A heavy silence followed, the weight of their words hanging in the air. The atmosphere in the office had shifted, and it was clear to everyone that Linsey wasn’t someone to provoke lightly.
Breaking the uneasy stillness, one colleague, who clearly wasn’t picking up on the tension, took a casual sip of his coffee and grinned. “Honestly, the coffee from this new cafe is amazing.”
The others exchanged looks, rolling their eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood.
Another colleague began, his voice lower now, “Even though Coen said we could have Linsey run errands for us in the future, we should probably be careful not to push her too far.”
“Agreed,” came the unanimous response, their earlier unease now laced with a newfound caution. “Alright, back to work, everyone.”
“Call the cleaner to mop the floor,” someone muttered, as if trying to move past the incident.
From that moment on, the Fashion Design Department had a new reputation for Linsey-one that was well known: her temper was not to be trifled with.
Later, Cynthia returned after changing clothes. As soon as she saw Linsey, her eyes widened in shock.
But this time, something was different. There were no harsh words or glaring looks. Cynthia didn’t even acknowledge Linsey, as if she hadn’t seen her at all. She simply walked past, deliberately avoiding any interaction.
In fact, Cynthia immediately took it upon herself to move her desk from next to Linsey’s to a different spot in the office, clearly signaling she wanted no further contact.
The shift didn’t go unnoticed. Despite Coen’s earlier arrangements, no one dared ask Linsey to do any menial tasks.
The unease among the colleagues was palpable, and they made sure to tread carefully around her.
After a quick lunch break, Coen called Linsey into his office.
“Linsey, we have an important client arriving soon, and I need to personally handle them. Take these documents to the main conference room on the seventeenth floor.”
He quickly tossed a stack of papers into her arms before grabbing his coat, visibly rushed.
Linsey nodded and made her way to the elevator, the documents in hand.
CR Corporation’s high-rise building was a labyrinth of offices and departments, each floor serving a distinct purpose. It also featured numerous recreational areas for breaks, along with meeting rooms, reception spaces, and more.
Although the building was well-organized with clear signage, Linsey found herself momentarily disoriented when she stepped off the elevator on the seventeenth floor. The unfamiliar layout had her second-guessing her path for a brief moment.
“Damn it! If I mess this up and delay the meeting, it’ll be a disaster,” Linsey murmured with a frown. Just as she was about to give up, she noticed a conference room door swing open nearby, and a group of people filed out.
Instinctively, she made her way toward them, planning to ask for directions to the main conference room.
But then something stopped her. As she glanced into the room, her gaze locked onto a familiar face. Was that… Collin?
Linsey stood frozen in place, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Why wasn’t Collin in a wheelchair?
The man who looked exactly like him stood with a relaxed posture, leaning slightly as he gave instructions to the people around him. The group listened attentively, their expressions serious and their demeanor respectful.
From her vantage point, Linsey could only make out a partial view of his face-not enough to see clearly.
Without thinking, she took a few hesitant steps forward.
How was this possible? Why was Collin here? And more importantly, why was he able to stand? Wasn’t he supposed to be paralyzed?
“Who are you?” A calm voice, laced with curiosity, suddenly spoke up behind her.
Startled, Linsey spun around to find a bespectacled man dressed in a suit.
“Uh, I…” She instinctively glanced back at the meeting room, but the man she had seen just moments ago was gone. The door was now firmly shut. “I’m here to deliver some documents. Is that the main conference room?”
The man’s brow furrowed slightly before he offered a polite, understanding smile. “You must be new. The main conference room on the seventeenth floor is in the other direction. You’ve been looking in the wrong place.”
The other direction? Linsey pressed her lips together, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. No wonder she hadn’t found it. “Then what about that meeting room? I saw a lot of people in there just now,” she asked.
The man adjusted his glasses, his tone carrying a hint of warning. “That’s the CEO’s conference room. If you’re not a senior executive or a key employee, you really shouldn’t go in without permission.”
The CEO’s conference room? Linsey’s mind raced. So, was that Dustin’s meeting room?
“Aren’t you here to deliver documents? Quit standing around. If someone else catches you loitering here, you’re definitely getting an earful,” the man urged, gesturing for her to leave.
“Oh, right. Thanks.” Linsey cast one last glance over her shoulder. But with the weight of the documents in her hands, she pushed her curiosity aside and hurried toward the main conference room. Luckily, most of the attendees hadn’t arrived yet, and the meeting hadn’t started yet. Linsey managed to deliver the documents just in time. After finishing her task, she took the elevator back to the Fashion Design Department.
Yet her mind was a tangled mess. The image of that man-the one who looked so much like Collin-refused to leave her thoughts. Was it really him?
But it didn’t add up. Collin had no reason to be at CR Corporation, let alone standing there like he hadn’t spent the last few years in a wheelchair.
Maybe she was mistaken?
Back at her desk, Linsey hesitated before pulling out her phone. She scrolled to Collin’s number and typed out a message. “Collin, where are you right now?”
It was a casual question, almost offhand. After hitting send, she leaned back in her chair, absentmindedly tapping her fingers against her phone as she waited.
But minutes passed with no reply.
A faint sense of disappointment settled in her chest. He probably wasn’t going to text her back-he had been sulking all morning and holed himself up in his study.
Sighing, she placed her phone on the desk and tried to focus on browsing the company’s design website.
Just as she was getting into it, her phone suddenly buzzed.
It was a call from Collin.
Linsey blinked in surprise. She quickly glanced around-some colleagues were deep in work, while others were clearly slacking off. Not wanting to take the call at her desk, she got up and slipped into a quieter spot nearby.
“Hello?” The moment she spoke, her voice softened without her even realizing it.
There was a brief pause on the other end before Collin’s deep, steady voice came through. “What’s up?”
Collin’s voice was low and smooth, laced with a faint crackle of static that softened as it reached Linsey’s ear.
A strange warmth crept up her skin where the phone pressed against her cheek. She lowered her voice unconsciously. “Yeah, well… nothing. I was just asking.”
Collin’s tone shifted slightly, a quiet amusement threading through his words. She could almost picture the subtle lift of his brow.
“Just asking? Are you sure you’re only casually asking where I am?” The sound of his voice-calm, rich, and effortlessly teasing-unraveled her thoughts, and before she could stop herself, the truth slipped past her lips. “I just… didn’t want you disappearing for days again like before. I wouldn’t even know where you were.”
A low chuckle rumbled from the other end. It was unhurried, deep, and laced with a husky quality that left her momentarily speechless.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.