Chapter 281 So Thrilling?
The elevator doors slid open on the 68th floor, and Jessica noticed the hallway lights were already on. Weird, right? Shouldn't they light up when the elevator opened?
She stepped out, glanced around, and spotted a woman in a sharp suit—though that skirt was way too short—slipping into the CEO's office. Jessica's mind raced. What was happening? Was she about to walk into some drama?
Jessica rarely visited the Harriman Group, but was she about to catch someone in the act? Wayne had said everyone on this floor should be gone by now. And last time, there was that whole mix-up with a photo of Gabriel's sister in Country Y. Jessica trusted Gabriel, but it was late, and this felt off.
She hesitated, clutching her shopping bag, then tiptoed to the CEO's office door, pressing her ear against it to listen.
Inside, the young woman with a hint of perfume placed a stack of documents on Gabriel's desk. "Mr. Harriman, here are the backup files for the Imperial Capital meeting you wanted by tomorrow noon."
Gabriel, looking as sharp as ever, glanced up, trying to place her. "Secretary Thomas?"
Lori Thomas smiled sweetly. "Mr. Harriman, I'm off tomorrow, so I stayed late to finish these. Please review them."
She leaned forward, pushing the documents toward him, her blouse revealing more than it should. Her hair fell perfectly, and she smelled faintly of something expensive.
Gabriel didn't even glance at the files or her. His eyes, cold and focused, stayed on his computer screen. "Leave it," he said, his voice icy.
Lori tried again. "Mr. Harriman, have you had dinner?"
Gabriel ignored her, still engrossed in his work.
She leaned in closer, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I heard you often have stomach issues from working late. There's a new French place across the street..."
Gabriel's gaze snapped to her, freezing her in place. "Secretary Thomas, if I recall, you're an intern selected by the secretarial department manager a month ago. You still have two months left in your internship. The secretarial department isn't on the 68th floor. This floor is for assistants only. It's after hours. Why are you here?"
Lori felt a chill run down her spine under Gabriel's icy stare. She knew Mr. Harriman's reputation for being strict and ruthless. Straightening up, she forced a smile. "I worked overtime to finish the meeting files, so I..."
The secretarial department was on the 66th floor, just one flight of stairs away. It was easy to walk up without taking the elevator. But this floor, the CEO's office, was off-limits without permission, especially after hours.
Lori knew this, but hearing that Gabriel was working late and that the assistants had left, she couldn't resist the chance to come up. Now, facing Gabriel's cold eyes, she bit her lip and quickly changed her explanation to an apology. "I'm sorry, Mr. Harriman. I won't come up without permission again."
"Never twice." Gabriel picked up the files she had placed on the desk. One glance told him they were hastily done. He tossed them back in front of her.
Lori flinched, her shoulders shrinking. She looked at Gabriel, who, despite his handsome and perfect exterior, didn't show any anger. His cold tone and frosty gaze were enough to make her realize she had acted impulsively.
"The future positions for intern secretaries will be distributed across various departments. There are no positions for you on the floors above the 60th. If your work is recognized in two months, HR will make the appropriate arrangements. But based on these sloppy files, you probably won't get a confirmation notice."
Gabriel's tone was cold, adding to the severity of the atmosphere.
"Mr. Harriman, I'm really sorry. I'll redo it. I'll work all night if I have to. Please give me another chance." Lori quickly picked up the files. "I'll redo it right away. I won't..."
Gabriel's cold brows furrowed slightly, clearly annoyed by the disturbance. "I don't like unrelated people investigating my habits. Stop with your 'I heard.' Return your work badge to HR. I want to see your resignation letter before dawn."
Lori's face turned pale. "Mr. Harriman, Mr. Harriman..."
Gabriel reached for the internal phone. "Will you leave on your own, or should I call security to escort you out?"
With red eyes, Lori bit her lip hard, looking at Gabriel, who never once glanced at her skirt or legs. His cold and impatient expression made her realize she couldn't stay any longer. She quickly turned and left.
Jessica had hidden in the nearby break room. Hearing the sound of high heels fading away, she leaned back against the wall, staring blankly at the ceiling light.
The two Gabriels—the one she knew and the one she'd just heard—seemed strikingly different. One, cold and intimidating; the other, warm and boundlessly indulgent.
