Chapter 44

Emily Smith spent nearly forty minutes in Michael Thompson's office before emerging.

She had just sat down to revise the contract when her phone screen lit up.

Picking it up, she saw William Johnson's missed call and two WeChat messages.

[Meet me in the basement parking after work.]

[Where are you?]

Eight minutes separated the two messages. The missed call had come half an hour earlier.

She immediately called him back.

The phone rang endlessly with no answer.

She sent a message: [I'm sorry, I didn't see your messages earlier.]

No response.

After finishing the contract revisions, she tried calling William again. Still no answer.

Emily sighed and went straight to the hospital after work.

In the ward, Amy Green delivered bad news: the surgery scheduled for tomorrow had been abruptly canceled.

"Professor Johnson said it's postponed. No new date yet."

Emily's chest tightened. She immediately called William again.

Still no answer.

Biting her lip, she sent another message: [Can my sister's surgery still be arranged?]

Ten minutes passed. Her phone screen remained dark.

What was this man's problem?

Just because she hadn't replied fast enough?

Rubbing her temples, Emily decided to return to Jinzhou Bay early to wait for him.

But for three whole days, William seemed to have vanished.

On Thursday morning, Michael called her into his office.

"This contract was specifically requested by Vice President Johnson." He handed her a folder. "Deliver it to him."

Emily took the file. "Aren't you coming?"

Michael smiled meaningfully. "It's your project. You know the details best."

She understood his implication, but this time, she genuinely needed to see William.

Her sister's surgery couldn't wait any longer.

During the elevator ride, her heartbeat quickened with each passing second.

Ding—

The doors opened, and the first person she saw was Grace Lee.

The newly appointed chief secretary was elegantly instructing colleagues.

Grace glanced at her briefly before returning to her tasks.

Emily waited quietly.

"Yes?" Grace finally spoke.

"Emily Smith from the Business Department. Here to deliver a contract."

Grace reached out, but a deep voice suddenly came from the vice president's office:

"Come in."

William stood at the door, his expression unreadable. After a brief glance, he turned back inside.

Grace's eyes flickered with surprise before she smiled. "And you are?"

"Emily Smith."

"Vice President Johnson is calling you. Go ahead." Grace's smile was knowing.

Taking a deep breath, Emily walked toward the half-open office door.