Chapter 4

Vivian's POV

Sasha and Callum froze simultaneously.

I recalled the knowing smiles the two shared at the steakhouse two days ago.

Before going, I had asked Callum in confusion, "Don't people usually meet their partners' parents in their homes? Why would we go to a steakhouse?"

He had been quite open about it. "Sasha said that a nice steak dinner would be perfect for breaking the ice."

Back to the present, Sasha called out, "Vivian…"

She had gone pale in the face, and she could barely stand upright.

In contrast, Callum seemed quite calm. "Vivian, when did you get here?"

I looked quietly at him, noticing his gradually quickening breathing. He could barely keep up his mask of indifference.

I said softly, "I just got here."

The two sighed in relief almost at the same time.

I raised an eyebrow. "What were you guys doing in there?"

I had just finished speaking when the two immediately tensed up and denied in unison, "Nothing!"

I let out a chuckle.

That was interesting. As it turned out, they themselves knew that they were doing something shameful.

I went back to my desk and sat there blankly for a while.

Placing the application form in my drawer, I picked up my pen and began drafting my promotion performance review.

In the afternoon, Sasha came over to me, complaining that her numbers never came out right. "Vivian, you're a natural at this. Can you please help me?"

Actually, when she first joined, because of her connection to Callum, I had looked out for her a lot. Anything she didn't understand or couldn't do, I would guide her every step of the way.

Sasha had adorable and innocent looks, so every time she asked something of me, I would give in immediately.

But then, I ended up doing most of her work.

As time went on, she began passing her work to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Callum was letting her do whatever she wanted, too.

If I ever complained, he would call me petty and unaccommodating. He said that Sasha was just a recent graduate, and I was making a big deal out of nothing.

Lifting my head, I looked Sasha straight in the eye and said without any hesitation, "No."

She froze, then looked at me with reddened eyes. "Vivian, was it something I did? Did I upset you?"

Callum overheard our conversation and came right over. Frowning, he asked, "Vivian, what are you bullying her for?"

He rapped his knuckles on the table. "This software is launching tomorrow. She's a newbie, so she can't handle it on her own. Help her out here."

I thought, "A newbie? You mean, this woman who had been working here for a year?"

I shook my head. "I'm not doing it."

He grabbed my hand. "I am your superior."

I retorted, "I don't care. Even if you're the king, I'm not doing it."

He stared at me, dumbfounded. Then, he softened his tone and held my hand. "Alright, fine. You don't have to do it. Please don't get mad."

But every time he asked me not to get mad, he had no idea that he was the one making me mad in the first place.

…

By the time I was done organizing the materials, I was the only one left in the office.

It had been raining a lot these days.

When I opened the front door to my home, I saw Sasha sitting on the couch. She was wearing Callum's T-shirt, and her legs were bare.

My gaze fell upon the T-shirt. That was the first birthday gift I had given Callum.

It had an embroidered piece I had pricked my fingers countless times to complete.

Callum was wearing an apron while making some soup in the kitchen. When he noticed that I had come home, he said in a concerned tone, "You look like you really need a hot shower. Go on ahead."

By the time I came out of the shower, Callum was ladling out the soup.

He handed me a bowl. "This will warm you right up."

I was stunned. In our three years together, he had never once stepped foot in the kitchen. "This is the first time I'm tasting your cooking."

He got himself a bowl of soup, then gestured at Sasha. "It's only because the princess demands it. You're just coming along for the ride."

After three whole years, I only got to try Callum's cooking thanks to Sasha.

I nodded, set down the bowl, and then went back to my room.

I held my phone with my promotion report on the screen, silently rehearsing it in my head.

When Callum opened the door, I immediately turned my phone face down.

He was stunned for a moment, and he tried to turn it over. "What were you looking at?"

I locked my phone. "Nothing."

He sighed, then hugged me from behind. With his chin on my shoulder, he said in a voice thick with emotion, "Vivian, I feel like you've changed over the past few days. Gloria told me our applications to transfer to Sunshire are approved. We'll be setting up the branch office soon.

"I heard that Sunshire is a beautiful place. You can wear your prettiest outfits, and we can take photos to capture our best memories there."

I said, "I'm not the one who likes Sunshire. You should go keep her company. I'm withdrawing."