Chapter 22 The Newcomer, Please Be Gentle
"Well then, I guess I've got to take extra care of this Amelia, seeing as she shares two letters in her name with your missus," Noah joked.
"No need, just pretend she doesn't exist."
Quentin spoke with a cold expression; he was harboring a grudge against Lauren. Considering Lauren was in his clutches and he hadn't even bothered her, he thought that was more than generous—no need for any extra care.
Noah pursed his lips; pretending that a living, breathing person didn't exist wasn't exactly something he could do.
"Uh... okay, I'll try my best," Noah said, without further ado, and left Quentin's office.
Lauren arrived at the base of the Robinson Conglomerate for the second time, carrying her belongings, her emotions a tumultuous mix. The Llast time she was at the company, no one recognized her; she wondered if her luck would hold this time as well.
Lauren strode confidently towardstoward the front desk, her hands gripping a box of files. The receptionist spotted her and immediately guessed she might be the new colleague from Mr. Martin's partner company that Noah had mentioned.
Before Lauren could even speak, the receptionist greeted her with a warm smile, "Hi there, are you Amelia Walker?"
Lauren, slightly taken aback, nodded slightly, "Yes, hi, I am."
The receptionist's face lit up with recognition, "Miss Walker, you can go straight up to the eighteenth floor to the Sales Department to see Mr. Martin."
After expressing her gratitude, Lauren headed for the elevator and made her way directly to the eighteenth floor.
As the elevator dinged and its doors opened, Lauren stepped out, her jaw nearly dropping at the sight before her. The entire eighteenth floor was home to the Robinson Conglomerate's Sales Department. Anxiety mixed with regret washed over her as she steadied herself.
During the partnership talks, she had boldly criticized the Robinson Conglomerate's sales model as immature. However, now, confronted with the sheer size of their Sales Department and the hundreds of busy people bustling about, Lauren's perspective shifted dramatically.
Faced with such an impressive department, Lauren suddenly realized that Quentin had no real need to partner with PatrickHenry. So why had he agreed? Was it merely for her sake?
This thought sent a thrill through her. Had Quentin really changed his opinion of her? Did she hold a special place in his heart, even if just a tiny one?
Lauren took a deep breath to compose herself before entering the Sales Department.
"Excuse me, where can I find Mr. Martin? I'm the new recruit, Amelia," she asked a passing employee.
The employee, friendly and attractive, responded with a smile, "Mr. Martin is in his office. I'll take you there."
Feeling a blush creep up her cheeks in the presence of the warm and good-looking staff member, Lauren quietly said thanks.
Navigating the bustling corridors with care, Lauren felt a renewed sense of awe at the power and capacity of the Robinson Conglomerate.
The Sales Department was a hive of activity.: sSome staff were on phone calls, others were researching, and groups huddled together discussing various topics. Not a single soul was idle.
No wonder the Robinson Conglomerate was also referred to as The Robinson Family Empire—it truly lived up to the moniker of an ‘"empire.’"
Lauren felt like an ugly duckling among a bevy of graceful swans, so inconspicuous and insignificant. How could someone like her ever catch Quentin's fancy?
She ridiculed her past self for being too arrogant, never once considering the vast chasm between her and Quentin and yet having the audacity to marry him solely because she liked him. Now, it seemed laughably absurd.
After a few minutes’ walkminutes’ walk, they finally reached an office door. Lauren , was so mired in self-deprecation that only when she lifted her head, did she notice the sign "Sales Director" hanging at the entrance.
"Alright, Miss Walker, this is Mr. Martin's office. Please go in; I have other things to attend to," the employee said gently.
"Thank you so much for your help," Lauren expressed her gratitude once more.
After the employee left with a smile, Lauren knocked on Noah's door.
"Come in," came a hearty male voice from inside.
Lauren hesitated no further and pushed the door open. "Hello, Mr. Martin, my name is Amelia; I'm an employee sent from Chongxin Sales Company for training," she introduced herself.
She had been uncertain about how to introduce herself since Quentin knew her in detail. Continuing to hide her true identity might make him think she was putting on an act. But revealing herself as Lauren would complicate how she could return to Patrick Henry in the future.
Right before entering the Sales Department, Lauren finally decided to live as Amelia. Whether she would divorce Quentin or not, she needed to have her own life. As for how Quentin would perceive her, she couldn't control it, nor would she try to—her impression in his heart was already far from favorable.
"Amelia?" Noah's gaze lingered on the demure and graceful girl in front of him, momentarily captivated.
Noah had expected Amelia to be a heavily made-up, sultry career woman with a strong presence, but she was quite the opposite.
Lauren maintained a polite smile, "Yes, I am Amelia."
Noah snapped back to reality, his eyes glinting with intrigue. It seemed Quentin's taste had changed—since when did he prefer such simplicity?
Indeed, Lauren looked fresh out of college, showing no signs of being a married woman.
"Heh, I heard you're the one who persuaded Quentin into the partnership. I didn't expect you to be so young. Patrick Henry is truly brimming with talent—the potential seems quite impressive," Noah praised without reserve.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Martin. I'm grateful for the opportunity to come to the Robinson Conglomerate for this learning experience, and I look forward to your guidance," Lauren said earnestly.
Gaining more knowledge was beneficial for her. After all, the future was unpredictable, and she wanted to equip herself as much as possible to avoid ending up destitute on the streets.
Noah observed Lauren with appreciative eyes, but the more he looked, the stronger his sense of familiarity grew—she seemed so recognizable and congenial.
"Amelia, have we met before?" Noah typically used this line as a casual pick-up with women.
Lauren froze at his question, thinking he had figured out her true identity and was mentally preparing to navigate the conversation.
However, Noah quickly realized his forwardness, as he hadn't intended to flirt with Lauren in this manner.
He chuckled, "Don't get me wrong. You just look familiar, maybe you resemble someone I know."
Relieved, Lauren replied, "Oh, I see. But I don't think we've met. This is my first time at the Robinson Conglomerate."
Lauren was quick to dismiss any connection, not wanting her first day to end in disaster.
Noah nodded; with so many faces he'd seen, his memory could indeed get muddled.
"So, Mr. Martin, will I stay in the Sales Department for my training?" Lauren asked subtly, eager to begin her work duties.
"Sure, I've made arrangements. Just a moment," Noah said as he picked up the phone to call internally.
"Linda, could you come here, please?"
