Chapter 419 William and Hayden (20)
The interviewers, all except for William, could not help but show a hint of admiration in their eyes upon witnessing her action.
Once she was seated, the interview officially began.
The interviewers took turns asking questions, although they didn't ask many, typically one or two, and their inquiries were not particularly tricky—quite friendly, in fact.
It was William's turn after the other four had finished their questioning.
Interviews abroad always involve unexpected questions, so Hayden couldn't have anticipated what William would ask her. He looked at her, serious but with a tender gaze, more like someone close rather than an interviewer, and asked, "Hayden, what in this world makes you happiest?"
After a moment of surprise, Hayden answered without hesitation, "Bringing my mother back to life."
Her answer was serious, weighted with emotion, and the room fell into a deep silence that lasted for several seconds until the lead interviewer finally spoke up to end the interview, instructing her to wait for their decision.
Thanking them, Hayden folded the chair and placed it back where she found it before she left the room.
However, instead of leaving, she quietly waited in the lobby on the first floor of the building for William to finish all the interviews.
After about two hours, William approached her before she noticed him. Feeling his presence, she looked up from her phone screen to meet his gaze without a trace of embarrassment, as if it were a casual encounter.
"Why haven't you left? Waiting for someone?" William asked with a slight smile.
"Yeah, I'm waiting for you!" Hayden responded candidly. "Care to join me for dinner?"
William chuckled. "Trying to bribe me?"
Hayden pursed her lips, hesitated for a split second, and then said, "If that's what you think, then yes."
He laughed softly, "I'd be delighted. Lead the way!"
She nodded, grabbed her bag, and they left together.
Once they were in William's car and on the move, Hayden, sitting in the passenger seat, didn't beat around the bush. "Why were you an interviewer today?"
William drove attentively, sparing her a glance, "My boss was supposed to conduct the interviews today, but something came up last minute, so he asked me to fill in."
"So that means you're also interning here?"
William nodded nonchalantly. "You and I applied for the same department. It's been almost a year."
"So, we're going to be colleagues?" Hayden asked, her tone confident as she looked at him.
William smiled, "I can't answer that for you right now."
Hayden nodded, then suddenly changed the subject, "Why do you keep helping me?"
— Why do you keep helping me?
William was taken aback and turned his head to look at the woman beside him.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Just then, Hayden's phone started vibrating in her purse.
However, she made no move to answer it; she just kept her gaze fixed on William and waited for his reply.
With a particularly good-natured smirk, William looked at her again and said, "You should take that call first."
"Okay." Very obediently, Hayden reached for her phone.
It was a call from Finn's secretary.
"What is it?" Hayden's voice turned cold as she answered.
William, listening in, couldn't help but glance at her again.
"Miss, the CEO wants you to come to XX Hospital," Finn's secretary said respectfully on the other end.
—XX Hospital.
Hayden, of course, knew why Finn was summoning her to the hospital.
Without any hesitation, she declined, "I won't go."
"Miss, you should come. The CEO said that if you don't, you should immediately return to the country with him; you don't need to stay in London anymore," the secretary explained, her voice trembling with apprehension.
— Immediately return to the country.
Hayden felt a wave of anger, almost bringing her to tears.
Would Finn truly go so far as to ruin his daughter's life just for Sophia?
But she knew that Finn would most certainly follow through—if she didn't go to the hospital now, he would find myriad ways to end her studies and send her back home.
"Okay, I'll come now." Swallowing all her anger, Hayden agreed and hung up.
After she ended the call, William pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to look at her.
Hayden leaned back in her seat, took five or six seconds to get her emotions under control, and then lifted her head to meet William's gaze.
"What happened?" William inquired as their eyes met, his voice soft and concerned.
That concern was natural and sincere, warming her heart.
Hearing his rich and mellow voice, filled with deep concern, Hayden inexplicably felt much more at ease. Shaking her head, she said, "It's nothing. I just might not be able to have dinner with you tonight."
Seeing the suppressed anger and sadness in her eyes, William's handsome brows furrowed slightly. "Where are you going? I'll take you."
Hayden shook her head, "Don't worry about me. I'll take a cab."
She had already unbuckled her seatbelt as she spoke, ready to open the door and get out.
"Hayden," he called, but his warm, broad palm snatched her wrist as she turned.
At that moment, Hayden turned her head, and her gaze fell into the man's deep, clear eyes, which were filled with heartache and concern.
"What's wrong?" She caught her breath, startled for a second, then asked.
Looking at her, William spoke earnestly, "If you're feeling down, you can take it out on me; there's no need to keep it all bottled up."
There's no need to keep it all bottled up.
Looking at him, Hayden's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she quickly looked down.
Ever since her mother had passed away, during these four years, who else had truly cared for her, taken her pain to heart?
Not even her younger sister, Jocelyn.
Jocelyn was still young. There were too many things she didn't understand.
"We've only known each other for a few days. We're not that close." Suddenly, Hayden looked up again, flashing William a radiant smile, slipping her hand out of his large palm, and said breezily, "I should go."
With those words, she pushed the door open, got out of the car, and then swiftly closed the door behind her in one fluid motion.
Watching her walk in the opposite direction without looking back, William could only smile wryly until he saw her hail a cab and leave through the rearview mirror. Then, William merged back into the flow of traffic.
When Hayden reached the hospital, the night had already enveloped the city in its deep cloak.
Approaching the room, she was surprised to hear Nikolai's laughter coming from inside, and a sense of foreboding surged rapidly in her heart.
...
