Chapter 132
Cole furrowed his brow, a rare hint of assertiveness peeking through his usually gentle tone. “I do not transfer money without sending the payment receipt afterwards. For specific reasons, it one of the things I live by. So I can call out my number for you now p>
Cole took out his phone, and gestured for Alana to add bring out hers.
Alana hesitated for a moment, but considering their current superior-subordinate relationship, she picked up her phone, and he called out the number.
After transferring the money to her, he sent her the payment transaction slip.
Alana rolled her eyes knowing this was just a dumb excuse of his.
Then, she said politely, “Now that the money’s been transferred, I still have work to do, so I’ll be heading out p>
After transferring the money to her, Cole sighed.
She had truly blocked and deleted him before.
Had she already forgotten about him?
Suppressing a strange feeling in his heart, he looked up at her. “When you get off work tonight, would you like to grab dinner together? We haven’t seen each other in a while. Let’s catch up p>
Alana politely declined, “I have plans tonight p>
Cole frowned. “What’s going on p>
“I’ve taken on a little part-time job. I don’t have time p>
Cole asked, “What kind of part-time job p>
“Manager Cole, you’re asking too many questions p>
“I suspect this is just an excuse to turn me down p>
Alana sighed.
Now he was just imagining things.
“Besides, we’ve known each other for so many years. We should at least sit down, talk and get over what happened, properly p>
Cole took a deep breath and continued, “Since you’re busy tonight, you could at
least stay and chat with me for a while p>
Alana still refused, her tone cold and distant.
“I still have work to do p>
Cole couldn’t stand seeing her constantly rejecting him. He remembered that she used to be so well-behaved around him, always willing to do whatever he asked.
Besides, they’d know each other for a long time, and she’d always been very dependent on him.
“You can have someone else handle the work p>
“I’m just an intern; I don’t have that kind of authority p>
Cole’s gentle expression vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp glare. “ALANA p>
Her breathing quickened.
Seeing the fear and panic in her eyes, he slightly reined in his intensity. He offered a gentle, understanding smile. “All right, I understand. You may go now. We’ve only just met after I hurt you, I don’t want to pressure you. We’ll have plenty of time to reconcile later p>
Hearing this, Alana turned and left without a moment’s hesitation.
Seeing this, Cole couldn’t help but clench his fists.
Why?
Why was she being so cold toward him p>
Even if they hadn’t seen each other in a while and had grown distant, it shouldn’t have become this cold.
Yes, he had hurt her.
But he was sorry and he had tried so hard to get this position because of her.
Shouldn’t that have touched her heart a little?
As soon as Alana walked out, Carla immediately leaned in curiously and asked what Manager Cole had talked to her about.
After all, Alana had been inside for quite a while.
Under normal circumstances, shouldn’t Alana have gone in, received the transfer, and come right back out?
With such a long delay, could it be that Manager Cole had taken a liking to Alana already and was intentionally keeping her there to chat a little longer?
Alana winced at the gossipy look in Carla’s eyes.
“Don’t read too much into it. I got the money, and I have to get back to work p>
Unable to pry any gossip out of her, Carla slunk back to her desk.
Sitting at her desk, Alana found herself lost in thought, replaying the words Cole had spoken to her in the office just moments ago.
He was so shameless.
Damn it. She didn’t know who was worst now.
Manager Dane or Cole?
Why was she so unlucky with managers?
The man she’d vowed never to see again, the one she’d hoped would stay out of her life, why had he suddenly appeared?
Never mind. Whether she saw him or not, it won’t change anything.
For some reason, at that moment, she suddenly missed Stephan terribly.
She missed him so much it was making her anxious.
She wonder what he was doing right now.
Alana picked up her phone, opened his profile, and typed over and over again.
She wanted to ask him, “When are you coming back p>
But in the end, she deleted the message, one letter at a time.
She didn’t have the courage to ask.
When it came to love, she had always been a coward.
She wasn’t as brave or as passionate as Stephan.
No matter how much she missed someone, she could control herself well enough not to
disturb him.
Just like before, even when she had feelings for Cole, she had acted stupidly, doing whatever he wanted and putting up with his excuses.
And ultimately, he now expected her to just brush off what happened like the docile little girl she was before.
Unexpectedly, as she kept typing and deleting messages, Stephan discovered her.
Stephan: [What’s up p>
Alana bit her lip. How did he find out?
Could it be that he’s been watching their chat history too? Of all times, it had to be now.
Just as she looked for him.
He was looking for her too p>
Alana bit her lip, but couldn’t help asking,
Alana: [When are you coming back p>
He clearly said it would only be a two-day business trip.
He’s been gone for over a week already.
What a liar!
Stephan had indeed planned to return after two days, but a problem had cropped up with the project, there were too many loopholes, so he had no choice but to stay and handle it.
But every single day of his trip, he’d been thinking of her, and in his spare time, he’d made a point of keeping her updated.
A man who works this hard to keep his girlfriend in the loop and give her a sense of security, there can’t be many like him out there, right p>
That little bunny doesn’t even know how to appreciate him.
He’s been away for so long, and not only does she never say she misses him, she rarely even asks how he was doing.
He was a little upset inside.
Unlike the executives traveling with him, who get bombarded with calls from their girlfriends or wives every few hours.
It made him so jealous his eyes turn red.
When will she ever take the initiative for once?
On a whim, he glanced at their chat history, and the more he looked, the more
heartbroken he felt.
Most of the messages were him asking, and her answering.
For example, he’d said: “I’m not here, so make sure to eat well p>
She’d reply: “Okay p>
Again, he’d ask: “The weather’s nice here. How’s the weather where you are p>
She’d reply: “It’s okay p>
There are countless examples of these robotic exchanges.
If he can’t resist teasing her, she’ll just read the message and not reply.
He had never met a woman as hard to handle as her.
Just as he was getting frustrated, he suddenly noticed the “typing indicator on the chat screen.
Stephan’s eyelid twitched, and he couldn’t suppress a flicker of anticipation.
Could it be that this girl finally couldn’t resist taking the initiative with him?
But after waiting for ages, she still didn’t sent a message.
He pressed his tongue firmly against his cheek, unable to help but laugh in exasperation.
All that anticipation for nothing!
He’d intended to act all aloof and pretend he hadn’t seen it.
But his fingers were faster than his brain.
By the time he realized it, the message had already been sent. Sigh, another one of those days when he just couldn’t help himself. But when he saw the girl’s reply, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Huh?