Chapter 430 William and Hayden （31）
The privacy of each cubicle was well-maintained; from outside, one couldn't see the occupants' side faces.
However, seeing that Hayden was still seated at her desk gave William a reassuring sense of tranquility.
He organized the files on his desk, shut down his computer, and stood up, heading directly to Hayden's cubicle and knocking lightly on the partition.
Upon hearing the sound, Hayden looked up.
"It's time to head out," William said to her.
After a moment's glance, Hayden shifted her gaze away, her voice calm and detached, "I'll stay a bit longer. You go on without me."
With a smile and no further words, William left and made his way out of the office.
He was gone just like that!
Hayden couldn't help but stand up and watch as he went.
William pushed open the large office door and exited without looking back.
Hayden furrowed her brows inexplicably, feeling as though an area in her heart had been hollowed out, leaving her with a chilling emptiness.
What a laugh...
Men truly are heartless creatures.
She tried not to care and continued to sit down and work on her report.
It was her first day on the job and her first time drafting a feasibility report on hotel creditworthiness. Striving to do well wasn't easy.
Outside the office, about ten yards from the main entrance, there was a rooftop garden where William had arrived. He pulled out his phone, found a number he knew all too well, and dialed it.
While at Global Trust Bank, he couldn't deal with his family company's affairs, so he managed them after work hours.
Even though he was on the phone, handling important business, his gaze kept drifting toward the office entrance.
That was the only exit. Hayden would have to walk through that doorway when she finished her shift.
Inside the office, Hayden wrote and deleted the feasibility report, rewriting and revising, and was never quite satisfied with her work.
By seven o'clock, she had completely lost the drive to continue.
Ever since she watched William stride away, the more she wrote, the worse she felt.
If staying any longer was a waste of time, she should clock out and treat herself to something delicious.
Hayden had a soft spot for desserts because they always seemed to lift her spirits when she felt down.
She packed her things, shut down her computer, and stood up to leave work.
When she was ready to leave, she discovered she was the last person left in the office, so she turned off the lights.
Outside on the rooftop garden, William had been waiting. He was casually leaning against the glass railing, his eyes fixed on the office.
Seeing the office lights suddenly go out, he allowed a smirk to cross his face, and then he moved toward her.
Hayden turned off the lights and headed out.
As she reached the office's glass door, she looked up unexpectedly and found her gaze captured by a pair of eyes glittering like a starry sky.
At that moment, her breath caught, and she stood frozen on the spot.
Watching her, William approached and held the door open for her, his lips curling into a smile as he said, "I remember, you owe me a dinner. How about tonight?"
Confronted with the handsome, exceedingly gentle face before her, Hayden finally snapped out of it. With a sarcastic tinge to her smile, she replied, "When was this? I don't seem to recall."
Seeing Hayden's unmistakable unfriendliness, William's dark eyes deepened slightly. "It's your first day at work, and it's all the same to me. I'm inviting you out."
"Sorry, I've got plans, so if there's nothing work-related, I'll be heading out." With those words, Hayden briskly walked away.
"Hayden." However, as she passed by William, her wrist was suddenly seized by a large, dry, warm hand.
"Is there something else?" She turned, glancing at William with an aloof expression.
William couldn't help but frown slightly as he met her gaze. "We need to talk."
Hayden chuckled lightly and casually asked, "Talk about what?"
"Do we have a misunderstanding between us?"
"Misunderstanding?!" Hayden frowned in displeasure. "What are you referring to?"
"Are you sure there's no misunderstanding?" William pressed, seeking confirmation.
"William, we're all adults here. Sometimes, it's just a fling; there's no need to take it so seriously." Hayden spoke those words with an air of indifference and arrogance, forcefully withdrawing her hand from his grasp. Then she turned and walked away with long strides.
It's just a fling; taking it so seriously is unnecessary.
William stood there, his hand empty, the echo of Hayden's final words ringing in his ears.
So, she had never been serious, just looking for a fling.
...
After leaving Global Trust Bank, Hayden went straight back to the business school dormitory.
She wasn't there to stay; she just needed to pick up some things.
The appearance of two large rats in her dorm the day before was too suspicious, and even though she had no evidence to prove that Michelle was behind it, any remnants of goodwill she had toward Michelle had vanished.
Hayden already had enough on her plate and saw no reason to continue living with someone she didn't like.
