Chasing the Unexpected

“No way! They wouldn’t betray me!”

“If you think it’s Nyla, then show me evidence. If you don’t have any, keep your mouth shut. The company is already being lenient with you, so don’t push your luck.”

Facing Genevieve’s penetrating gaze, Lucia felt like all her schemes were laid bare. She lowered her head, feeling a bit guilty. “I understand. I’ll go back to work now.”

Genevieve didn’t respond and picked up a file to read.

Lucia knew that G

Genevieve was clearly angry, so she didn’t dare say more and left the office quietly.

Back in the R&D department, the first thing she did was walk over to Nyla’s desk.

“Nyla, playing dirty tricks behind someone’s back isn’t a real skill. I suggest you focus on your work. After all, you’ve got a three–month probation period. If anything goes wrong, you won’t get the permanent position. Don’t you agree?

Nyla remained expressionless at Lucia’s smug expression, lowering her gaze to continue reading her documents.

Before Lucia could say more, the woman next to her snapped, “Hey, are you deaf or mute? Didn’t you hear Lucia talking to you?”

“Oh, Mabel, don’t be so harsh. I just wanted to warn someone who only dares to play tricks behind others backs,” Lucia interjected.

Mabel O’Neill snorted. “If anyone dares to mess with you again, I’ll make sure they can’t stay in the R&D department!”

Nyla frowned. Lucia and Mabel’s constant chatter was so annoying she couldn’t focus on her work. Her expression turned cold. “Lucia, that comment about playing dirty tricks fits you better. If you’re really that free, why not read some more research papers to fill in your knowledge gaps? That way, your next set of experiment data won’t look so bad.”

Lucia was taken aback before she glared at Nyla with a gaze full of venom. “Very well. We’ll see about that.”

ANE

She then dragged Mabel away.

Finally, it was quiet again.

Nyla thought she could finally concentrate on her research. Immersed in several papers, she took notes as she went. Before she knew it, it was well past working hours.

The ringing of her phone snapped her back to reality, and she saw it was already past 6:00 p.m.

Seeing Clark’s name on the caller ID, she hesitated. If she didn’t answer, he might just show up at her apartment. With a sigh, she answered the call. She didn’t want to confront him until she had the means to handle him.

“What’s up?”

Her voice must have sounded too cold because there was a brief silence on the other end.

“Nyla, the weather is getting cooler. Patricia told me you didn’t bring your fall clothes. I’ve brought some for you.”

Nyla lowered her gaze. “Where are you now?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Downstairs at your office.”

“Give me five minutes.”

She hung up, quickly shut down her computer, packed up, and left.

As she stepped out of the building, she spotted the black Cayenne parked by the curb.

Clark, dressed in a gray suit, leaned against it. His tall frame and handsome features drew many admiring glances.

Nyla walked up to him quickly, her expression indifferent. “Where are the clothes?”

Clark’s eyes lit up with joy upon seeing her, but his expression quickly shifted. He reached out to touch

her cheek, catching her off guard. She didn’t pull back until his warm palm cupped her face.

Clark’s gaze turned dark and cold, and he exuded a menacing aura. “Who did this?”