Chapter 4 That Guy

As all those questions raced through Laura's mind, she heard Emma cursing with passionate emotion.

"That sly fox! I bet Nora's been after Noah all along! This means whatever happened to Laura must have something to do with her!" The woman didn't forget to add, "Noah, too! Doesn't he know the impact of this announcement on Laura? Doesn't he care about Laura's feelings?! If I ever run into those two despicable people, I'll tear them apart!"

Emma's voice, growing louder and louder, made Alan frown. "Don't scream, idiot! Turn down the TV volume! Laura can hear…"

Suddenly, the man's words stopped as his eyes landed on Laura's frozen figure on the stairs.

"L-Laura!"

Alan's shout made Emma spontaneously turn off the television. The siblings froze on the spot until Laura walked closer.

Emma and Alan immediately stood up and approached Laura.

"Laura, don't pay any mind to those two horrible people, okay? They're not worth thinking about!"

"That's right! Not worth it!"

The siblings frantically tried to comfort Laura. They were worried she would fall back into despair because of Noah's engagement news.

However, to their surprise, Laura offered a sweet smile. "Can you find me a job?"

Emma and Alan blinked. "What?" They felt like they had misheard.

Laura smiled helplessly at the two siblings. "I think it's time I did something. I can't keep burdening you guys, right? So, I want to start working."

"Laura, you've never been a burden! Don't keep saying things like that!" Emma countered, holding both of Laura's hands.

"Em, you're truly kind, and I thank you for that," Laura replied. "But life goes on, and I can't depend on you and your family forever." Laura's smile changed, imbued with determination. "I want to get back on my feet and stand on my own."

"Laura..." Emma was speechless.

Laura looked bright, seemingly unbothered by the news she had just heard. "So, can you help me find a job?"

Emma and Alan exchanged glances. They seemed to communicate silently before finally reaching a decision.

Alan said with a slight smile, "If you're truly serious... I'll find one for you."

-

A few days later, at the CEO's office at Smith Group…

"The hotel room booker is unknown, and the owner of the necklace can't be found either. Should I reassess your performance, Theo?" Asher remarked, his face dark after receiving a report from his personal assistant regarding his request from over two weeks ago.

Theo looked helpless. "Sir, the owner of that necklace is a woman who ran away from her family home 26 years ago. Therefore, no one knows her current whereabouts."

The owner of the necklace was a woman who ran away 26 years ago. By that calculation, the woman would be close to half a century old. That didn't align with the figure who spent the night with Asher.

Faintly, a pair of beautiful, mesmerizing blue eyes made Asher close his eyes. Though blurred, Asher was sure the person who spent the night with him was a young woman. Therefore, the greatest possibility was that the woman was the runaway woman's daughter.

How complicated.

Seeing his boss's dark expression, Theo tried again to ask, "Well, sir? Should I deploy more people to investigate the necklace owner further?"

Having run away 26 years ago, what else was there to find? All traces must have faded and would be difficult to locate.

Asher opened his eyes and reached for a document on the table. "Forget it," he said. "You'd better keep trying to get information on the one who reserved room 501." The man looked straight at Theo and said, "If we need to use money, use as much as needed. I just want that woman."

"I understand, sir," Theo replied.

Knock! Knock!

The sound of the door being knocked made Theo and Asher turn their heads toward it. The receptionist stood there and reported, "Sir, your new secretary candidate has arrived. Should I have her wait or…"

"Send her in."

Hearing that, the receptionist turned around and gestured for the figure, who was blocked by the glass door of Asher's office, to enter.

As the figure walked in, Asher's gaze instantly fixated on a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes before him.

Just like him, the woman froze on the spot, as if recognizing him.

As he pulled out a chair in front of Asher's desk for the new secretary, Theo was confused by the woman's surprised expression.

"Miss Laura Wilson, are you alright?"

Yes, the woman who had just walked in for her first day as Asher's secretary was Laura!

Laura had decided to use her mother's maiden name after Simon had kicked her out and refused to acknowledge her as his daughter.

Where she stood, Laura's body trembled, and her previous calm expression instantly turned into one clouded with fear.

That man... Laura couldn't possibly be mistaken. He was the one who had taken her virginity that night!