Chapter 651
Jenny winked at Joe. “Yeah, I got the job through an interview. I was prepared for the possibility of not getting hired and having to apply elsewhere, but to my surprise, I was hired. So, I hope you can pretend not to know me at the company.” Her playful demeanor made her seem cute rather than calculating.
Joe asked calmly, “What made you decide to work here?”
“Didn’t you mention wanting to start your own business before?” Paul added.
Over the years, Joe had given Jenny a monthly allowance. As a young woman, she had more than enough left after expenses. Starting a small business, even if it lost money for several years, wouldn't have been a problem for her. So, Paul wondered why she chose Martin Group. He could guess her reasons.
Jenny replied, “I need more real-world experience first. I want to gain some practical knowledge before pursuing my dream.”
She turned to Joe. “Joe, I hope my working at Martin Group won’t put you in a difficult position. I didn’t mention knowing you or Paul during the interview, so I competed on a level playing field.” Her explanation seemed evasive.
Joe’s expression was cold and unreadable. He seemed indifferent to Jenny’s presence. Before the elevator doors opened, he said, “Since you’re working at Martin Group, make sure you act like an employee of the company.”
Jenny pursed her lips and nodded. “Alright, Joe. Don’t worry.”
When the elevator arrived at Jenny’s floor, she exited, giving Joe one last look that revealed a hint of disappointment. As the doors closed, Paul said, “I’m not entirely sure of the details, but it’s true that we’ve been hiring recently. Jenny went through the regular interview process.” Getting a job at the company meant Jenny possessed considerable skills. Paul recalled that Jenny had always been at the top of her class in high school.
Joe responded briefly with a hum. Paul said no more. He had recently noticed some of Joe’s thoughts. He realized Joe was aware of some of Jenny’s intentions and seemed to be deliberately distancing himself from her. Joe had done more than enough for Jenny over the years. The accident years ago had been intentional, and Jenny’s mother had died protecting Joe.
Skylar saw Jenny’s Instagram post during her lunch break. It showed Jenny’s Martin Group employee ID card, adorned with sun emojis, and a caption about starting work that day and giving it her best effort. Jenny’s cuteness was on full display, and her joyful mood was evident. Skylar was surprised to see Jenny working at Martin Group. Her gaze lingered on her phone for a few seconds before she turned off the screen.
“Skylar, Simona invited us to lunch across the street. She’s treating,” Caleb said.
Given the abundance of new delivery choices lately, they had almost settled on takeout, so Simona’s lunch invitation came as a surprise. Skylar seemed a bit distracted. “Sure, let’s go.”
Caleb noticed her preoccupation. “Is something bothering you?”
“It’s nothing,” Skylar said, putting her phone back into her bag. Simona had asked her and Caleb about lunch a few days ago, mentioning that she would be treating. With two tasks completed last night, Skylar was down to her final one. She aimed to finish it in the next few days, and then she could finally relax and take a break.
“Has Joe been giving you a hard time?” Caleb asked quietly. To Caleb, Joe was a daunting presence. He wasn’t regarded as a good person, and getting along with him was no easy task. Caleb admired Skylar’s courage in marrying him and was curious about how they handled their daily interactions.
“He hasn’t been hard on me,” Skylar replied.