Chapter 387 The Way the Rumors Say
Rachel glanced at the two people who were trying to slip away. She drawled, "There's no use in running. I'd recognize your faces anywhere."
Her words stopped them dead in their tracks. The two stood frozen, heads hanging low, as if trying to quickly formulate a strategy to handle Rachel’s intimidating presence.
Rachel's lips curled into a cold smile as she dismissed them with a glance.
Unable to come up with a solution, they eventually fled, too scared to meet Rachel's piercing gaze again.
Helen saw the duo fleeing and said with a sneer, "They're just gossip queens with no real backbone."
Rachel smiled and responded softly, "Takes one to know one."
Helen looked up at Rachel, noticing the obvious mocking smile on Rachel's face. She froze, realizing that Rachel was insinuating that she was the same kind of person.
Grinding her teeth, she tried to justify herself. "I just happened to overhear their conversation and found it interesting, so I joined in."
Rachel glanced at Helen indifferently, ignoring her explanation as she turned to leave.
Helen's face wore a twisted expression as she caught up with Rachel and demanded, "Rachel, don't you believe me?"
Rachel stared at Helen and said, "Is there anything about you that's worth believing?"
Helen frowned, glaring at Rachel.
Rachel stared deep into Helen's eyes. She asked, "What's the matter, Ms. Hill? Are you offended by what I said?"
With that, she walked past Helen, who grabbed her arm and said sternly, "Whether you believe me or not, it wasn't me who started that conversation! They were speaking, so I just casually went along with it."
Rachel glanced lightly at Helen's hand on her arm. Helen immediately let go.
Rachel adjusted her sleeve slightly, smoothing out the wrinkles Helen's grip had caused, and said calmly, "I don't really care either way. After all, I've grown up under constant scrutiny and been showered with flattery and compliments. Slander is naturally the other side of that coin. People will always have differences of opinion. It's just that I never expected that you and I would be so different, considering that we grew up together. It's making me a bit emotional."
Rachel stared at Helen and sighed meaningfully. "I never took you for the type to spread slander."
With that, Rachel walked toward the dining hall.
Helen remained where she was, gritting her teeth. She couldn't suppress the turmoil and dissatisfaction in her heart. Rachel's mocking words had a significant impact on her. Helen took two more pills and swallowed them.
After a while, Helen calmed down and followed Rachel.
Rachel was already sitting next to Charles, wearing a professional smile and conversing with the representatives from Yaradia Enterprises with poise.
Unlike others who tended to fawn, Rachel presented herself as confident and composed, placing herself on equal footing with them.
Helen took a deep breath, gritting her teeth again as she tried to steady herself. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Back in school, she and Rachel had been equals—they had both been admired and praised. When had she stooped to the level of slandering and scheming?
Rachel's dismissive words stung deeply, cutting through Helen's veneer of confidence and leaving her feeling suddenly vulnerable.
Rachel clinked glasses with those around her. At the dining table, even if she didn't want to drink, she had to at least join the others with a glass of wine.
However, since she hadn't touched a drop of alcohol before dinner, she was in excellent condition.
Eventually, the dinner ended. Frederick was the first to find an excuse to leave. Rachel watched him pretend to be drunk as he left, but didn't expose him.
Arnold finally found an opportunity to stand next to Rachel. As he watched Frederick's departing figure, he couldn't help but ask, "Is it just me, or does Mr. Hastings seem to get drunk easily these days?"
Rachel smiled slightly and replied, "Maybe he's not feeling well."
Arnold also smiled. "I thought it was because Ms. Davis's sister was too strict, so Mr. Hastings doesn't dare to drink freely in her presence and would overdo it when she isn't around."
Rachel raised an eyebrow and said, teasingly, "Is it possible that he wants to impress my sister?"
Arnold recalled the news that Amelia and Frederick had divorced and hadn't remarried yet. He glanced at Rachel and smiled knowingly.
The event was a perfect success. They chatted about other topics, and then Arnold noticed the guests leaving in small groups. They were about to leave when the person in charge of Kasfee's publicity approached Rachel.
She said, "These representatives from Yaradia Enterprises are visiting Kasfee for the first time. We can't neglect them."
The publicist replied, "Ms. Davis, I noticed that you got along well with them and had a pleasant conversation with them. I'd like to invite you to join us this afternoon to show them some of Kasfee's unique attractions and give them a positive impression of Kasfee."
Rachel had nothing planned for the afternoon, and further communication with the representatives from Yaradia Enterprises could ensure that the collaboration would go smoothly. She nodded in agreement. "I'll be happy to oblige."
The publicist smiled as he lavished praise on her. "As expected of such a distinguished figure in Kasfee's business circle. Let's meet here at 2 PM and then set off."
Seeing Arnold standing next to Rachel, he added, "Mr. Sanders, you're welcome to join us, too."
Arnold agreed as well.
After the publicist left, Rachel checked the time. Since it was meant to be a casual outing, she couldn't dress too formally. "I need to go back and change," she said.
Arnold seized the opportunity and quickly responded, "Let me take you back."
Rachel was about to refuse when she heard Charles's deep voice behind her. "Ms. Davis, I left something at your place last night."
Arnold paused and turned to look at Charles.
Charles walked over, seemingly just noticing Arnold standing next to Rachel. He pursed his lips as if unintentionally revealing his relationship with Rachel.
Arnold's eyes showed undisguised surprise. He shot Rachel a questioning glance.
Rachel, however, remained calm and collected, her demeanor far more natural than Charles's. "What did you leave? I'll have my secretary send it to you," she said smoothly.
Charles didn't miss a beat. "It's my USB drive. I'll go get it myself," he said.
Rachel's face instantly grew serious. A personal USB drive often held critical company secrets and data. If it went missing, it could spell disaster.
She nodded. "Alright."
Pulling out her phone, she called Tina and asked her to bring the car around.
Charles stood beside Rachel, watching her make the call.
Arnold's initial shock slowly morphed into curiosity. Unable to contain himself any longer, he asked, "So, are you two really..."
He stopped and wondered, 'Are you two really the way the rumors say you are?"
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