Free Web NovelChapter 75: Chapter 75 The Same Kindergarten
Rose never expected to encounter a situation like this.
It was so absurd that she couldn’t help letting out a short, incredulous laugh.
"Are you saying they probably couldn’t control themselves while working late and ended up doing that right here in the office?"
Her words were blunt.
So blunt, in fact, that the man awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"Well, they’re young and deeply in love. Besides, Ms. Hill will be the boss’s wife soon. The office is practically their home already. I’ll go knock on the door right away. It won’t take long, Ms. Bennett."
The corners of Rose’s lips twitched slightly.
"Thank you for your trouble."
How novel.
So she was about to walk in on her husband—with whom her divorce papers hadn’t even been finalized yet—having a passionate affair?
For a moment, she even wondered whether she should record a video.
Who knew? It might become useful leverage in securing her divorce without being held hostage by the Knight family.
"Ms. Bennett, please come in."
Sure enough.
Just as Rose’s thoughts were running wild, the office door opened.
Instantly, her opportunity to play the role of a hysterical wife vanished.
Shaking her head in mock regret, Rose stared at the doorway.
After hesitating for a few seconds, she stepped inside.
Whether the office had been tidied up or not, the spacious room revealed nothing.
Her gaze immediately landed on Ryan, seated behind his desk, and Samantha, standing beside him and leaning in to whisper something in his ear.
There was undeniably an intimacy between them that was difficult to describe.
Both of them looked up at her simultaneously.
Ryan’s expression remained calm, showing no reaction whatsoever to her arrival.
"Here about the project?"
Samantha, however, sounded noticeably impatient.
"Didn’t I already respond to G.S.? Do you think drug development can be rushed?"
Rose understood exactly what kind of attitude Samantha was displaying.
She sat down on the guest sofa and replied calmly, "So you’re admitting your incompetence? You’re saying a project that should have progressed normally has been mishandled, and now you expect the partner company to absorb the consequences?"
The words were harsh.
No different from slapping someone across the face in public.
Samantha’s expression immediately darkened.
Still, she managed a faint sneer.
"Did Mr. Byrne send you here? Or do you personally have a grudge against me and volunteer to come here under his authority just to make things difficult?"
In Samantha’s eyes, Rose was nothing more than an ordinary junior researcher.
A woman who had somehow inserted herself into a top-tier cardiovascular drug development project and padded her résumé by staying close to Caleb.
And now she was acting like a senior executive?
Samantha curled her lips.
"Rose, I hope you won’t let your personal feelings interfere with your work. That’s my advice to you."
Rose was momentarily stunned.
So now she was the emotional one?
She was the one targeting Samantha?
Quite impressive.
The ability to shift blame so effortlessly.
But wasn’t all of this happening because—
Out of the corner of her eye, Rose shot a mocking glance at the man reclining comfortably in his chair.
Ryan looked aloof, composed, and perfectly neutral.
In the end, it was nothing more than Ryan backing Samantha.
Rose had already seen through her.
Her eyes turned cold. "You must have missed me terribly. If I don’t behave the way you’ve imagined, I’d be letting down the version of me you’ve created in your head."
She leaned back slightly. "Either you provide the test data today, or G.S. will formally request a replacement for the Columbia University project leader."
This time, Ryan narrowed his eyes and finally looked at her.
Samantha’s expression darkened even further.
"Who do you think you are?"
Rose answered leisurely, "Mr. Knight may enjoy supporting your work out of personal affection, but G.S. isn’t interested in wasting real money, manpower, and resources indulging you."
Samantha understood immediately.
Caleb must have expressed dissatisfaction.
That was probably why Rose had been sent to negotiate.
Of course, Caleb certainly hadn’t instructed her to speak like this.
Rose was simply taking advantage of the opportunity.
As for the comment about Ryan’s "personal affection"—
Ryan slowly twirled the pen between his fingers before glancing at her.
"David, bring Ms. Bennett a cup of coffee. She seems like she needs to cool down."
The sarcasm couldn’t have been more obvious.
Apparently, she was the one with a temper problem.
Rose frowned.
Was Ryan taking Samantha’s side again?
Was he implying that her words had been too blunt?
Too tactless?
Samantha, naturally, understood exactly what Ryan meant.
Immediately, she lifted her chin.
"It’s fine, Ryan. I won’t go back to rest."
She picked up her coat. "I’ll check on the team myself. Otherwise, people with ulterior motives might twist the facts and claim we aren’t doing our jobs."
With that, she strode out on her high heels.
As she passed Rose, her eyes flashed with contempt.
A cold laugh escaped her lips before she disappeared through the door.
Rose paid it little attention.
In fact, David even brought her a cup of coffee.
As long as she had achieved her objective, nothing else mattered.
Ryan might be blinded by love and willing to indulge Samantha endlessly.
G.S. certainly wasn’t.
Besides, if Ryan cared so deeply for Samantha—even staying up all night with her conducting research—then surely he wouldn’t mind spending a few more sleepless nights helping her finish the project.
Rose stood, ready to leave.
She had already said everything she needed to say.
But before she could get up, Ryan had already walked over and settled into the armchair beside her.
Leaning back leisurely, he glanced at her.
"Doesn’t all that talking tire you out? It’s not too late to have a cup of coffee before you leave."
His expression revealed absolutely nothing.
Rose suddenly began to suspect he might be planning some way to help Samantha save face.
She eyed the coffee suspiciously.
She certainly didn’t believe their relationship was cordial enough for them to sit alone together peacefully.
Just as she was preparing to leave, David burst through the door, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"President Knight, this is bad! Ms. Hill fainted from exhaustion!"
Thud.
The man sitting beside her shot to his feet.
Perhaps because he was so alarmed, he accidentally knocked over the cup of coffee on the table.
The coffee immediately splashed all over Rose.
She hadn’t even had time to react.
Ryan had already rushed out of the office.
His retreating figure radiated urgency.
Completely unaware—or perhaps unconcerned—that his haste to attend to another woman had left her drenched from head to toe.
The coffee was only lukewarm.
It didn’t actually hurt.
Yet Rose sat there for several seconds, feeling as though a cold wind had swept through the room.
Eventually, she headed to the restroom to deal with the wet stains on her clothes.
If she went outside dressed like this, she’d almost certainly catch a cold.
It was also thanks to Samantha that Rose finally realized something.
The husband who had spent seven years being steady, reserved, unromantic, and emotionally distant...
The man who never seemed particularly attentive or gentle...
Actually had another side.
Who wouldn’t call him a good man?
Rose eventually returned to G.S.
The moment Caleb saw her soaked clothes, he frowned.
"Which river did you fall into?"
Rose searched for a hair dryer and answered without thinking, "The River of Love."
Caleb: "..."
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
Rose had no intention of discussing Ryan and Samantha, so she simply informed him that the test data should be arriving soon.
Late that afternoon, Diana suddenly called.
Her voice was full of irritation.
"Has he completely lost his mind? Ryan actually transferred that chubby little Mike into the same kindergarten as Ariel instead of moving him somewhere else!"
