Chapter 36 That's Unfortunate
Samantha raised her employee badge. “I just started working here. We’re colleagues now.”
Isabella looked at her seriously. "Looks like I’m unlucky."
Samantha didn't understand what Isabella meant.
As if afraid that she wouldn't understand, Isabella explained further. "What I mean is, I was already unlucky to be your friend and roommate before. I thought I would never see you again after graduating college, but now we're colleagues. Why do you always appear wherever I am?"
If Isabella hadn’t said that so seriously, Samantha would have thought she was hallucinating.
Isabella, who never resisted when anyone picked on her, was speaking very sharply today.
Samantha didn't know what to say for a moment. Isabella’s change shocked her.
When Isabella saw that Samantha wasn't saying anything, she opened the door and left.
Sebastian was in the middle of a video conference when Isabella returned to the office. When he saw her come back, he raised his hand slightly.
Isabella walked over. "Mr. Landon."
"Could you make me a cup of coffee, please?"
"Of course." Isabella entered his private pantry, put the coffee beans in the coffee machine, set the program, and waited beside it.
She felt uneasy as she thought about her encounter with Samantha in the bathroom. She didn't like verbally attacking others because she and Nina had experienced persecution when they were young. She understood how it felt to be hurt by someone's words, but she hadn’t been able to control herself earlier. Seeing Samantha here made her feel a little nauseous.
---
Sebastian finished the video conference. He leaned back in his chair, looking like he was taking a rest.
Although she had only moved here less than a day ago, Isabella had seen how busy Sebastian was.
He had to constantly deal with all kinds of business and attend many meetings.
Isabella had known that he was busy before, but now she truly understood how hard he worked.
Isabella picked up the freshly brewed coffee, put two sugar cubes on a saucer, and walked toward Sebastian.
"Here’s your coffee, Mr. Landon..." Isabella placed the coffee on the table. At that moment, Sebastian turned his chair around. Isabella was taken aback when she caught a glimpse of the bracelet he was playing with.
It was the bracelet she had accidentally left with him during the camping trip.
Sebastian had even asked her if she knew whose bracelet it was.
She thought he would just casually throw it away in the trash, but he had kept it. Before Isabella came to the Landon Group, the bracelet had been broken once and she had taken it to be repaired.
Afterward, she was afraid of damaging it further, so she didn't dare wear it again. After joining the Landon Group, she kept it in her pocket. No one at the Landon Group knew she had that bracelet.
But now Samantha was here. If she happened to see it, Isabella’s past would be exposed...
"Isabella?" Sebastian called her.
Isabella snapped out of her thoughts, meeting his deep gaze. "What are you thinking about?"
Isabella shook her head. "Nothing."
But deep down, she secretly thought that she needed to steal that bracelet back while Sebastian was absent.
As she was thinking that, Jack pushed the door open. "The meeting is about to start, Mr. Landon. Would you like to go now?"
Sebastian nodded, then took a few sips of coffee. He put the cup down and opened the second drawer, putting the bracelet inside.
Isabella thought to herself that when Sebastian left, she would take the bracelet, so no one would know...
But as soon as this idea flashed through her mind, she heard Jack calling her. "Isabella, bring the recording equipment. We're going together."
Isabella hesitated for a moment, "Me?"
"Yes," Jack nodded. "You’ll attend every meeting with Mr. Landon from now on."
Isabella glanced at Sebastian's office and said, "Do I have to go?"
"You don’t have to go," Jack replied readily. "If you don't want to work anymore."
Isabella didn't know what to say.
Samantha watched Isabella and Jack leave together with Sebastian, feeling jealous. No wonder Isabella had become so sharp-tongued. She had found support at the Landon Group. Things were different when someone was helping her. Samantha felt that Isabella seemed more confident than before.
As Isabella followed behind Sebastian, she radiated confidence.
Laura happened to pass by her desk. Samantha called her. "Laura."
"What's up?" Laura turned around.
"This is my first day at work. How about I treat everyone to dinner tonight?" Samantha suggested.
"Sure."
"Shall I invite the other colleagues too?"
"Okay, I'll help you with that."
Samantha's eyes shifted. "What about Jack?"
"Jack’s usually very busy and doesn't often join us for these small gatherings. You'd better not bother him."
"And Mr. Landon?" Samantha tested.
Laura chuckled as she looked at her, "You want to invite Mr. Landon to dinner? Do you know why I asked you if you had a boyfriend during the interview, Samantha?"
Samantha shook her head.
Laura said, "Since you have a boyfriend, you won't get any ideas about Mr. Landon."
"No, no, no. Laura, you've misunderstood me," Samantha quickly explained. "I don't have any ideas about Mr. Landon, I just want to treat everyone to a meal."
Laura's eyes carried a hint of scrutiny, "It's better that way. In other words, even if you did have any ideas, Mr. Landon wouldn't be interested in you because... he has a fiancée."
"Really?" Samantha was shocked again. "I wonder who could be so lucky to have such an outstanding and handsome fiancé like Mr. Landon. That woman must be very beautiful, right?"
"She used to work in the assistant department as well. I guess she resigned recently to prepare for the wedding with Mr. Landon, so that's why there was this vacancy," Laura said, feeling a bit jealous. "Vanessa is actually quite average-looking, she’s not as good-looking as me. I don't know what she did to become Mr. Landon's fiancée. Once she marries Mr. Landon, she’ll be the boss lady. That'll be really prestigious! But we still have to continue working at the company."
Samantha comforted her with a smile, "Everyone has different tastes. I think you’re very good-looking Laura. You have a great figure and sense of style. You look like a big star."
Laura felt a little better when she heard that. "But luckily, I have a good relationship with her. If she really does marry Mr. Landon, it will benefit me too."
---
It was Isabella's first time entering the executive conference room. She was amazed by the spacious and bright room.
Sebastian took his seat at the head. That dominating presence appeared instantly.
Jack pulled out a chair for Isabella and said, "You can sit here."
"Thank you." After sitting down, Isabella opened her notebook and took out a pen, ready to take meeting minutes.
Jack turned to her and exclaimed, "Didn't you bring your laptop?"
