Rachel watched Samantha struggle with the hand gestures and couldn’t help but smile mockingly.
“You don’t have to go through all that trouble, Ms. Judd,” she said. “I can read lips. As long as what you’re saying isn’t too complicated, I can understand.”
Watching Samantha fumble around with awkward, clumsy motions was almost funny. She didn’t seem tired from all that flailing, but Rachel got tired just watching her.
Samantha stopped mid-sign and asked, “If you can read lips, then why does William always use hand signs with you?”
Rachel raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide the dry look on her face. “You want to know?”
Samantha shoved her hands into her coat pockets and shrugged. “Just curious.”
“Well,” Rachel mused, “you asked.”
“When I lost my hearing because of him, he went and learned sign language. But just because he was willing to do that doesn’t mean everyone else around me has to. Over time, I got used to reading lips and picked it up myself. But he was worried that I might struggle with lip-reading, and since signing was quicker and easier for me, he just kept communicating with it.”
Samantha’s expression flickered between shades of anger and shock, and she dropped the topic quickly. “So, why are you here?”
“I wanted to talk about Cecilia.”
Samantha slowly stood from her chair, her face full of hesitation.
“Rachel, you really should be talking to William about that, not me. Besides,” she added, sounding innocent at first—until she leaned in closer, her tone turning half-joking. “Cecilia saying those things to my face in front of William… That wasn’t your idea, was it?”
Rachel met Samantha’s eyes. For a second, the cool calm in her expression turned sharp.
Then she let out a soft, amused laugh.
“Of course not. Mr. Lewis personally brought you into the company. Everyone knows how capable you are. Cecilia’s just an employee—she can be blunt sometimes, but she doesn’t mean harm.”
Rachel continued calmly, “This all started because of you, so I think you should end it. I’m asking you to let Cecilia off the hook. I can promise you she won’t say anything like that again.”
Samantha frowned slightly, then blinked her big, innocent eyes and gave Rachel a playful wink.
“Oh, Rachel! You’ve been with William for so many years—you should know how he is. Once he’s made up his mind, not even you, his wife, can change it. What makes you think I, his former classmate, could?”
Rachel gave a small sneer of annoyance, but it only flashed for a moment before her usual cool expression returned.
“You’re underestimating yourself, Ms. Judd. If you said something, I believe Mr. Lewis would listen.”
Samantha covered her mouth in mock surprise. “Rachel, you’re giving me too much credit! Are you saying I have more influence over William than you do?”
She leaned against the desk, waiting for Rachel’s reply with a half-smile.
Rachel knew exactly what Samantha was getting at. The woman just couldn’t help but compete—she had to win, even in this kind of conversation.
Rachel didn’t mind. Pride wasn’t worth much to her, and besides, Samantha wasn’t wrong. She had to admit that right now, William probably did care more about Samantha.
“Yes,” Rachel said without flinching. “Mr. Lewis values you. That’s why you’re in a better position to help. So I’m asking you—please talk to him for Cecilia. She hasn’t signed anything yet. There’s still time to turn this around.”
Samantha looked pleased with the answer, but she still wasn’t willing to help.
She lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment, then looked back up at Rachel with wide, innocent eyes.
“It’s not that I don’t want to do you a favor,” she said sweetly, “but Cecilia said those things about me in front of everyone. If I go and ask William to let her stay, won’t that just make me look weak? I just started this job… and honestly.”