Chapter 343 Seeking Death
"Oh no, it's Mr. Sterling!" Rufus's heart skipped a beat. He quickly put his phone back on his desk and sat up straight, pretending to be hard at work.
He clearly remembered the higher-ups had warned them that Sterling would be inspecting today. If he got caught playing on his phone now, the consequences would be dire.
Just then, Sterling stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the narrow aisle next to Rufus. The aisle was indeed quite narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass through. Sterling frowned, seemingly deep in thought.
"This aisle is too narrow," Sterling muttered. His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet office, it was particularly clear. Rufus's heart jumped; he hadn't expected the boss to stop and comment on the aisle's width.
Rufus swallowed nervously, not daring to look up at Sterling. He kept his head down, pretending to be engrossed in his work, silently praying that Sterling was just making an offhand comment and wouldn't actually stop to give him trouble.
The executive nearby quickly tried to appease Sterling. "Got it, Mr. Sterling. I'll have someone adjust the width of this aisle right away to ensure it doesn't affect the employees' movement and work efficiency." As he spoke, he shot a glance at Rufus, his eyes full of blame and warning.
At that moment, Rufus's phone lit up again on his desk, displaying a message from Bella: [Got it, I'll make it right away.]
The notification sound was particularly jarring in the quiet office, catching Sterling's attention.
When Sterling saw the name "Bella" on the screen, his eyes darkened, and an inexplicable emotion surged within him. Without a word, he continued walking towards his office as if nothing had happened.
The executive following Sterling had also noticed the scene. He glared at Rufus and whispered harshly, "This is unacceptable! Put your phone away! If I catch you playing on your phone during work hours again, there will be serious consequences!"
Rufus trembled with fear and quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, I'll be more careful from now on."
As he spoke, he swiftly put his phone in the drawer, hoping to avoid any further trouble.
Once in his office, Sterling finally spoke, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "Call the person who was in the hall just now."
Sterling's gaze was sharp, as if he could see right through people.
The executive immediately responded, his face full of caution and respect. He quickly took out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he typed a message to the company group chat, specifically mentioning Rufus's name to ensure the message reached him.
Rufus was buried in his mountain of work when his phone screen suddenly lit up, catching his attention.
Seeing the message from the executive, specifically addressed to him, his heart sank with a sense of foreboding. He glanced at the message, his face turning pale and beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"This is bad, I'm in big trouble now," Rufus muttered to himself. Knowing he couldn't avoid it, he braced himself and walked quickly towards Sterling's office.
At the office door, Rufus took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, and then gently knocked.
"Come in," Sterling's voice came from inside, calm and firm.
Rufus pushed the door open and walked in, nervously greeting, "Mr. Sterling." His voice trembled slightly, revealing his lingering anxiety.
Sterling sat behind his large desk, his gaze piercing as he looked at Rufus. He raised his hand slightly, signaling the executive to leave. The executive, with a forced smile, carefully closed the door behind him, relieved to be temporarily out of the tense atmosphere.
Rufus stood at the door, cautiously observing Sterling, who was standing at his desk with his back to him. His heart raced, unsure why he had been summoned. Summoning his courage, he softly asked, "Mr. Sterling, did you need something from me?"
Sterling didn't answer immediately. He leaned slightly over the desk, one hand resting on it, his eyes focused on a document. His face was expressionless, making it hard to read his thoughts.
After a moment, Sterling finally spoke, his voice cold and calm. "Is Bella the owner of the dessert shop across the street?"
The question caught Rufus off guard. He hadn't expected Sterling to ask about Bella. Though puzzled, he quickly recalled and respectfully answered, "Yes, Mr. Sterling. Bella is indeed the owner of 'Small Opportunities' dessert shop across the street. Her desserts are quite famous around here."
Hearing Sterling mention Bella and her well-known dessert shop, Rufus relaxed a bit, a small smile forming on his lips. "You know about that shop too? Her desserts are amazing, truly the best! I heard she makes everything herself with great care. My colleagues and I can't resist ordering from there every day! Mr. Rivera even treated the whole company once, and everyone loved it. Mr. Sterling, would you like to try some? I can order for you."
Sterling's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. He asked, "How do you have Bella's WhatsApp?" This question clearly went beyond the previous topic, catching Rufus off guard.
Rufus was momentarily stunned. He had thought Sterling was just interested in the desserts, not Bella's personal information. He hurriedly explained, "I got her number from one of her employees and added her on WhatsApp. Mr. Sterling, is there a problem?"
Sterling turned to face Rufus, his gaze intense. "You also have her phone number?" His tone carried a hint of reproach, questioning why Rufus had obtained Bella's private contact information.
Rufus nodded, even more confused. He instinctively told the truth, "Yes, I managed to get it. Mr. Sterling, is there an issue?"
Sterling noticed the sparkle in Rufus's eyes when he mentioned Bella, a look that only someone talking about a person they like would have. This realization made Sterling inexplicably irritated. He didn't like seeing Rufus show such feelings for Bella.
"How far have you two gotten?" Sterling asked in a low voice, his tone carrying a subtle mix of jealousy and authority.
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