novelxo Chapter 29: Are You Showing Care Towards Me?
“Do we love each other? She never truly loved me.” Cooper pouted, giving out a sense of desolation and sarcasm. “Our
encounter here back then was planned by her. She had been approaching me on purpose from the start till the end. Until we
engaged three months ago, it was then I know the reason about her being together with me is just for money.” Florence was
extremely surprised. “Could there be any misunderstanding in this? She doesn’t look like that kind of person.”
“I was deceived back then too. I was completely deceived like a fool.” Cooper was filled with an air of lethargy and he continued,
“Sorry for what happened today, that you’ve encountered such an awkward situation. I’ll not keep you company any further, sorry.
Also, you don’t have to worry much about that, do get back and have a good rest.”
Florence looked at him with worry and she did not know what to say to console him. Outsiders are incapable to intervene in such
a matter anyway.
As Florence reached the workplace the next day, she went to the design department first to categorize and arrange her work
documents throughout the year and her work during student times. Although experience was the one she was lack of, she was
still competent. There were three places to represent the company to participate in the Ovi Fashion Design Contest, and she had
to make Ernest agree to let her have one.
She held the documents in her arms and was figuring how to start upon meeting Ernest along the way. Yet the moment she
arrived at the office, she was surprised to see that there were already quite many people gathering in the president’s office.
Everybody was standing straight like vertically-placed javelins and they all seemed nervous and uneasy, whereas the man
behind the office desk did not have any discernable change in expression on his handsome face, instead he was filled with a
vague sense of ferocity. He tossed a folder casually and spoke with a frigid voice, “Get your wage in the financial department.”
A middle-aged man’s face went cadaverous at once and his voice trembled when he spoke, “Mr. Hawkins, please give me one
more chance, I’ll definitely make the best of the planning proposal.”
“Get out,” Ernest spoke impatiently without even looking up, giving out an oppressive aura that made one’s heart fluttered. The
middle-aged man words to plead further were all stuck in his throat. He picked up the folder in despondence and walked out of
the office like a drowned mouse.
Firing employee when it was still morning? Florence was slightly surprised, and she could sense the pressure and the nervous
atmosphere inside the office too. She tightened her grasp towards the folder in her arms and not daring to speak, tiptoed to her
seat and sat down quietly. Ernest caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eyes and his mood worsened inexplicably when
he saw her sitting there with a cautious manner. She always chatted and laughed with other men, but kept a distance away from
him with respect.
“Redo.” He tossed another few more folders. Several people quickly came forward and hurriedly picked the folders up from the
ground. They all lowered their heads and did not dare to let out a single breath. The office was filled with a nerve-wrecking and
horrifying atmosphere the whole morning. No one who came here got a single praise, and their proposals were all rejected.
Some had even gotten fired at the scene. Everyone was frightened and anxious as if they were wandering along the edge of a
cliff and would fall from the edge at any time.
Florence felt restricted too in such an atmosphere. Seeing that there were still a couple of employees needed to be criticized in
the office at noon, she crept out of the office like how she came back then. Watching the petite figure left, Ernest’s look became
gloomier and the atmosphere in the office became worse that everyone standing there could not feel their legs.
Florence went to the canteen to have her meal. After ordering her meal, she sat down and someone immediately sat opposite
her. Cooper looked at her and there was a smile on his handsome face. “Do you mind having lunch together?”
“Of course not.” Seeing his mood seemed to have recovered, she felt slightly relieved.
Even if it was just canteen food, Cooper still ate gracefully like a noble, which was pleasant to look at. As he ate, he said, “So?
Did you get the place for the design contest?” He was informed of that when he helped her to arrange the documents. Florence
bit her chopsticks with an apprehensive look. “Not yet. The president seems to have a bad mood today and many people in the
company have suffered.” She was afraid she would get killed by Ernest if she talked to him about that now.
“I’ve heard that too, the office’s atmosphere is disastrous. But I also heard that the participant list for the contest would be out this
afternoon.”
“This afternoon? I guess I’m out of hope.” Florence felt her appetite vanished at once. Her biggest dream was to take part in the
Ovi Fashion Design Contest and showcase her work on the stage, becoming a famous designer and made her childhood dream
come true. Yet the contest was only organized once every three years. If she missed that, she would have to wait for another
three years and continued her ordeal of her name without being heard of. “What if, you can try lightening Mr. Hawkins’ mood?”
Cooper suggested.
Wouldn’t that mean to flatter Ernest? Florence was startled for a moment, and her eyes gleamed. Ernest still treated her nice.
There was still hope if she flattered him. “Thanks Cooper. Enjoy your meal, excuse me for leaving now.” She stood up as she
spoke. She went to the canteen to buy some most expensive dishes and took them to the president office. She still saw a lot of
people in the office when she left back then, and she was sure Ernest had not had his lunch now. She should give him some
good impressions when she was considerate enough to bring food to him.
Meanwhile, at the president office, Timothy walked in while pushing a food cart. Several delicate and delicious dishes were
placed on top which were all specially made by highly professional chefs. He pushed the cart towards the side of the dining table
of the office and walked towards Ernest. “Sir, do have some lunch first.” The crowd which was standing there seemed to have
seen hope for survival when they heard that and they were all longing for Ernest to have his meal immediately so they could
have a moment of relief.
“No.” Ernest did not budge from his seat and seemed to not be moved by the food. He continued flipping and browsing through
the documents with an icy look. He was only beginning to check the work progress as usual, but he found out that the work done
was too rubbish. There was an imperative need to teach them a lesson.
Everyone became dispirited once again and they continued staying there with a gloomy look. Timothy glanced at them with
sympathy. It could be that it was not because of them doing an extremely poor job, it most probably could be the president had a
bad mood and he was dissatisfied of anything he saw. He secretly prayed for them and was ready to leave with the food cart.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Florence walked in while carrying the lunchbox. She immediately saw the crowd
who was still standing there with deference and caution in the office and Ernest who had not changed his posture behind the
office desk. He must have not eaten yet. Delight sparked in Florence and she walked around the crowd to the back of Ernest’s
office desk, standing not far away from him. Ernest’s hand which was flipping the documents slightly froze.
Florence was a little embarrassed in front of so many people, but for the sake of the place, she still braced herself and spoke
with a smile, “I’ve bought lunch for you, sir. Why don’t you have your meal first? It’s not good to starve yourself, you can still deal
with your work later.” There was a slight change in Ernest’s expression and he was surprised by her action. He then looked up
and stared at her, asking, “Are you showing care towards me?”
Florence felt a rush of uneasiness from the straightforward and thought-provoking question. How should she answer when there
were so many people watching?