Chapter 139

By the time lunch break ended, the entire BestTech Tower was buzzing with rumors about Vice President Johnson's apparent disdain for Emily Smith from the Business Department.

Emily stood before the dressing room mirror in the department store, her fingertips lightly tracing the hem of a dress identical to the one Grace Lee owned. The price tag—five thousand yuan—made her breath hitch. It was the most expensive piece of clothing she'd bought in seven years.

"Miss, shall I wrap it up for you?" The salesgirl smiled sweetly.

"Yes." She nodded, pulling out the credit card she rarely used.

The next morning, the elevator reached the 67th floor before seven. The secretary's office was dark, and behind the frosted glass door of Vice President Johnson's office, silence reigned. Emily placed the paper bag gently on Grace's desk. As she turned, the hem of her dress swept a sharp arc through the air.

"Coffee."

A deep male voice startled her from behind. Emily stiffened before turning with a practiced professional smile. "Apologies for disturbing you, Vice President Johnson. I was just returning Ms. Lee's dress."

She walked away quickly, her heels clicking a crisp rhythm against the marble floor. William watched her rigid retreat, his right hand absently tracing the watch on his left wrist.

In the break room, Mia Harris nearly crushed her mug when she overheard the gossip.

"That bastard William!" she fumed, typing furiously into her phone. "Are you okay?"

Emily replied almost instantly: 【?】

At noon, Mia dragged Emily to the entrance of "Pine Moon," a high-end Japanese restaurant. Emily hesitated at the sight of the gilded sign. "This place costs two thousand per person—"

"Relax," Mia waved her phone. "Mom just texted that they got a fresh bluefin tuna today."

Inside the private dining room, plump shrimp glistened like pearls on a bed of ice. Mia viciously bit into her salmon. "William is a heartless jerk! If I'd known he'd—"

"Miss Harris." The manager suddenly entered, his expression strained as he gestured discreetly toward the hallway.

Outside, William stood at the corner with Amanda Lin on his arm. He wore a dark-patterned suit today, his tie pin glinting coldly under the lights.

Mia's furious voice carried clearly through the paper door:

"...Who does he think he is, some icy CEO? Just another playboy who toys with people's feelings!"