Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Big problem
Oh God!
What on earth was going on?
Just a moment ago she was gossiping about him and Alana, and now he was actually sitting right next to her?
Something was wrong!
There was a big, big problem!
After Alana sat down, he seemed to think of something and placed the bottle of
milk he was holding in front of Alana.
“Lana, you don’t look too well. I just bought this milk, it’s for you.”
Alana refused and pushed the milk back toward him. “No, thanks.”
Cole pushed the milk back toward her and said gently, “Drink it. I heard you’ve been taking care of your grandmother for over a week, and you look quite worn out since you got back. Have some to replenish your strength.”
Alana frowned. “Really, I don’t need it. I already have something to drink.”
Cole furrowed his brow slightly. “Be a good girl and do as I say.”
Carla watched from across the table, her face full of awe.
Seeing that Alana kept refusing Cole, she couldn’t help but say, “Um, Manager Cole, Lana is on her period. She can’t drink anything cold, that milk of yours looks like it’s been frozen.”
Cole was taken aback. “You’re on your period?”
Alana glared at Carla!
Seriously?!
Cole immediately said, “Then I’ll get you a bottle at room temperature...”
“Manager Cole.” Alana interrupted him calmly, then picked up the pink thermos next to her. “This is the brown sugar ginger tea my boyfriend made for me this morning. He put it in this thermos and brought it to the office for me to help restore my energy, so really, there’s no need to trouble you.”
Cole’s expression froze instantly.
Carla was stunned. “Wow, Lana, I was wondering why you were carrying a thermos with you today. So it turns out there’s ginger and brown sugar tea in there that your boyfriend made for you! Your boyfriend is so thoughtful! How many boyfriends would actually make brown sugar ginger tea for their girlfriend during her period? I’m so jealous you have a boyfriend like that!”
Alana smiled slightly, “Yeah, he’s very thoughtful.”
Cole’s gaze swept over the thermos she was holding, and his fist clenched again.
A surge of anger quickly filled his chest.
Damn it!
Who the hell was her boyfriend?!
Does she really have a boyfriend, or was she just saying that in front of him on purpose, just to provoke him?
Either way, she’d succeeded in getting under his skin. Besides, whatever another man could do for her, he could do too...
He took a deep breath, keeping his tone gentle. “Lana, you’re my assistant. If you’re really not feeling well, just let me know, and I’ll lighten your workload.”
Alana replied flatly, “Okay, thanks.”
Cole frowned. “I’ve told you before, there’s no need to be so formal between us.”
Alana sighed.
Carla’s gaze darted back and forth between the two of them; her inner gossipy spirit couldn’t be contained any longer.
“Ahem, if I may ask, what’s the relationship between you and Lana?”
Cole looked at Alana, his gaze growing even softer. “Lana and I are...” His gentle tone carried a hint of ambiguity.
Alana felt irritated and couldn’t help but interrupt, “We were classmates. We attended the same high school.”
Carla asked curiously, “Just classmates?”
Alana nodded. “Yes.”
Cole’s eyes darkened.
Really, just classmates?
She used to cling to him like a weed, so dependent on him. And up until a couple of months ago, they were dating!
Though the relationship had mostly felt one-sided since he barely gave her any attention but he was going to change!
He was going to be the best boyfriend this time!
Cole paused for a moment, then picked up a piece of braised chicken thigh from his plate and placed it in her bowl.
He smiled gently. “Lana, since you’re on your period, your body must be weak. Eat some meat to build your strength.”
Seeing this, Carla’s eyes widened in shock.
Oh my god!
He’s actually serving her food, how could she not read into it?!
Would ordinary former classmates even serve food to each other like that?!
Wasn’t that way too intimate?!
People around them started glancing over, their eyes brimming with curiosity and gossip. After all, Cole and Alana were both incredibly good-looking, so they naturally
attracted attention.
Plus, since they were manager and assistant, it was easy for people to read too much into it. Now they were sitting together and serving food to each other, their relationship must be pretty deep...
Alana noticed the strange looks from those around her and couldn’t help but frown. She had completely lost her appetite.
Even though she didn’t want to waste food, she had no choice but to put down her fork.
She hadn’t even touched the chicken drumstick Cole had served her. “Manager Cole, Carla, I’m full. I’m going to head back first.” Alana stood up and picked up the leftovers and the thermos.
Seeing that Alana was leaving, Carla felt even less inclined to face Cole alone.
“Lana, I’m full too. I’ll go with you.”
Alana nodded and left with Carla.
The entire time, she didn’t glance at Cole even once. Cole’s heart sank heavily in his chest.
He didn’t understand, what had he done wrong? Hadn’t he simply shown concern for her by passing her a chicken drumstick?
Cole’s fists clenched tighter and tighter. He lost his appetite and got up to leave.
**********
It was the afternoon work shift.
A delivery guy came looking for Alana, carrying a bag of items.
She looked puzzled. “What’s this?”
The delivery guy replied, “Brown sugar ginger tea, and some blood-nourishing
supplements. A Mr. Cole ordered them for you.”
A Mr. Cole?
Alana immediately thought of the Cole she knew.
Seriously?!
She frowned and refused, “I’m sorry, please take it back. I won’t accept it.”
The delivery guy looked awkward. “Well, the order’s already been placed. If you don’t accept it, there’s nothing I can do.”
Alana said, “Then figure it out yourself. I’m definitely not taking it.”
“Miss, please don’t make things difficult for me...Just take it. I’ve got to rush off to deliver the next order.” The delivery guy shoved the stuff into her hands and immediately took off.
Alana tried to call him back, but he was already out of earshot.
“Hey!”
A figure flashed past her, snatching the bag from her hands. “Lin Yuan, let me take a look. A Mr. Cole bought this for you, what did he get?”
“Wow, there’s brown sugar ginger soup, honey dates with goji berries, and gelatin cakes?! All blood-nourishing foods!”
When Alana saw who had snatched the bag from her hands, her expression darkened. “Danielle, snatching people’s things like that, is that polite?”
Danielle pouted. “I was just curious and wanted to take a look. Why are you getting so upset so easily?”
Alana held out her hand, her expression impassive. “Give it back!”
She needed to go return it or else Cole would think she accepted it and get the wrong idea.
Danielle deliberately refused to hand it over and asked instead, “Lana, did Manager Cole give you this? This morning, I saw you and him all over each other in the elevator with my own eyes. Then you had lunch together at noon, and he was being so attentive to you.”
“Well, I was wondering how you managed to get him to take a shine to you so easily and make you his personal assistant. Turns out, behind everyone’s back, you’ve been sleeping with him all along!”
Colleagues around them all turned to look, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity. After all, the interaction between Alana and Cole was quite intriguing.
Alana’s eyes turned cold. “What do you mean, ‘sleeping together’? Say that again!”
“Lana, don’t play dumb. You’re just an intern who hasn’t even been officially hired yet. You haven’t even made it past the probationary period, yet Manager Cole took a liking to you and chose you as his assistant. It’s only because you and him have been sleeping together for a long time... Ah!” Before Danielle could finish, Alana slapped her across the face without hesitation.
The slap landed hard on Danielle’s face. She was stunned. The burning sensation on her face made her realize, she’d actually been slapped by Alana?!
Comments