Chapter 40 Chapter 40 The office buzzed with a mix of tension and routine when Selene broke the monotony with her signature cheeky grin Leaning forward conspiratorially , she teased .
Joycelyn , the way you were acting just now if I didnt already know you had a boyfriend , I might have thought there was something going on between you and Mr.
Grant Joycelyns heart skipped a beat, the playful accusation hitting too close to home .
Her cheeks flushed , and she quickly averted her gaze .
Her thoughts whirled in a chaotic loop .
I need to stay away from him from now on .
Selenes already picking up on something I cant let my guard down now ! Joycelyn resolved silently .
Before Joycelyn could respond , Aurelia Finch , their no nonsense team leader , glanced over with a wry smile .
Selene , quit stirring the pot .
Poor Joycelyn looks like shes about to faint .
Next time , how about I assign you to present to Mr.
Grant directly ! Give you a chance to get close .
Selene immediately waved her hands in protest .
No , no , no ! Aurelia , please spare me .
Im terrified of him ! Joycelyn finally let out a small laugh , though it was more from relief than amusement .
Next time , Ill gladly pass the honor to you , she said , half joking .
Anything to avoid him , she thought to herself , the mere idea making her stomach tighten .
The office was unusually quiet that afternoon until a sharp chime broke the monotony .
Linda Lorne , their ever demanding department head , had suddenly issued a new directive in the group chat : [ Plan a grand birthday party .
Everyone must draft a detailed proposal .
] [ Submission deadline : Before tomorrow noon .
] Joycelyn frowned as she read the message , irritation flickering across her face .
It was the first time Linda had reached out in days , resurfacing after her latest debacle .
The collaboration Linda had worked so hard to secure had been unceremoniously shut down by Ellison , and the involved partner company was now embroiled in legal trouble .
Joycelyn didnt need details to know Ellisons handiwork was all over it .
Still , Linda had escaped relatively unscathed apart from her authority being halved and shared with Aurelia .
Yet here she was , back to assigning busywork .
Jocelyn remembered overhearing Ellison on the phone that morning .
His voice , calm but firm , carried through the corridor .
The surveillance in the private room has malfunctioned , he had said .
Although it was merely a passing comment , Joycelyn could deduce that this was why Linda escaped relatively unscathed .
She didnt dwell on it for long .
After all , the incident had been her own slip up , and Ellison stepping in to handle the fallout was a gesture she hadnt expected .
If anything , she felt grateful he had taken the trouble to protect her dignity and settle the score on her behalf .
As for Linda , her direct supervisor , that was a different matter altogether .
Their relationship , strained yet functional .
required careful balancing .
Linda was far from someone Joycelyn could challenge or risk alienating .
For now , diplomacy was her best weapon , even if it meant swallowing her pride and playing along .
Chapter 40 A birthday party ? Lindas snagged another side gig through her connections , and now she wants us to pitch in for her benefit Selene was the first to speak , her voice tinged with annoyance .
It was clear she wasnt thrilled about the prospect of added workload .
After all , no one among the working class would willingly play the lackey .
That was , until Linda dropped the bombshell : It was a party for Ellisons birthday , and they were all expected to make extra effort : | Joycelyn thought to herself , Ellisons birthday ? Joycelyn glanced at her phone , her thumb hovering over the name Ellison displayed on the screen .
Our Mr.
Grant ? she asked , puzzled .
She had been at the company for two years and had never once heard of him throwing a birthday party .
I think so , Aurelia chimed in , always the informed veteran .
He was born this month , although Im not sure of the exact date , Aurelia remarked .
Hes always been quite private when it comes to personal details Joycelyn was momentarily taken aback , but the surprise lasted only a second before two thoughts surfaced in quick succession .
His birthday was coming up that much was obvious .
Should I get him a gift ? Joycelyn couldnt ignore the thought .
It lingered , tugging at her with a strange mix of curiosity and hesitation .
After all , shed caused him plenty of trouble recently .
Shed been meaning to repay him somehow , but Ellisons resources and capabilities made it impossible to do anything meaningful .
Yet now , fate seemed to have handed her the perfect opportunity .
Suppressing a grin , Joycelyn unlocked her phone and quickly searched online : Best birthday gifts for men .
The results left her frozen in disbelief .
She blinked at the questionable suggestions flooding her screen , the faint smile on her lips vanishing in an instant .
Typical Linda , Selene muttered , cutting through Joycelyns thoughts .
Shes probably using this as an excuse to suck Mr.
Grant and claw her way back to relevance .
Meanwhile , were the ones stuck doing the grunt work .
ty to Dont forget , even if she doesnt claw her way back , were still stuck as her grunts , Joycelyn said dryly , earning a dramatic groan from Selene .
Joycelyn , sweetie , your words cut sharper than a knife ! Selene clutched her chest in mock despair .
If only I had connections ! If Id studied harder and gotten into the same university as Mr.
Grants , I wouldnt be stuck here ! Selene sighed dramatically , completely ignoring the fact that Lindas assistant , Anna Davidson was within earshot .
You think everyone is as exceptional as Linda ? Youre destined to be nothing more than her underling , Anna shot back sharply , her voice laced with disdain .
