Seeing Abigail’s firm refusal, Leon put on an earnest expression. He scratched his head, looking embarrassed. “Actually, I want your help.”

“Sure,” Abigail agreed without hesitation. She also noticed her colleagues lacked certain professional skills. Improving their competence would lighten her workload, given they would be together closely from now on.

At lunchtime, Abigail stood up to leave. Leon quickly followed her and said, “Abigail, let’s grab something in the cafeteria.”

Abigail looked puzzled. “Isn’t the cafeteria free?”

Leon chuckled and replied, “There’s free food but also paid options. I’ll treat you to steak. The chef used to be the head chef at a five-star hotel. He’s really good.”

Sensing her hesitation, Leon quickly added, “It’s just lunch at the cafeteria. You’re not going to refuse this too, right?”

Abigail remained quiet for a moment and then finally nodded. “Okay.”

At the same time, Daniella was dragged to the cafeteria by a colleague. The girl asked Daniella, “Dani, what would you like to eat?”

Daniella glanced at the food offered, disdain flickering briefly in her eyes. She casually replied, “Whatever is fine.”

As her colleague enthusiastically picked her food, Daniella scanned her surroundings, inwardly vowing never to eat here again. Suddenly, her gaze froze on someone not far away.

“Dani, I’m done. Let’s go.” Her colleague gently tugged at her sleeve but got no response. Curious, she followed Daniella’s gaze and asked, “What are you staring at so intently?”

Daniella didn’t seem to hear those words, frozen in disbelief. She wondered, “Did I just see Abigail in the company cafeteria? How could she be here?”

Daniella wasn’t naive enough to think that non-employees were allowed in. She began to wonder, “Could Abigail have actually joined Halden Group?”

“Dani?” Her colleague’s voice snapped her back.

Suppressing her turbulent emotions, Daniella looked at her colleague and asked, “Do you know them?”

Her colleague followed Daniella’s gaze and then gave Daniella an odd look. “Dani, don’t tell me you’ve got your eyes on Leon too? Well, he is pretty handsome.”

“Leon?” Daniella thought for a while and asked, “Which department is he in?”

“R&D,” her colleague replied casually.

Daniella lowered her gaze, lost in thought. ‘If Abigail’s with him, she must be in R&D too. That’s one of the most prestigious departments in the company. Even I couldn’t get in. How could Abigail manage it?’ Jealousy stirred quietly within Daniella as she thought this.

After lunch together, Leon became noticeably more enthusiastic toward Abigail, mainly by staying glued to her side. Abigail, however, ignored him, focusing instead on finishing the tasks assigned by Timothy.

Her phone vibrated at the right time. She glanced down, seeing a text from that man: I don’t want the money. Send me a gift.

Another notification popped up, informing her that the transfer had been returned.

Abigail frowned, thinking, ‘Gift? What should I buy him?’

Chapter 37

Unable to decide, she finally responded: What do you want?

Sitting in his office, the man carefully deleted the word "your" from the sentence "I like your surprises" and sent the remaining text.

Before she could reply, another message appeared: [Anything will do.]

Abigail stared silently for a moment and then typed back: Send me your address.

A moment later, an address appeared. She glanced at it, murmuring softly to herself, “He’s also in Chesterwick, huh?”

Order:

Outside Halden Group, Ralph checked the time and stepped out of his car.

Daniella, coming out of the company building with a colleague, brightened upon seeing him. She turned to her colleague and said with a smile, “Cami, my friend’s here to pick me up. See you tomorrow.”

Camila Davis glanced over and widened her eyes in surprise. “Wait, is that your boyfriend? But if you’ve got such a cute boyfriend, why are you interested in Leon?”

Daniella frowned, looking annoyed. “When did I say I’m interested in Leon? Don’t talk nonsense.”

Camila blinked and asked, “But you asked me which department Leon was in during lunch.”

Daniella became irritated. “Come on, I was just curious. Don’t misunderstand things. I’m leaving.”

Without giving Camila another chance to reply, Daniella swiftly composed herself and approached Ralph with a smile. “Hey, Ralphie, did you wait long?”

Ralph flashed a gentle smile, his voice warm. “Nope, I just arrived. How’s work going today?”

Daniella hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “Pretty smoothly, except that I saw Abby at the company.”

“Abigail? She got into Halden Group?” Ralph asked while opening the car door for her. “Wasn’t her education insufficient?”

Inside the car, Daniella spoke with deliberate hesitation, “I don’t know, but I saw Abby walking with a guy. Didn’t she have connections with the Robinson family before? Could it be…“

She deliberately left her sentence unfinished. Ralph’s face instantly turned stormy after hearing those words.

He took out his phone and dialed Abigail’s number immediately. The automated voice informed him, “The person you are calling is currently on another call.”

Ralph frowned and was about to dial again when Daniella bit her lip, softly interjecting, “Ralphie, Abby definitely won’t admit anything. Maybe I can casually ask her next time we meet, but I don’t know if Abby will even tell me.”

“No need.” Ralph thought of Abigail’s hostility toward Daniella and drew in a deep breath, visibly agitated. “I’ll ask her myself. Just focus on your work.”