Chapter 35 Your Husband Seems Kind of Cold
As soon as Taylor finished, a wave of complaints filled the office.
"Oh my gosh! I already rented my gown."
"I even treated someone to dinner to secure a dance partner."
"Is it going to be the same as always? Do we still have to prepare our own acts?"
Lillian too felt puzzled, thinking, "It's only been one night, how did the dance get canceled?"
Dora said, "Looks like I was happy for nothing."
"Regarding the acts for the performance, you don't need to prepare anything this year. We've got a professional troupe coming in, so don't worry. Alright, back to work," Taylor said before turning and walking away.
However, after taking a few steps, Taylor suddenly turned back and told Lilian, "Ms. Hill, Mr. Sinclair wants you in his office."
"I got it," Lillian replied.
Curious glances from her coworkers followed her as she set aside her work and walked toward the president's office.
She knocked gently on the door and a deep voice from within responded, "Come in."
"Mr. Sinclair, you wanted to see me?" Lillian entered, thinking to herself, 'It's never good news when he calls me to his office.'
Alexander slammed a folder onto the table and asked coldly, "Is this your meeting record?"
Lillian picked it up and saw that it was from the meeting she was called into unexpectedly on Christmas Eve. Indeed, the notes were a complete mess, including a blank space where she hadn't known how to spell a word.
"Yes, I did this," Lillian admitted in a low voice, closing the folder and carefully placing it back on the table.
"You have the audacity to admit it?" Alexander pointed at the folder, visibly upset, "How did you even get into the secretarial division? With your French level and recording skills, was the person who hired you blind?"
Lillian's cheeks flushed as she said, "It seems like it was the HR manager who hired me into the company."
Alexander exhaled a long sigh, glaring at her in a way that sent shivers down her spine.
After a pause, he said angrily, "We don't need useless staff in the secretarial division. Whatever it takes, I will assess your abilities in two weeks. If you're not up to par, you're out!"
With her lips trembling, Lillian spoke moments later, "I don't have the money for French tutoring, and there’s nobody around to help me improve my French."
"So, you're saying you want to give up?" Alexander asked mockingly.
"No, I want to try and get better," Lillian said with a sense of injustice.
Perhaps fate was on her side, gifting her this job considering all the hardships she had endured over the years. She had been eager to learn and improve in various skills, yet often she felt like her effort was wasted due to lack of guidance.
Looking at her sideways, Alexander slid a French dictionary and two exercise books across the desk. "Don't play the pity card with me. If you really want to change, show it with action. Finish these in three days."
With a slight look of surprise, Lillian glanced at him and thought, 'Is he actually trying to help me? Can he really be this kind-hearted?'
"Don't get it wrong. I'm giving you study materials because I don't want you to embarrass the company!" Alexander said impatiently as he stared at his computer, "Now, get out and don't disturb me."
"Thank you, Mr. Sinclair."
While Lillian had always found him quite disagreeable, his assistance today genuinely moved her, and she felt her opinion of him inch toward the positive.
Holding the book she returned to her seat with, Dora came over and flipped through the pages, asking, “Did Mr. Sinclair give this to you? These problems look really tough.”
Lillian covered her face in shame and said, “I’m just not good enough in so many ways. Mr. Sinclair just gave me a lecture.”
Dora arched an eyebrow and encouraged her, saying, “I heard there’s an assessment every June. You’ve got half a year left. You’ve got to step it up!”
“Yeah, I will!” Lillian clenched her fist, confidently stating her resolve.
Before they knew it, the day for the preschool party had arrived.
Upon Lillian’s suggestion, Alexander had someone make matching bear-themed outfits for the family. All three of them got dressed up, but only Alexander looked a bit odd.
“Lillian, why doesn’t Alexander look right in his outfit? It’s not cute at all compared to us,” Lucas said, tilting his head and frowning at Alexander.
“If I looked cute, would I even be a man?” Alexander was very unsatisfied with the outfit. He regretted listening to Lillian, but for Lucas’s sake, he put it on anyway.
Standing aside, Lillian wanted to laugh but dared not, feeling he did indeed look rather strange.
Alexander shot her a glare and said irritably, “You want to laugh, don’t you? Just hold it in!”
“Mr. Sinclair, I think you shouldn’t be so serious. You should smile more, then you wouldn’t look so strange. With those clothes, your stern face doesn’t match at all. How about we sew a couple of pockets on your pants so you can put your hands in them and carry off a suit vibe?” Lillian joked.
“Yeah, Alexander, why aren’t you smiling?” Lucas chimed in. “My classmates will be scared if they see you like that.”
“I'm just used to being serious,” Alexander placated him. “How about I give you a smile, how’s that?”
Alexander revealed a beaming smile as bright as sunshine. Lillian had never seen Mr. Sinclair smile before.
“Alexander, you look so cool when you smile!” Lucas clapped his hands, delighted.
“All right, let’s change out of these outfits, it’s time to go,” Lillian said.
Although it was just a kindergarten party, the parents took it very seriously. Some parents arrived early to decorate the classroom and arranged seating for the other parents and children.
“Lucas, your dad is so cool! And your mom is so pretty!” the kids around him complimented.
Lucas puffed out his chest proudly and said, “Of course! My second dad and mom are the coolest and the most beautiful!”
Lillian and Alexander took their seats among the parents, and regarding the envious glances they received from those around them, she just pretended not to notice and sat quietly.
"Hello, you must be Lucas's mom, right?" A stylish-looking woman glanced at her. "I'm Mia's mom, Tina. Mia came over to your house to play on Christmas day."
Lillian remembered and hurriedly said, "Hello, I didn't recognize you."
"I didn't recognize you either. I recognized your husband," Tina chatted warmly with her. "I've only seen your husband picking up the kids, but you seldom come, huh?"
"Yeah, I'm busy with work and get off late. It's not a good time for me," Lillian replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
She didn't want Lucas to feel singled out and didn't think it was necessary to explain so much since she barely saw the other parents a few times a year anyway.
"Your husband seems quite aloof?" Tina said with a meaningful look, "Someone tried talking to him before, and he wouldn't even respond."
