Chapter 6

Yvette agreed out loud, but the moment Lucy walked out, she rolled her eyes at her back.

-

The image of Wendy pulling Caleb into the dining room and them sitting closely kept replaying in Melody's mind.

She shouldn't have looked.

On the way home, Melody let the cold air hit her face. It helped her clear her head. Halfway back, she stopped to get a bowl of warm soup before finally going home.

Over the next few days, news about Caleb and Wendy was everywhere.

What made it worse was that there was still no update on her resignation.

She called Mabel Brown from HR, someone she was close with, to ask about it.

But Mabel had no idea Melody had even submitted her resignation. As the assistant to the HR manager, she would know if the process had started.

Which meant Caleb hadn't approved it yet.

Melody pressed down on the accelerator and drove straight to Brighton Group's headquarters.

However, her timing was off. Caleb was in a meeting.

The secretarial staff told her to wait in a meeting room.

After about half an hour, Wendy showed up.

Wendy had a limited edition designer bag hanging on her arm. Her makeup was flawless, her complexion glowing. She chatted easily with the staff, carrying herself like the lady of the house.

Before entering Caleb's office, Wendy glanced at Melody sitting in the meeting room.

She beckoned a young secretary over. "What's going on over there?"

"Ms. Sullivan is here to see Mr. Hunt, but she didn't make an appointment, so she has to wait," Jenny Reed said with a fawning smile.

Wendy casually examined her nails, a sharp glint in her eyes. She leaned in and quietly gave Jenny a few instructions.

A few minutes later, Jenny walked into the meeting room.

"Ms. Sullivan, you should head back. Mr. Hunt doesn't have time to see you."

Melody looked up at her. "Mr. Hunt's meeting isn't even over yet. That doesn't sound like something he said."

Jenny was instantly speechless.

Melody already understood what was going on.

"When Mr. Hunt finishes his meeting, please let him know I only need five minutes," she said calmly.

"Ms. Sullivan, is there something you can't just tell Mr. Hunt over the phone? Why do you have to see him in person?" Jenny asked, trying to probe.

"I can't reach him."

If she could, Melody wouldn't have come all the way here.

Jenny repeated her words to Wendy exactly.

Wendy didn't believe it at all. If it were urgent work, Melody wouldn't be sitting there waiting so patiently.

The fact that she stayed meant it wasn't urgent.

She just wanted to see Caleb!

For the past six months, Melody had kept her distance. Wendy had almost stopped thinking about her.

But now that she and Caleb were about to get engaged, Melody suddenly showed up again.

How could Wendy not be on guard?

Jenny went back and forth between the two of them, then returned to the meeting room.

"Ms. Sullivan, please move to the meeting room on the east side. We'll need this one shortly."

Melody stood, picked up her bag, and left without a word.

The east-side room was tucked away in a corner. Caleb wouldn't pass by there when he came back, so she wouldn't see him.

She sat down, took out her phone, and sent a message.

[Bianca, let me know when Mr. Hunt is back in his office.]

Bianca Lane had joined the secretarial department at the same time as Jenny.

Their personalities were completely different. Jenny liked to curry favor with higher-ups and had often tried to get close to Melody, but Melody had always kept her distance.

She preferred Bianca, who was steadier and hardworking, and she was closer to her.

Bianca quickly sent an OK emoji.

There was still a pile of work waiting at the branch office. After giving a few instructions, Melody started handling her tasks.

Before she knew it, it was already noon.

The meeting room door suddenly opened, and Bianca rushed in, looking apologetic.

"Melody, Mr. Hunt went to lunch on the sixth floor with Ms. Carter. I wasn't at my desk when he came back from the meeting, so I didn't see him."

Melody closed her laptop, slipped it into her bag, and stood. "It's fine. I can still make it if I go now."

"I'm really sorry, Melody. I didn't notice when he came back," Bianca said, still apologizing.

Melody didn't blame her. She had been busy herself and hadn't checked either.

She took the elevator down. Just as she stepped out, the executive elevator across from her opened.

"I had the restaurant add a new menu. I even brought in a chef from overseas. Try it and see if it suits your taste."

Caleb's warm, steady voice came through as he stood in a well-fitted black suit.

Wendy stood beside him in a soft pink sweater and a black leather skirt, leaning close to him.

"If I still don't like it, then go abroad and bring that restaurant's chef back," Wendy said lightly.

Caleb gave a small, helpless smile. "Whatever you want."

Wendy's smile grew brighter as she stepped out of the elevator.

Caleb lifted his hand and held the elevator door, letting her go first.

When Wendy saw Melody standing outside the elevator, her smile faded slightly.

"Mr. Hunt, may I have a few minutes? I have something to discuss," Melody said as she stepped forward, her gaze lowered.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wendy immediately loop her arm through Caleb's.

Caleb paused, then turned to Wendy. "The food won't taste good once it's cold. Go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."

"Okay, but don't take too long," Wendy said softly, a hint of reluctance in her voice as she let go and headed toward the restaurant.

"Come with me." Caleb's voice turned noticeably colder as he walked toward the lounge area at the end of the hall.

Melody followed.

He lit a cigarette and held it between his lips, glancing at his watch.

"Five minutes."

"Sorry to interrupt your lunch. Could you approve my resignation as soon as possible?"

Melody went straight to the point.

Caleb frowned and took the cigarette from his lips.

"What resignation?"

Melody finally looked up at him. "The one I asked Mr. Lewis to pass to you that day."

Only then did Caleb remember the envelope.

He hadn't had time to read it before leaving the country. By the time he got back, the paper was gone, and he had forgotten about it.

"Didn't you see it?" Melody sensed something was off.

Caleb exhaled a slow stream of smoke. After a brief silence, he said, "Your reason for resigning?"

Melody's eyes flickered. "The general manager position at the branch isn't a good fit for me. It's been six months, and I still haven't adjusted."

Caleb simply said, "Then transfer back. If you have something to say, say it directly. Don't go in circles."

"That's not what I meant," Melody said quickly, caught off guard. "I..."

Employees kept going in and out of the restaurant nearby. Each time the door opened, the smell of food drifted over.

Before she could finish, a wave of nausea hit her. She quickly covered her mouth and turned into the restroom beside her.

It hadn't even been two months, and the morning sickness was at its worst.

She rarely threw up anything, but it left her feeling miserable every time.

Melody quickly composed herself and walked back out, only to find Caleb gone.

"Ms. Sullivan."

Zane stood where Caleb had been, typing on his phone. "I've already arranged for HR to transfer you back. Take advantage of your lunch break to bring your things from the branch. You can start working here again this afternoon."

Melody's heart dropped.

She hadn't expected Caleb to act so fast.

"Wait, don't arrange anything yet. I'm not done talking to Mr. Hunt!"

She turned and headed toward the restaurant.

Zane paused mid-typing. "Mr. Hunt isn't in there. Ms. Carter didn't like the chef's cooking, so Mr. Hunt took her out for lunch. Also, everything's already been arranged."