Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Jason sprang to his feet on seeing her. Just now, the man had been so lost in his thoughts that he failed to hear her knocking. Which was why he was a bit startled when he saw her walk in. After all, she’d been the one occupying his thoughts.

Annie stopped in front of his desk. As she watched the man’s haggard look, her brows creased a bit. “You don’t look good, Jason. Are you alright?”

In her light and calm voice, it was hard to detect if the girl was flustered to see her fiance in such a haggard state. The only sign of her concern was the frown on her face.

Jason towered in front of her, studying her expression. How could he be alright when he’d spend the whole weekend worrying about the same thing?

“I don’t know you to be a liar. Answer my question truthfully, Annie… What is between you and the new CEO?”

Hearing him bring that question up again, the calm look on her face faded a bit. “Jason–“

“I saw you.” Jason continued before she could start speaking. “I saw you two together that night, Annie. There’s no way you’ll tell me that nothing is going on between you two.”

Although she neither denied nor admitted his question, Jason was afraid she might do it. But he couldn’t ward off the image of the two hugging that night. He’d seen it with his own eyes because he had parked his car on the street side, watching them from afar.

As if she’d seen his question coming, Annie’s calm expression returned. She shook her head and sighed at the same time, a hint of a smile forming on her lips.

The girl looked somehow helpless. Not because she was afraid of answering his question, but because she already had an inkling that Jason had seen them that night.

“Your assumption is right.” She stared into his eyes and sighed. “The new CEO and I have a past. However…” she trailed off.

Hearing her admit it, Jason was supposed to feel relieved. But his heart only beat faster. The insecurities in his heart also increased.

What kind of a past? He wanted to ask, but at that moment, Annie resumed speaking.

“It is a past I don’t wish to remember. A past I don’t want to talk about,” she whispered. “Jason, I don’t want his appearance to put our relationship on the rocks. We have been loyal to each other. Let’s keep going that way.”

The image of the two hugging flashed in Jason’s mind again. ‘Loyalty.’ He almost laughed. “Do you really mean what you say, Annie?” He asked.

Her expression was honest and she put on a determined look when she nodded to his question.

If there was one thing Annie valued the most, it was loyalty. The past was in the past and she never wanted to go back to it. Even though it might hurt a bit. Also, the things she’d done made her underserving of that past.

“If that’s the case.” Jason smiled and took her hands. “I don’t care about your past, Annie. And I respect your wish of not talking about it. All I care about is the present, and our future together. Please don’t go back on your promise.”

Her smile brightened up and she gave him another nod. “Let’s remain loyal to each other, and we’ll be alright, Jason.”

Jason was startled by this realization. He never wanted to let her go despite these insecurities. The only thing he wanted right now was to be with her. Yet, staring deep into her eyes, he could still see those barriers. They covered her eyes, hiding the real happiness underneath. And he wondered if that happiness even belonged to him.

Outside the office, a girl could be seen pressing her ear to the door under the pretense of sticking a portrait on the wall.

Priscilla had been standing there for quite a while now, listening to the conversation going on inside. Her expression turned bitter and she gritted her teeth. Just what did that girl possess that she didn’t have?

Why did Jason seem to be so in love with her?

“Ahem.” Someone coughed and she turned around to see a middle-aged man standing behind her. “Make way, Young Lady. You’re blocking the door.”

The man gave her a disapproving look. Obviously, he’d caught her eavesdropping. And Priscilla pursed her lips then walked away, her heart burning with anger.

If only there was a way she could get rid of that girl. It was she that deserved the spotlight in this department and not some girl who only started working just a year ago.

“Tsk tsk tsk. Bratty children everywhere.” The man’s grumbling interrupted Annie and Jason’s conversation.

Apart from not greeting him, the girl even had the guts to give him an irritated look. So the man was pissed off a bit.

However, his expression transformed into a bright smile when he saw the two people in the office. “Isn’t this the new gem of our company! I’m so glad you’re also here!” He spoke to Annie. “Mr. Ju’an. It is a surprise that the girl our new CEO admires the most happens to be in your department.”

Jason’s expression fell but the middle-aged man didn’t seem to notice. And he went ahead to express his excitement. “This is a good sign, Mr. Ju’an. Remember our dream to merge the Arts Department with the Innovation Department? I think things will be easier now since the new CEO has taken a liking to someone in your department!

Oblivious to the man, his words were having a negative effect on the two people in the room, most especially Jason.

But who could blame him? Apart from the employees from the Arts Department, no one else in the company knew that Jason and Annie were even in a relationship. And that was even because Layla, his sister, happened to be a blabbermouth.

“Mr. Song–“

“Congratulations, Mr. Ju’an.” The man didn’t let Jason complete his words. “Now we can be rest assured that the Innovation Department will finally become a part of the Arts Department. With the help of Mrs. Lin here, of course.”