Chapter 135
Back when she used to think about all of it, Rachel felt like those memories were her biggest source of motivation. But now, looking back, it all felt like some kind of joke.
As she stepped out of the office, she ran into Samantha, who was holding a tray of coffee and clearly on her way in. Samantha gave her a polite nod.
“Hi, Rachel.”
“Mm.” Rachel gave a short response and was about to walk past her.
But Samantha suddenly grabbed her arm lightly. Her voice was soft and delicate. “Rachel, I think William already talked to you, right? He asked you to look out for me during the team-building event.”
Rachel was already irritated, and no matter how hard she tried to keep a lid on it, her signing still came across harsh. “Are you still a child? Can’t you take care of yourself?”
Samantha didn’t say another word.
After lunch, Samantha brought fruit teas for everyone in the office except Rachel.
“Rachel,” she said, putting on her innocent act! “I remembered you prefer coffee. But my doctor said I shouldn’t be drinking any right now because of my health. You’re not mad, right?”
Rachel glanced down at the schedule William had just handed her for tomorrow’s team-building event. Her temples throbbed.
She didn’t have the energy to deal with Samantha anymore.
When the workday finally ended, she had plans to grab dinner with Cecilia. After such a heavy workload today, a good meal felt well deserved.
But just as they were heading out, they ran into William and Samantha.
William held out a folder. “Rachel, I need you to expedite this file. Our partner company needs it done by midnight.”
Rachel took it and flipped through it. She frowned. Her gaze shifted instinctively to Samantha.
“Isn’t this project under Ms. Judd?”
Samantha looked up at her with a weak, pitiful expression. “I’m really sorry, Rachel. I suddenly felt nauseous. It’s so late, and I couldn’t get a ride, so William has to take me to the hospital. But by the time I’m done and get back, it’ll probably be too late to finish the report.”
Rachel replied, “I haven’t had dinner yet. My stomach is acting up.”
William didn’t even flinch. “I already had food delivered. It should be downstairs now. They’ll bring it up to you.”
He gave her a pat on the shoulder as if he were assigning her some grand mission. “I trust you. You’ll handle it just fine.”
Without waiting for Rachel’s reply, William walked off with Samantha in tow.
Rachel pursed her lips and turned to Cecilia. “Go ahead without me. Looks like I won’t be able to make it to dinner tonight.”
Cecilia stared at her. “Are you seriously doing Samantha’s work? And what the hell is wrong with William? You just told him you haven’t eaten and your stomach hurts. He only cares about Samantha. How can he not care about you?”
Rachel took a deep breath. Oddly, she was calmer than Cecilia, who was merely a bystander. “It’s fine. We can go another day. You should go home.”
“Nope. I’m staying.” Cecilia grabbed the project file from her. “Let’s get this started. Two of us will finish it faster anyway.”
Rachel sat back down at her desk and glanced over the documents. Her expression darkened.
Samantha, the so-called project lead, hadn’t done anything. She really had left the mess all behind for someone else.
But then again, with William’s personality, it wasn’t surprising. As long as Samantha pouted a little, he’d always come running to support her like her personal knight in shining armor.
Meanwhile, Rachel had thrown herself into work, as always, and forgot everything else, including dinner.
She hadn’t even eaten by the time they finished near midnight.
She had just emailed the final report to William and was reaching into her drawer for some antacid when another message came through.
[She’s still at the hospital for tests. The doctor wants to put her on an IV drip. She just called. There’s another file she needs double-checked. Look for data sheet number 002.]
Rachel clenched her fist.