I have never seen one who is so ridiculous and unreasonable. A relationship should be out of free will. If you want to add a label to it, you’ll turn it into a business.
Amelia said, “Ms. Larson, you might as well calm down and have a good talk with Mr. Scott. Your hysterical yelling won’t help. You are a smart woman with strong working ability, so you should know that pressing hard against men will only bore them. It’s better to calm down and talk nicely, isn’t it?”
Jennifer glanced at Amelia reluctantly. She knew she had no choice but to accept her advice.
Jennifer took a deep breath. “Carter, sorry, I overreacted just now. I will go back to the company first, and we will go back to your house in the evening. Anyway, I think you should discuss these matters with your parents first. Would you please not call off at the last minute when the engagement preparation is ready? That would be disrespectful to both of our families, and it will also discredit my reputation.”
Carter nodded. “I will go back with you tonight.”
Jennifer glanced at him with complex emotions, turned back to the car without hesitation, and drove away.
Carter seemed exhausted, but he was gentle as usual when facing Amelia.
“Amelia, I’m sorry. Did I scare you just now?” he said apologetically.
Amelia shook her head and expressed, “Carter, I think Jennifer is serious about you. If you are not into her, it is better to cut off with her fast completely. She has strong self-esteem and was doted upon by everyone around her ever since she was born. I’m afraid she cannot accept being rejected by anyone. Her feelings towards you are likely not out of true love but of a desire to have you fall for her. You have to handle it wisely.”
Carter just smiled. “Don’t worry about me. She is just a little bit stubborn because her family spoils her. I will solve it, but she is making things difficult for you. I feel guilty about this.”
Amelia comforted him. “She is mean with her words, but that’s not really harmful to me. She is serious about you. That’s the truth. If you don’t deal with it properly, with her stubborn temper, I’m afraid it will be disadvantageous to you.”
Carter grinned gently. “Why, do you care about me?”
Amelia shook her head, amused, and walked toward the supermarket across the street while adding, “Carter, I am very grateful for you to take care of me, but I already have a husband, and I don’t want him to misunderstand. Plus, I don’t want to be stuck between you and Ms. Larson.”
Carter’s eyes clouded over, but he still managed to squeeze out a smile. “Amelia, as long as you are not divorced, I am just a friend. When you do get divorced, I hope you can leave a place in your heart for me. Don’t conclude too harshly. At least give me a chance, then you can decide if I am the right man to spend the rest of your life with.”
Amelia glanced at him and sighed. “Am I worth it?”
Carter shrugged. “I gave up on you four years ago, and I have been regretting that decision. When you contacted me on WhatsApp some time ago, I was so excited that I barely got any sleep, and I woke up every morning with a smile on my face. I think God gave me a second chance, so don’t reject me, please?”
With a heavy heart, Amelia opened her mouth only to find that she was at a loss for words. She eventually remained silent and said nothing in response to his confession.
After Amelia bought what she needed, she returned to the company with Carter and entered the design department. Her colleagues shot her weird looks as she entered the office.
Amelia was confused. In the end, Jessica was the one who approached her and whispered, “Amelia, Ms. Larson announced that Mr. Scott and her are about to get engaged. She accused you of seducing Mr. Scott, which caused them to break up. She also said that you are a b*tch who seduces men even though you are married. I think you ought to be cautious. People gossip.”
Amelia’s expression darkened, but she endured the shame. “True gold fears no fire; true blue will never stain. I’m innocent, so the rumors will eventually break.”
Jessica added anxiously, “Amelia, I think you’d better go and clarify this issue. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to stay in the company if the rumors ferment.”
Amelia smiled. “Jessica, don’t worry about me. I will dig myself into a hole if I clarify now. It’s better to wait and do nothing now.”
Jessica curled her lips. “Amelia, you are too kind. If I were you, I would go and slap both her cheeks and warn her not to make rumors behind people’s back.”
“What about after that? I’ll have no choice but to leave when she fires me, right?” Amelia responded amusedly.
Jessica touched her nose and giggled. “I’m just kidding.”
“Go back to work,” Amelia ended the conversation.
Jessica went back obediently and sat down.
Amelia sighed internally. She thought this company was good, and colleagues could get along with each other. But she was too naive. Surviving in the workplace was a social discipline. No matter where one is, there will be conflicts as long as there are people.
One never knew what other people were hiding behind the facade of smiles; someone could come to you all cheery but secretly hate your guts. Amelia knew all this was inevitable. She initially joined this company because of her relationship with Carter. Most people treat her nice out of respect for Carter. But there must be some people who would be jealous of her good fate. She had skipped the internship stage and got into the Saspiuburg training directly. It would be fantasy to think no one would hate her.
