Chapter 618: Shifting Love

Susan hadn't anticipated being so overworked. Manuel, a workaholic, toiled from eight in the morning until midnight, sometimes even all night. Susan had even slept in his office for two nights. She felt she couldn't endure the relentless pace; continued overwork, even just sleeping in the office while Manuel worked, would kill her.

Determined to avoid extra hours, she rushed into Manuel's office and declared, "I'm off work."

It was only 5:30, her usual quitting time. Manuel glanced at the clock and nodded in agreement.

His ready acquiescence surprised her; she'd expected a struggle. Now, she felt lost.

Pausing, Susan turned to leave, indifferent to Manuel's feelings—or perhaps he was playing a game. She closed the door behind her; Manuel watched her go then returned to his work.

After a thorough investigation, Manuel realized Sway Bank was employing every tactic to outcompete Phillips Bank. A single strategic misstep could cost Phillips its market position. He couldn't afford to relax; he needed the optimal plan quickly, to retain existing clients and cultivate new ones.

In her own office, Susan powered down her computer. Staring in the mirror, she saw acne and dark circles under her eyes. Horrified, she immediately called a beauty salon and booked a facial for that evening.

Leaving her office, Susan encountered Henry at the gate. She was surprised he'd left so early, while Manuel was still working late.

He saw her too. Her recent overtime had prevented her from accepting Henry's dinner invitations. Their infrequent contact made this encounter awkward.

Susan quickened her pace. "Henry, you got off early today."

"Uh-huh, early these days," he replied.

"Haven't you been busy recently?"

"Not really," Henry said with a resigned smile. He felt undervalued at work.

"Let's have dinner tonight," Susan suggested, feeling their distance grow. She'd sometimes forgotten she had a boyfriend. She'd once cherished their relationship and now felt the need to rekindle it.

"Sorry, I have a client appointment. I assumed you were always busy lately, so…" Henry said, a hint of regret in his voice.

"It's okay. I'm going to the beauty salon. I'm exhausted from Manuel's work," Susan explained.

"Why do you have to follow him?" Henry asked abruptly, revealing an emotion Susan knew he harbored but rarely expressed.

"My father said…" Susan began, but Henry interrupted.

"It might be your father, but you also want to work with Manuel."

Unsure how to respond, Susan hesitated. After a silence, Henry said softly, "I don't mean to pressure you. I'm just…a little jealous."

Susan remained silent.

"All right, let's go. I'll see you at the car," Henry said, extending his hand.

Susan's fingers brushed his, and she walked away with him.

Edward had provided a driver since Susan avoided driving, still affected by a past trauma.

In the car, she felt profoundly depressed and called Hannah.

"Hannah, I'm so depressed lately. I need to relax."

"What's wrong?" Hannah, also heading home, wanted to maximize her time with Oscar.

"I don't know. Maybe it's the pressure from Manuel."

Hannah laughed. "What's he forcing you to do?"

"Overtime for over half a month. I even have acne now!"

"Probably hormonal imbalance."

"Long hours. How can I keep regular hours?"

"You didn't before, and you didn't have acne."

Susan sighed; she couldn't win an argument with Hannah.

"You just need to satisfy your lust."

"What?"

"Everyone has sexual desire; you need sex."

"Oh my god! Did you learn that from Oscar?"

Hannah smoothly changed the subject. "Did you sleep with Henry?"

Susan looked pensive. "No, we've been busy."

"Do you feel something repressed?"

Susan felt lonely, not repressed. She wondered why she felt such sexual inhibition at her age.

"What's it like to shift your love to another person?" Susan whispered.

"You feel sorry for the man you loved. Uncomfortable around him but sorry to reject him. You don't miss him when he's gone, but feel uneasy together, yet want to make up for lost time," Hannah described.

A tightness gripped Susan's heart; she was reluctant to admit she was changing her affections.

"You become attached to another man. Attracted, even knowing you shouldn't be. You act deliberately distant, yet dutifully perform his tasks, as if it were a mission," Hannah continued.