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In the end, Jenny reluctantly sat down under Eva’s calm, unwavering gaze. She could barely suppress her frustration as she bit her lower lip, her hands clenched tightly around her utensils. “Sister Eva, didn’t you hear what they said? It’s too much. I want to go over and tear their mouths off.”
Eva slowly set her pen down, her expression unchanging as she turned to Jenny with a measured calmness. “And then what? After you confront them, what happens? The moment it gets out, I’ll not only be the woman driven to the cafeteria to eat with everyone, but I’ll be the one fighting in the canteen because someone ‘poked’ me?”
Jenny’s face wrinkled with confusion as she tried to process the gravity of Eva’s words. She wasn’t used to seeing Eva react like this, so composed and logical in the face of such blatant disrespect.
“Sister Eva, that wasn’t my intention,” she mumbled, though she still looked troubled.
Eva sighed softly, her tone gentle but firm. “Of course, I know it wasn’t your intention, Jenny. But do you really think it will help? Whether you fight back or stay silent, the bystanders will talk. Their mouths will go on, and you won’t be able to control that.”
Jenny’s gaze flickered between the table and Eva’s calm expression, still unconvinced. “Then… am I just supposed to sit here and listen to them slander you? I can’t just let that happen!”
Eva paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. She didn’t mind Jenny’s reaction—it showed loyalty, at least—but it wasn’t the solution to their current situation. She shook her head slowly.
“Actually, it’s not really slander, right?” Eva’s voice was quiet, almost contemplative, as she spoke.
Jenny’s eyes widened, disbelief flooding her expression. “What did you say, Sister Eva?”
Eva’s gaze softened, and she shrugged lightly. “They’re not wrong, Jenny. My family is indeed broke. We can’t offer Adrian much of anything now, can we?”
Jenny opened her mouth to argue, but Eva held up a hand to stop her. “Let it go. I know what I am.” She looked away for a moment, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll just focus on what’s in front of me.”
Jenny shook her head, her face a mixture of frustration and helplessness. “That’s not true! You’re the biggest asset to the company, you’re capable, and anyone would be lucky to have you!”
Eva raised a hand to silence her, the tension in the air palpable. “Enough. You’ve already said that. Now eat, and save that energy for work. You have a lot to catch up on.”
Seeing that Eva wasn’t in the mood to discuss it further, Jenny bit her lip and nodded, though she couldn’t hide her discontent. The two of them ate in relative silence, the atmosphere thick with unsaid things.
After lunch, Eva led Jenny back to the office. As they walked through the bustling cafeteria, the whispers and sideways glances didn’t stop. There was no escaping the gossip.
“Look at her, she doesn’t even care. Doesn’t seem to mind that Mr. Blackwood is with another woman, does she?”
“Of course not. She’s probably pretending not to care, but what does it do to worry?”
“She’ll probably cry once she gets back to her office. All that pride, and nothing to show for it now.”
Eva ignored the comments, her mind already focused on the work awaiting her. Crying was a luxury she didn’t have. She had too much to do, and soon she would be leaving, anyway. She needed to finish what she started and leave on good terms.
Back in the office, Eva got straight to work, delegating tasks to Jenny. She could see the shock on Jenny’s face as she read through the pile of work.
“This… This much? What if I can’t finish it?”
Eva didn’t spare her any sympathy. “Then work overtime.”
Jenny hesitated, then nodded. There was no room for hesitation now. “I’ll do it,” she said quietly. She had worked with Eva for long enough to know that this was a test. Eva had never been harsh, but now she was pushing her, and Jenny couldn’t let her down.
Later, a soft knock interrupted the silence in the office. Jenny glanced up, and her eyes immediately narrowed when she saw the woman standing in the doorway.
Vivian.
She had that polished, controlled look about her, her white-striped dress and long, gentle waves of hair framing her face. Jenny’s heart dropped as she remembered the rumors swirling around the company—Vivian had been frequenting the office, and the whispers about her relationship with Adrian were impossible to ignore.
Jenny’s irritation flared, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile. “What can I help you with, Ms. Morrison? Ms. Hansen is busy right now and may not have time to entertain you.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed at the subtle hostility in Jenny’s tone, but before she could respond, Eva’s voice called from within the office.
“Let her in.”
Vivian entered, a smile playing on her lips as she approached Eva’s desk, an insulated food container in hand. “Eva, you’re so busy with work today. Even if you’re swamped, you still need to eat. I brought this for you since you didn’t come over.”
Eva glanced up, her expression neutral as she processed the situation. “Thanks, but I’ve already eaten.”
Vivian lowered her voice, a sly undertone creeping into her words. “You’re not really worried about me hurting you, are you? Eva, I would never do something so foolish. I just happened to bring you food since I was already here.”
Eva gave her a pointed look, her eyes sharp. “You think too much, Vivian. Just eat it, and don’t bring me food in the future. I’ll handle things my way. You don’t need to keep an eye on me.”
Vivian’s smile faltered, her lips pressing together as she looked at Eva. “Do you think I want to? If it weren’t for the Blackwood family, I’d be able to do whatever I want.”
Eva’s eyebrow quirked. “Oh? You can’t get in, so you want to keep him on a leash from the outside?”
Vivian’s expression tightened, but she didn’t answer. She merely set the food container on the desk and turned to leave, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Eva watched her go, then let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. It wasn’t that she didn’t care—it was that she couldn’t afford to.