Her unwavering loyalty to Linda was evident , as if she lived solely to execute her every command without hesitation .
Rie , 11 Feb Chapter 40 Selene rolled her eyes .
Oh , please .
Like youre any better .
At the end of the day , were all just employees At least Im the directors assistant , Anna retorted , her smugness palpable .
Unlike you , who lacks Joycelyns charm o Aurelias experience .
Youre nothing but dead weight 521 Selene snorted .
Youre not an assistant youre a bootlicker .
Save your drama for someone who cares .
Im not playing this mean girls game Selenes one of a kind .
Joycelyn interjected with a calm smile .
Completely irreplaceable Aurelia stood up and calmly poured herself a glass of water , taking a small up before speaking Thstead of wasting tim bickering , why not channel that energy into something productive Like drafting a couple more birthday proposals for your dear Director Lome .
Her tone was measured , but the hint of sarcasm in her words landed with precision silencing the ro for a brief moment .
Anna let out a dismissive snort , her tone dripping with arrogance .
Unlike you lot .
I am someone the C20 trily values she declared , crossing her arms with a smug grin .
Of course , you cant compare .
The CEO never celebrates his birthday , and only those close to him would know the date .
When the time comes , youll all be left green with ey Her words hung in air , brimming with self importance , as she cast a condescending glance around the room clearly reveling in her supposed superiority .
Joycelyn exchanged a glance with Aurelia and Selene , a silent understanding passing between them .
Without another word they chose not to engage with Annas shallow , self serving remarks .
The tension in the air shifted , as they moved on , uninterested in wasting any more energy on her petty jabs Unable to resist , Joycelyn quickly typed out a message to Ellison : [ Whens your birthday ! ] Ellisons phone buzzed in his hand , and he glanced down to see Joycelyns name flashing on the screen .
Ellison , who never cared much for birthdays had , for once , opened his calendar and replied : [ In two days .
] Surprised , she quickly sent a shocked emoji followed by a congratulatory one .
After deliberating for a moment , she decided to be direct and asked : [ What do you want for your birthday ? ] Ellison read her message , his gaze lingering on it for a brief moment .
He then replied in a matter of fact tone : ( I dont like celebrating birthdays .
] Joycelyn felt a bit awkward , and before she could stop herself , she sent a simple [ Oh ] Her fingers hovered over the screen , uncertainty hanging in the air .
The conversation was devoid of any subtlety or surprise just the dry simplicity of two people , as straightforward as ever Ellison put his phone down , getting back to his work with little more than a flicker of a response to her message .
Joycelyn , too , returned to her own tasks , focused on the project that had her burning the midnight oil , racing to meet deadlines .
Their team wasnt involved in the birthday planning that Linda had mentioned ; instead , Annas team was pulling the overtime for that task .
By the time 8 PM rolled around , Joycelyn , Serene and Aurelia were finally punching out 52 % Chapter 40 As soon as she powered down her computer , her phone buzzed .
It was a message from Ellison : [ Still working ? ] She swiftly replied : ( Just finished up, heading home now .
) He responded with a simple : JOk.1 Joycelyn tucked her phone away and headed down to the underground parking lot with Selene and Aurelia It had started to rain , and Joycelyn offered to drop Selene off on the way .
Joycelyn slid into her small Wuling Bingo car , its cute design making it a magnet for compliments .
Selene , riding shotgun .

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immediately began gushing , What an adorable car ! Im definitely saving up for one of these , she said , running her hands over the dashboard as if it a prized treasure .
Joycelyn chuckled , starting the engine .
But as they pulled out , Selene turned her head and froze , her eyes locking on the car behind them .
Wait , isnt that Mr.
Grants car ? she asked , pointing out the distinctive 6688 license plate on the sleek black Bentley Joycelyn glanced in the rearview mirror , her heart beat .
It was indeed Ellisons car .
Pping a The Bentley kept pace with her modest little car , its powerful presence somehow unsettling as it trailed them at the same leisurely speed .
Joycelyns initially lighthearted mood turned tense .
Why is Mr.
Grant driving so slowly ? Is he tired ? Selene asked , peeking back with growing curiosity Hey , is Mr.
Grant going the same way as us ? Selene asked , surprised .
How come Ive never noticed his car on my way home before ? Her relentless chatter wasnt helping Joycelyns already rising nerves .
She was a new driver , and the sight of Ellison : imposing Bentley in her rearview mirror made her palms damp with sweat .
As they neared Selenes apartment complex , Joycelyn , her nerves frayed by the imposing black Bentley trailing closely behind , failed to notice a car abruptly cutting into her lane .
In a panic , she jerked the steering wheel to avoid the collision , but it was too late .
Bang ! A dull thud echoed as her small car scraped against a sleek black Mercedes beside her .
The tires screeched as Joycelyn slammed on the brakes , her heart racing.The offending car that had forced her to swerve sped off , disappearing down the street without so much as a glance back .
Its furious owner stormed out , his face a mask of rage .
He marched straight to Joycelyns window , fists pounding on the glass with enough force to rattle the frame .
You stupid woman ! How do you even drive ? This is a brand new car ! Damn it ! His face twisted in fury , and he glared at her like he might tear her apart .
Chapter 41 Chapter 41