Chapter 933 Association
Although Lyra didn't know what Ruben's intentions were, she knew there was no way to avoid him now that he was right outside her door.
Taking several deep breaths, Lyra managed to calm the turmoil in her heart.
Ruben was waiting in her office. As she pushed the door open, she saw him standing with his hands behind his back, examining the vibrant tulips on the windowsill with great interest.
Lyra's brows furrowed, her voice tinged with a hint of caution, "Ruben, those are mine. Please be careful."
Before she could finish her sentence, a sharp sound of breaking echoed through the room as the flowerpot fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. Soil and broken roots were scattered messily across the pristine floor.
Lyra's heart skipped a beat, followed by a fleeting sense of relief—at least it fell indoors. If it had fallen out the window and hit someone, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
But that relief was quickly swallowed by a surge of anger.
"What the hell, Ruben?" She stared at him, her voice as cold as ice.
This was no accident. It was a provocation.
Ruben turned around leisurely, hands in his pockets, his handsome face showing a completely insincere apology. "Oops, my bad. How much? I'll pay. Dr. Cole, name your price. I could fill your office with flowerpots if you want."
He measured everything with money and used it to humiliate.
Lyra took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She knew that anger was exactly what he wanted to see.
"Some things can't be bought with money, Dr. Larson," she said slowly, enunciating each word. "But I suppose you wouldn't understand."
She stepped around the mess on the floor, moving behind her desk to put some distance between them. "Let's get to the point. Why does Dr. Adams want to see me?"
"Didn't the person who notified you make it clear enough?" Ruben's black earring glinted coldly in the light. "Dr. Adams wants to see you, that's all."
"Why?" Lyra clenched her fists. "I have no connection with him."
Ruben's lips curved into a playful smile. "No reason. Maybe... you've become quite famous recently? After all, you've accomplished something unprecedented. Dr. Adams is always curious about interesting people."
His words were flawless, and Lyra knew she wouldn't get any more information. She decided to be direct. "Then please tell Dr. Adams that I appreciate his interest, but I'm just a small-time doctor with no interest in joining the association. I won't be bothering him."
Her words were firm enough.
Ruben, however, chuckled as if he'd heard a joke, his laughter filled with inherent arrogance.
He didn't argue further, instead changing the subject casually. "Dr. Cole, I heard you're preparing for grad school?"
The words hit their mark.
Lyra's fists tightened, her nails nearly digging into her skin. This was her most vulnerable spot.
But when she looked up, her face was calm again. "Dr. Larson, we're all adults here. Using threats is quite unbecoming, don't you think?"
"Threats?" Ruben spread his hands, feigning innocence. "I never threaten. I'm just stating a very likely fact."
His nonchalant demeanor seemed to say, 'No matter how hard you try, we can destroy all your efforts with a single word.'
The most frustrating and infuriating part was—it was true.
The so-called association held real power in the medical field. They had enough influence to easily crush a young person's future.
Lyra knew she had no choice but to go today. But she couldn't help asking one last question, "Why me?"
Ruben put his hands back in his pockets, casually rubbing his earring, his gaze playful. "Maybe Dr. Adams appreciates people with ambition and a bit of a temper."
Lyra sneered inwardly.
She escorted Ruben out of her office, asking him to wait outside. Then, she expressionlessly took off her white coat and changed into her own clothes. When she walked out of the office, her delicate face was still covered with a layer of frost.
Ruben had seen her smile at Jeffery, pure and warm like melting spring snow. Compared to that, her coldness towards him now was particularly glaring.
As they got into the car, Ruben started the engine and glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "Can't you smile? You look awful with that cold face."
Lyra didn't even lift her eyelids, her gaze fixed on the rapidly retreating scenery outside the window. "I'm a doctor. Dr. Larson, if you want to see smiling faces, you can go to a nightclub. There are plenty there, and you can even choose."
Ruben was momentarily speechless, his face grim.
Aside from Jeffery, she was definitely the first person to leave him at a loss for words. The association's headquarters was even more like a fortress of power than she had imagined.
Located in the most expensive part of downtown, it had no signage, was low-key and mysterious. It was less a club and more a cold, opulent palace built with money and power. The marble floors gleamed like obsidian, and the air was thick with a stifling, monetary scent.
The receptionist was a flawlessly groomed professional woman. She took Ruben's ID card, confirmed it, and gave a standard but utterly cold smile. "Welcome back, Dr. Larson."
Lyra stood in the vast, luxurious lobby, feeling completely out of place.
Seeing Ruben still wanting to chat with the receptionist, she impatiently urged, "Where's Dr. Adams?"
The receptionist's eyebrows barely twitched, clearly shocked by her lack of respect.
But Lyra didn't care about others' thoughts; she just wanted to get this over with.
Ruben didn't mind her attitude, shrugging helplessly and leading her to the elevator.
The elevator's interior was suffocatingly opulent. The walls were polished brass, reflecting distorted and blurry images. Standing in this narrow, golden box, Lyra felt like she was being watched by countless eyes, her skin crawling.
The elevator's opening chime was music to her ears. She practically rushed out.
Ruben, left behind, watched her back with a smile of unclear meaning.
Soon, he led her to an antique-styled room and pushed open the heavy wooden door.
Inside, an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in a dark suit, sat upright in a chair. He held a mahogany cane, his gaze sharp.
"Dr. Adams." Ruben shed his usual nonchalance, becoming respectful.
Dr. Adams glanced at him, his eyes clear and sharp like an eagle's. "Hmm, good job. Sit." He paused, his gaze landing on Lyra with tangible weight. "You, are the young person Jeffery recommended?"
The last sentence was directed at Lyra.
Lyra steadied herself.
Even though she was prepared, facing this legendary figure in person, the invisible pressure was far beyond her expectations.
"Dr. Adams, I'm Lyra." She spoke calmly, neither bowing nor overly humble, simply stating her name.
She could feel his piercing gaze scanning her inch by inch, as if trying to see through her completely.
After what felt like an eternity, Dr. Adams finally withdrew his gaze, taking a sip from his teacup.
"You do have a bit of Jeffery's character."
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