No wonder when Jennifer said that the relationship between her and Carter was ambiguous, everyone believed it. However, it was true that she had been cosseted by Carter in this company, to the extent where he would go all out for her. If this continued, the gossip would be even messier.
At first, Amelia thought her colleagues would only be skeptical of these rumors. She didn’t expect that they would take it seriously.
Amelia overheard her colleague’s gossip in the toilet. She used to love gossiping too. She did not expect this time; she had become the female lead of the scandal.
Two female colleagues in her department made up the gossip. Amelia believed she had a good relationship with the two of them, which is why she was shocked to hear those malicious words coming out of their mouths.
One of them gossiped, “Yvonne, I didn’t expect Amelia to be this kind of slut. She is pregnant but still hooks up with Mr. Scott. No wonder people say beautiful women are more likely to be unsettled. I didn’t believe it before, but now I do.”
Another whispered, “That’s the privilege for gorgeous women. No man would want to look at us even if we want to hook up. So we can only find a grounded man to marry and have children. Our fates are no better than her, who can wear fancy jewels and be pampered by a man like Mr. Scott. Who knows, maybe Mr. Scott isn’t the only one. I bet she’s been frolicking with more than one man behind her husband’s back.”
“That is nasty for you to say so, but I’m afraid I have to agree with that. Look at her slutty face. I won’t be surprised.”
Two of them giggled in the washroom for a while before they walked out together.
Amelia, who was still in a toilet cubicle, couldn’t help but sob soundlessly. All those accusations were false. She couldn’t believe her friendly colleagues would say such insulting things about her. She did not expect that they would make such an assumption without proof.
That somewhat froze her heart.
That reminded her of the incident four or five years ago, where a friendly female colleague also betrayed her. She was accused of selling a company’s contract to an opponent, which almost made her go to prison. Fortunately, the company withdrew the lawsuit, but she had to bear millions of debts. If Oscar hadn’t lent her a hand, she would not be able to pay her debts. It had been a nightmare.
But she did sell herself out in the end. She sold her marriage to Oscar, who helped her pay off the debt.
Over the years, she had been thinking about what would her life be like if she had not met Oscar?
She would not dare to imagine. In times of desperation, one will do anything, including robbing the bank or selling their bodies to exchange for more money.
She didn’t have the guts to rob the bank, and she could only sell her body in exchange for money.
After hearing the words of two colleagues, Amelia had mixed feelings in her heart. She had experienced multiple tragedies over the years. A few rumors from two people will not make her miserable for too long. But still, she was a human with feelings.
Amelia put on some makeup, and then she left the washroom after confirming there was no one outside.
Back to the design department, Jessica approached and whispered, “Amelia, are you okay? What took you so long?”
Amelia shook her head, reluctant to explain more.
Jessica was considerate enough not to further question.
Everyone was working civilly.Suddenly, Carter pushed the door open and clapped his palms.
“Everyone, can I have your attention for a minute?”
All the employees in the design department raised their heads.
Carter’s face was stern. He glanced at the crowd contemptibly. “In just one day, the rumors have been spreading. I won’t question who spread them, but I want to clarify that the company is a place to create profit, not gossip. If this continues, it will not only affect my reputation but also damage the reputation of the other party.”
After taking a breath, he continued, “First of all, Amelia, a female employee of the design department, and I have been friends for many years. I care for her as a good friend. I don’t know how it came out that I had an affair with her. I’m still single, so this rumor is not harmful to me, but she is already married, and now she is with a child. I don’t want her to have a rift with her husband because of such a rumor. Second, between Ms. Larson and me is just a pure colleague relationship. Her parents and my parents have also been friends for many years. She had just been hired into our company recently. She has a high degree of education, and everyone can see that her ability is outstanding. That’s why she is promoted as the design director in such a short period. I want to clarify that I’m not in a relationship with her either. I hope all of you stop listening to unfounded rumors.”
Every word he said fell into Jennifer’s ears, who was standing behind him.
“Mr. Scott, are you so eager to cut the relationship between you and me?” Jennifer was a little hurt.
Carter took an intense glimpse at her. “Come to my office.”
Upon speaking, he left the room steadfastly.
Jennifer followed behind him with misty eyes.
As soon as Jennifer and Carter left, the design department employees launched into heated conversations. The two female gossipers blushed with a touch of awkwardness. They peeped at Amelia with guilt but could not bring themselves to spit out an apology. Two other male colleagues were relatively straightforward, on the other hand. As soon as they heard Carter’s clarification, they ran up to apologize to her.
Amelia just smiled and didn’t say much. She only treated them as formal colleagues in the department. Hence she didn’t put much care into this.
She had now been betrayed twice in a row, which made her determined not to have a close relationship with any of these people.
