing back the tears welling up in my eyes, and looked up at him. "Does Mr. Cooper have time to see me now?"
Assistant Samuel had a strange expression on his face, looking at me with a hint of pity. "Mr. Cooper is still in a meeting. He wants you to wait in his office."
I nodded. "Okay."
Assistant Samuel escorted me to the office and left.
I sat on the guest sofa waiting, my eyes scanning around the office.
The office had a minimalist design with classic black and white colors, which actually suited who Jason had become.
Further and further from the Kean I remembered.
The guest sofa was very soft. The fatigue from working overtime last night came over me, and my brain felt foggy.
I shook my head hard, trying to shake off the drowsiness.
I had accidentally fallen asleep yesterday. If I fell asleep again today, I was afraid Jason would throw me out.
Maybe my nerves had been too tense lately. Despite my best efforts to resist, I still fell asleep without realizing it.
In my daze, I felt warmth and instinctively leaned toward it.
I vaguely heard a man's sarcastic laugh near my ear.
My brain instantly cleared. I opened my eyes suddenly to see Jason's handsome face up close.
My breathing hitched, and my heart raced.
Jason's eyes were deep, reflecting my image, but they quickly turned to mockery.
"Are you treating my office like a hotel?"
He pulled his hand away and stood up straight.
Only then did I realize that at some point, Jason had placed his hand under my face as a cushion.
Was that why I felt warmth?
"Sorry, Mr. Cooper." I quickly stood up and apologized honestly.
Jason looked down at me from above. His large shadow enveloped me, making my heart pound.
"Are you usually this busy? Working during the day and at night too?"
He emphasized the last two words heavily, with anger and suggestive undertones.
My face turned pale, and my heart ached dully.
I forced a smile and handed the documents to Jason. "Mr. Cooper, this is the document revised according to your requirements. Please review it."
Jason stared at me intently without reaching out. The documents hung awkwardly in the air.
I withdrew my hand sheepishly and was about to place it on the desk when Jason said coldly, "Read it to me."
"Read?" I thought I had heard wrong.
There were so many clauses in this contract. Reading them one by one would make my voice hoarse.
Jason walked over with long strides and sat back in his executive chair, crossing his legs and leaning back. He glanced at me coldly, his gaze finally landing on the door. "Seems like you're not sincere about cooperating."
The threat was obvious.
I had no choice but to agree.
I lowered my head and opened the first page, about to speak, when he interrupted again. "Stand while you read."
At this point, it was clear he was deliberately making things difficult for me.
For Jessica's sake, I could endure it.
I kept my head down, carefully reading each awkward clause in the contract word by word, while secretly stealing glances at Jason's expression.
Jason sat relaxed and casual in his chair, his fingers tapping the armrest slowly and rhythmically. The sound struck my heart with each beat.
But gradually, Jason sat up straight, uncrossed his legs, frowned slightly, and his expression showed complete impatience.
My heart was pounding. Had I done something else to displease him?
The more nervous you are, the more likely you are to make mistakes.
I stumbled and misread two words.
"That's enough."
Jason's voice was hoarse. With a stern face, he stared straight at me. "Leave the contract here and get out!"
A cold, penetrating pressure instantly hit me. I instinctively held my breath, my body stiffening as I placed the contract on the desk.
I had wanted to ask when I should come back to pick up the signed contract.
But facing Jason's intensely oppressive gaze, I swallowed the words that were on the tip of my tongue.
I couldn't afford the consequences of offending Jason.
After putting down the documents, I lowered my eyes and turned toward the door.
Sharp eyes felt like needles in my back, making it hard to breathe.
Kean would never be like this.
I clenched my fists, telling myself that this person was now called Jason.
Just then, Assistant Samuel pushed the door open. "Mr. Cooper, Mia Ethan is waiting for you downstairs. She says she wants to take you to dinner."
Only after he finished speaking did he notice I was still in the office.
Assistant Samuel looked stunned for a moment, then quickly returned to normal and reported to Jason as usual.
"Tell her to get lost." Jason snapped coldly, his voice carrying a barely noticeable hoarseness.
Assistant Samuel seemed to sense something. His gaze unconsciously looked somewhere, then immediately looked away as if electrocuted. "Okay, I'll handle it right away!"
Before leaving, he gave me a meaningful look.
I was confused.
"You get out too!" Jason's angry urging drove me out the door.
The moment I stepped out of the office, I actually felt a bit relieved.
"How many times has Mr. Cooper rejected Ms. Ethan?"
Glacier Corp employees were discussing in low voices nearby.
"Definitely can't count on one hand, but that's normal. Don't you know Mr. Cooper doesn't give anyone face except for that person?"
"Keep it down, don't let Mr. Cooper hear you! Do you want to pack your things and leave?"
I paused slightly, then walked toward the elevator with a normal expression.
But my steps quickened uncontrollably.
So during those five years, he had already found the woman he loved.
My heart ached in waves, but I didn't even have the right to cry.
The elevator arrived. I walked in and stared at my pale face in the elevator mirror, forcing out a smile.
As soon as I walked out of Glacier Corp, I looked up and saw Mia, the woman Assistant Samuel had mentioned, leaning against a Maserati.
She had complicated nail art and exquisite makeup, her face full of anger.
I paused, thinking I hoped she wouldn't see me.
Mia locked onto my position with one glance and asked, "Aren't you Brian's secretary? Hooking up with one boss isn't enough? You want to hook up with a second one?"
She looked me up and down and laughed disdainfully. "With your cheap outfit? I'm warning you, if you dare to want things that don't belong to you, I'll make you disappear from Seaside City the next day!"
I said calmly, "Miss Ethan, I'm only here to discuss work."
"What work does an assistant come to discuss on her own?"
Mia sneered. "Working in bed?"
Her words sparked my anger. I stood still and looked at her calmly. "Miss Ethan, what you want to do doesn't mean everyone wants to do it! I'm here today representing DT Corp to discuss work. Please don't interfere with me!"