Chapter 124 Why Did You Lie to Me?
Lillian's heart trembled. This familiar feeling and these familiar words still filled her with fear. Alexis had shouted so loudly just now that she had heard it, too. Indeed, she was at fault in this matter.
"Go on," Kaitlyn said to her, then went to deal with the people in the executive office.
Lillian, feeling guilty and afraid, knocked on the office door and walked in, pretending to be calm.
"Mr. Sinclair," she stood in front of the desk and called out to him, her voice betraying her guilt.
Alexander, with a stern face and suppressed anger, demanded, "Explain this to me. Is Michael your college classmate?"
Lillian lowered her eyes and whispered, "No. I am worried that if I told you, you wouldn't agree."
Even though her voice was very soft, Alexander still heard it clearly and asked with a cold smile, "Are you worried I wouldn't agree? You don't seem worried when you are lying to me."
"Mr. Sinclair, I don't mean to deceive you. Earlier, I crashed into Michael's car, but he didn't make me pay for the damages. I have to thank him somehow," Lillian mustered the courage to reply.
Alexander angrily slammed the table and said, "Do you thank Kaitlyn? Do you have a problem understanding? I'm not angry because you had dinner with Michael. I'm angry because you lied to me."
Lillian was startled by his shouting and looked at him in surprise. "I don't dare to tell you the truth. You control everything. I am worried you'd say no, that you'd suspect my relationship with Michael."
Alexander stood up, hands on his hips, pointing at her, wanting to say something but unable to, "Is that how unreasonable you think I am?"
"You're not unreasonable, just quite domineering," Lillian said hesitantly, her head hanging as low as it could go.
Alexander looked at her coldly, thinking, 'Lillian seems aggrieved, surely believing I am wrong.'
"Go back to work," he said irritably, "Take Kaitlyn out for lunch at noon. Don't give others a reason to find fault with you."
"Get it," Lillian said, looking up to see the anger on his face subside a bit, and added, "Michael and I just had lunch yesterday. He doesn't ask about the company. He drives me to the nearest mall. Don't be angry."
"Go out," he said, frowning impatiently.
After Lillian left the office, Alexander loosened his tie, wondering if he had taken some explosives. He had actually guessed her unspoken reasons and knew there was no need to be angry with her. However, after hearing her explanation, he felt much better.
Lillian returned to her seat, patted her chest, and muttered to herself, 'Why is he so angry? It's as if he really cares.'
Kaitlyn, having dealt with Alexis and the others, hurried back and said to her, "Go help Shirley for now. She's the only one in the executive office and can't handle everything."
"Okay," Lillian, wanting to take a break in a different place, asked, "Kaitlyn, will there be new secretaries hired in the next few days?"
"I'll transfer someone from another department first. They're people I've worked with before, and they are easier to manage," Kaitlyn said as she started making phone calls.
Seeing her busy, Lillian didn't ask more but said, "Kaitlyn, do you have plans for lunch? I want to treat you."
"Sure," Kaitlyn agreed readily without any hesitation.
Lillian went to the executive office. Seeing the empty room, she felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. It wasn't that she was petty, but when she worked there, Alexis and the others really did bully her.
"Print this out. Mr. Sinclair will need it for the meeting this afternoon," Shirley said from her desk.
"Get it!" Lillian replied, sitting back at her desk with a cheerful smile. "Don't we look like the victors? We're the only ones left in the executive office!"
Shirley, looking at her computer, smiled and said, "You can still joke with me, so it seems Mr. Sinclair doesn't scold you too harshly."
Lillian wrinkled her nose. "Of course he does, and he is really fierce about it."
"You are too careless!" After saying, Shirley reconsidered, "I think those reporters are more focused on Michael's activities."
Lillian retorted, "He's just being biased. Alexander was in the news, too. Although he goes to pick someone up from the airport and doesn't tell me, I don't say anything to him."
"Do you ask him about it just now?" Shirley inquired.
"No, I am scared. When he shouts, I just froze," Lillian admitted, lacking confidence.
"I don't think there's anything between them. It's just the reporters using headlines to attract attention. Everyone has friends of the opposite sex," Shirley said, "I think the woman with Mr. Sinclair looked more like his sister, not a girlfriend."
"She is his sister," Lillian said, still unaware of the true identity of his sister in the news.
During work, Michael sent her a message: [Does the news cause you any trouble?]
Lillian replied: [It's fine. I see your statement. It's all explained now.]
After that, Michael didn't send any more messages.
At noon, Lillian went to find Kaitlyn for lunch, hoping to invite her to a restaurant outside, but Kaitlyn refused, insisting on eating at the company cafeteria.
"Kaitlyn, about the car accident last time, I originally planned to buy you a small gift as an apology next weekend. But with this gossip going around, I think it might not be appropriate, so I want to treat you to lunch first," Lillian explained.
Kaitlyn, looking very hungry, ate heartily and said casually, "I know Mr. Sinclair asked you to treat me. I don't take it to heart. Don't I say? Just study hard, and that's enough of an apology."
"Need I study hard?" Lillian laughed. "Kaitlyn, using that phrase on me makes me feel like a student facing an entrance exam."
Kaitlyn was amused, too. She said, "Don't waste my efforts. No need to buy a gift."
She put down her fork, wiped her mouth, and said, "I'm done. Take your time eating. The morning's work of reallocating secretaries exhausted me. Since I have interviews this afternoon, I'm going to take a nap."
"Alright, good afternoon, Kaitlyn," Lillian said, watching her leave.
Suddenly, Alexander entered the cafeteria with a girl Lillian hadn't seen before. 'That must be Shae.' When she thought, an alarm went off in her mind.
Shae walked closely beside Alexander, affectionately helping him with his tray at the buffet. They chatted and laughed, looking very much like a couple. Lillian's eyes followed them, growing more and more annoyed, her grip on the spoon tightening.
"Shae, I told you it's fine. Don't come over. I've already asked the PR department to handle it," Alexander said, carrying his tray to a seat. He happened to sit diagonally in front of Lillian.
Shae sat across from him and said, "I am not coming over specifically. I am just passing by and think I'd drop by the company."
