Chapter 115 Ethan's Partiality
Stellar Enterprises.
Emerging from the subway station, Jasmine hurried into the company.
As Ethan's personal assistant, she needed to arrive at the office before Mr. Douglas did.
"Jasmine! Quite the coincidence seeing you here." Harper who was immaculately dressed, yelled out enthusiastically from the company lounge. Her fair skin, long raven hair, and light makeup complemented her beauty. In a white dress, her smile blossomed like a lotus in the snow.
Jasmine paused for a moment, her mind racing... Harper.
Suddenly, it hit her. Henry had mentioned something about romantic complications between Harper and Ethan.
A tightness gripped her chest, and Jasmine unconsciously clenched her fingers. "Miss Brown."
"You work for Stellar Enterprises?" Harper asked, her face etched with surprise.
Jasmine nodded.
"You're incredible, Jasmine! It's not easy to get into Stellar Enterprises, it's all Ivy League grads there. Which school did you attend?" Harper looked at Jasmine with admiration.
Taking a deep breath, Jasmine glanced back at the staff who were buzzing with hushed conversations.
It was working hours, and the foyer was bustling with employees.
Harper's look of innocence seemed genuine, making it hard to suspect that she was acting deliberately.
Jasmine had long ceased to trust appearances.
Underneath the guise of naiveté could lie a heart that wasn't necessarily pure.
"How come you're here, Miss Brown?" Jasmine asked politely.
"I'm waiting for Ethan," Harper said gleefully, gripping Jasmine's fingers. "You work here, have you seen Ethan? He's so handsome, the one I've told you about."
Harper whispered in Jasmine's ear, "He's the one I like."
Jasmine stiffened, remaining silent.
"Miss Brown, why are you waiting out here? Please, come in." Ethan's secretary arrived to usher her in, casting a critical look at the receptionist. "From now on, Miss Brown should not have to wait. Mr. Douglas has instructed that she may come and go as she pleases."
Ethan had made an exception for Harper.
"Jasmine, what are you doing standing there? Attend to Miss Brown," the secretary said sharply, critiquing Jasmine's lack of initiative as an assistant.
Jasmine snapped out of her daze and quickly stepped forward. "Miss Brown, please follow me."
"Mr. Douglas has never given anyone special treatment before, but Miss Brown always gets the red carpet treatment. On several occasions, Mr. Douglas has personally received her. Looks like she might just be Mrs. Douglas."
"I've heard, too," another chipped in. "The Brown family and the Douglas family are planning a union. Mr. Daniel has already gotten engaged to the Wilson family's daughter, which pretty much leaves Mr. Douglas as the next in line."
Jasmine half-listened to the receptionist's gossip, her mind elsewhere as she followed the secretary and Harper onto the elevator.
"Miss Brown, this is Mr. Douglas's personal assistant. If you need anything, just let her know and she'll take care of it," the secretary said courteously.
Jasmine's brow furrowed. She was Ethan's assistant, not everyone's.
For some reason, this upset her.
"Jasmine! I can't believe you're Ethan's assistant," Harper expressed in surprise, then happily clung to Jasmine's arm. "We're like sisters, right? You'll keep an eye on Ethan for me, won't you? If some vixen tries to steal him, you have to have my back."
Harper said this half-jokingly.
Jasmine kept quiet, her head down, her emotions a whirlwind.
"Jasmine, take good care of Miss Brown. Who knows, she might be Mr. Douglas's future wife, the lady of Stellar Enterprises," the secretary whispered, pulling Jasmine aside while Harper walked ahead. "Just a friendly word of advice, make sure to get on her good side."
Jasmine's fingers tightened nervously, but she said nothing.
After her marriage with Ethan ended, would he marry Harper?
Harper was beautiful and seemed pure, free of any perfume scent, exactly Ethan's type.
"Jasmine, I skipped breakfast this morning and my blood sugar's a bit low. Could you get me something to eat?" Harper asked quietly in Ethan's office.
With hesitation, Jasmine considered declining. Work was about to start, and as Ethan's assistant, she couldn't be late.
"Miss Brown..."
"Jasmine, I'm really hungry," Harper whined. "If Ethan has to get breakfast for me, he'll be mad again. He'll be upset to know I came out without eating. Please?"
Jasmine looked at Harper and nodded. "Sure."
She turned and hurried toward the elevator, glancing at the clock as she rushed to get Harper's breakfast.
Once Jasmine was gone, Harper glanced down at her wristwatch.
Ethan hated tardiness, he was very punctual.
At 8:30 sharp, Ethan walked into the office.
Seeing Harper, his brow creased as he instinctively looked for Jasmine. "Mr. Douglas, where's your assistant? There's a meeting at 8:40. Where are the prepared documents?" the secretary asked, following him in, anxiously searching for Jasmine.
'That personal assistant doesn't know how to act, running around all over the place without a clue.' The secretary thought to herself.
"Ethan, is something urgent? Can I help you find it?" Harper looked at Ethan with innocent eyes.
Ethan didn't say a word. "Why aren't you at home resting? What brings you here?"
Harper stood up, walked over to Ethan, and cooed, "Ethan, I missed you."
Ethan stepped back to keep some distance. "Have Liam take you back."
After saying that, Ethan turned to his secretary. "Call Jasmine, find out where she is!"
Ethan was irritated.
"Ethan, is that your new personal assistant? How can she be wandering off during work hours?" Harper asked with a look of innocence.
Ethan glanced at the clock. "The company's been swamped lately. I haven't had time to visit you. I was free this Saturday, but I have to head out early for the Hawaii project."
"I came because of that project," Harper said cheerfully. "Otis Phelps from Seaside International is my senior from Stanford University in Silverlight City. We have a good relationship. I've arranged to accompany you to meet him this Saturday."
Harper intended to accompany Ethan as his partner to meet the business associate.
Ethan frowned. "This is work. It's not child’s play."
"I'm trying to help you. I heard Daniel went off to Hawaii early to vie for the project with your stepmother. I'm definitely on your side," Harper said confidently as if her presence ensured success.
"Let's talk about that later."
Outside the office, Jasmine received the secretary's call and hurried back without having time to grab breakfast.
Comparing her priority with Harper's, Jasmine knew Ethan mattered more.
"Mr. Douglas, I'm sorry, I wasn't aware the Galaxy project was moved up. I have the documents prepared in advance." Jasmine rushed into the office, hastily pulling out the paperwork. "My apologies."
"What's going on, Jasmine? As the CEO's personal assistant, you shouldn't be running around during work hours," the secretary said reproachfully as they followed her in.
Jasmine caught a glance at Harper, then at the secretary, and she understood what was happening.
Harper played innocent. "Jasmine, Ethan is very punctual, being his assistant must be tough."
Jasmine glanced inadvertently at Ethan and bowed in apology. "I'm sorry, Miss Brown, I didn't manage to get breakfast."
Harper's expression darkened momentarily, Jasmine's move was indeed something.
Ethan's gaze darkened as he stood up to take the documents from Jasmine. "As my personal assistant, you only need to follow my instructions. Why were you wandering around during work hours? Come with me to the meeting."
Although Jasmine felt slightly wronged, Ethan's stern demeanor wasn't really about scolding her. He was making it clear that she was his personal assistant alone and didn't need to heed anyone else's directions.
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