Chapter 39

William’s expression slowly turned cold. Even the way he signed grew stiff and sharp.

“You really want to make things hard for me, just for Cecilia?”

But only Rachel knew that it wasn’t just for Cecilia. It was also for herself.

She wanted to see for herself–if she stood firm like this and refused to back down, would William still choose to protect Samantha?

Rachel’s gaze stayed steady and clear as she looked at him.

“All these years, I’ve never asked you for anything. Just this one time–for Cecilia. If you say yes, I’ll pass my current project to her. We’re signing the contract tomorrow. I’ll bring her with me, and her name can go on the agreement. That way, it won’t make things too hard for you.”

William didn’t say a word. His eyes were dark, his gaze resting on Rachel like the distant, shadowy surface of a deep sea–calm, with no sign of waves.

Just then, Arsen pushed open the door. “Mr. Lewis, here’s a document-”

“Get out!” William suddenly shouted toward the door.

Arsen quickly backed out. “Yes, sir.”

The door closed again with a soft thud.

Rachel’s heart trembled hard. Since she had been with William, he had never lost his temper like that in front of her. Her fingers curled tight around the hem of her shirt, and her whole body went stiff.

William walked over again. The anger on his face had faded, and his expression softened.

He knelt beside her, looked into her eyes, and gently took her cold hand in his.

“Rachel… You know how the company works. It’s not just my call. Sure, I’ve got some say right now, but I haven’t fully secured this position. I told you before–my uncle is still out there. He’s way more capable than me. He runs his own company, yeah, but who knows? If my dad ever thinks I’m not good enough, he could swap me out in a second.”

William rubbed his brow and continued, “There are a few shareholders who are loyal to my uncle. If they hear that I’m making personal decisions like this at work, who knows what they’ll say? Just… try to understand where I’m coming from.”

Rachel let out a short, cold laugh.

“But you had no problem parachuting Samantha into the company,” she said. “Do those shareholders know that she can’t even run a single data report without your help? Aren’t you worried that it will reach your dad’s ears and hurt your standing?”

In the end, it wasn’t about what was right or wrong. It was about Rachel not being worth the trouble.

If Cecilia came back, Samantha would definitely make a scene in front of William.

To put it plainly, he was just afraid that his precious little darling would throw a tantrum, and that he would have to work hard to calm her down.

Rachel wasn’t like that. She kept things to herself and never made a fuss. No matter how upset she was, she always handled it alone.

It was just like the saying–the child who cried got the candy.

William sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s different. Samantha still struggles with data, sure, but she has the credentials. She’s from Arden University. With some patience and the right training, she won’t stay behind for long.”

Rachel tasted bitterness in her mouth.

So he had patience–for Samantha.

But Cecilia? She was just a regular employee. Not worth the risk of the hassle.

Rachel looked him in the eye and asked one last time, “So you’re saying that even if I give my project to Cecilia, you still won’t let her come back?”

William’s answer didn’t change. He gave a quick wave of his hand. “It’s not a good idea.”

“I see,” Rachel said quietly.

She didn’t argue anymore.

She stood from the chair, ready to leave–when William suddenly grabbed her shoulder. He turned to look at her, and she caught the chill in his eyes.

“What’s going on between you and Tyler?” he demanded.