“Did anyone give you a hard time in the office today?” I asked tentatively.


    Steven seemed like apletely different person in public and in private.


    When Michael was around, he seemed tough and aggressive. Now, he appeared vulnerable and


    intimidated.


    Steven nced up at me and asked softly, “Do you want me to coborate with him?”


    you


    do coborate with him, remember that it’s for the benefit of the Lincoln Group. Personal grievances


    should be set aside,” I replied, sitting on the desk and looking out the window. “Only by sealing the


    deal can you shut them up.”


    Steven reached out and pulled me into his arms.


    I stumbled onto hisp in an awkward position.


    Luckily, his long legs saved me from ending up on the floor.


    “You…” I was about to scold him when he suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around me. Stephie,


    they all gave me a tough time.”


    My heart ached at his words, and it was hard not to feel sorry for him.


    Patting Steven’s back, I tried tofort him as best as I could although I couldn’t even protect


    myself. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”


    “Stephie,” he muttered.


    “If both Michael and I were drowning, who would you save?” He suddenly looked up at me


    with an intense gaze.


    I paused for a moment, struck by how those eyes always had a way of making my heart skip a


    beat.


    “What a childish question…” I couldn’t help but chuckle.


    But he seemed to take it seriously and eagerly awaited my


    response.


    “He has nothing to do with me. Of course, I’d save you,” I said earnestly.


    A hint of a smile finally appeared on Steven’s otherwise gloomy face as he buried his head in my


    chest again. “Stephie, please don’t lie to me anymore.”


    I felt inexplicably anxious.


    Could this hypothetical situation actually materialize one day? The prospect of choosing


    between Steven and Michael weighed heavily on my mind.


    “I need to go out for a while. Stay in the office, and if anything happens, Ewan will help you,” I gently


    reassured him.


    “Where are you going?” Steven grabbed my wrist and asked nervously.


    “I’m going to meet someone,” I told him.


    I was Stephany Larson now. There was no way Yasmin would recognize me as Stephanie.


    If even Rachel didn’t believe me, how could Yasmin easily believe that I was Stephanie?


    So, I was curious why Yasmin suddenly wanted to see me.


    “Take me with you,” Steven pleaded. He seemed quite attached to me, as if he were afraid I would


    disappear again.


    “How can you skip work on the first day?” I scolded him with a nce and then checked the time.


    “I’m heading out to meet Rachel. I’ll bring back something delicious for you when I return.”


    Steven seemed reluctant, but he eventually let go of my hand.


    “Hey, Stephany, what a coincidence,” Ann said as I stepped out of the office.


    Carrying her ID badge and files, she elegantly walked toward me.


    I squinted at her. Ann surely had some skills to be able to join the Lincoln Group.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    “Are you a full–time employee?” I asked, reaching for her ID badge.


    I was astonished to find out that she was the president’s secretary. She didn’t undergo an internship


    either.


    Ann looked at me and smirked disdainfully. “Even without you, I could still get into the Lincoln


    Group,” she boasted before striding confidently into the president’s office.


    Concerned about Steven, I hid behind the door and peeked through the gap.


    Ann’s sharp and cunning demeanor left me concerned that Steven’s innocence might not match her


    wit. I feared Ann might take advantage of him.


    “Mr. Lincoln,” Ann said, cing the documents near Steven. Leaning over the desk, she disyed


    her curves. “Please review these documents. They’re ready for your signature.”