Irene found comfort in her words and flashed a grateful smile. "Thank you, Miss Quinn."
"Find your comfort zone. There's a historical drama project on the company's list, and I'll assign it to you. I trust you with it," Abigail said, taking a sip of her drink after it was handed to her by the waiter.
"There's no need for thanks. Taking care of employees' emotions is part of being a good leader. L.Moon isn't a heartless company," she said warmly before narrowing her eyes and casually mentioning, "There are some gossipers in the design department. Try not to take it to heart."
"How did you know?" Irene was taken aback. She did not want Abigail to get involved with the designers because of her, and it would only add to her guilt.
With her abilities and status not quite matching up, she was sure to face ostracism from her colleagues.
"I've been there too. How could I not know? Talented people can sometimes come off as arrogant, while ordinary people are easily overlooked. But you need to learn to adjust yourself. As long as they don't overstep, I won't rush to dismiss them." Abigail thought of helping Irene.
But what about the future?
When Irene had to navigate these situations on her own without Abigail's support, how would she handle it?
"No. Even if they do something outrageous, as long as it doesn't violate company rules, you don't have to intervene. I'll handle it myself," Irene said, determined not to rely too heavily on Abigail's assistance.
She was determined to forge her path independently.
"Sure, if you need any help, just let me know," Abigail said gently. "Did you take care of lunch? If not, let's split the bill."
"I already paid. You're not here to buy spaghetti, are you? How about I treat you to this drink?" Irene didn't feel the need to inquire about who had tipped off Abigail about her location. It wasn't important.
Abigail arched an eyebrow and grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
After sorting out the bill, Irene asked softly, "Mind if I catch a ride back to the office with you?"
"Are you full?" Abigail intended to grab some afternoon tea to take back. After all, she had rushed over so quickly that she barely had time to eat a few bites herself.
"Yeah, I'm good," Irene replied nervously.
She was starting to long for home, especially her grandma's tasty spaghetti. She hadn't anticipated the steep prices at this pasta shop!
While eating, she felt a wave of pressure wash over her, compounded by the realization that a simple plate of spaghetti could command such exorbitant prices. The more she dwelled on it, the more she couldn't help but feel inferior, as if she didn't measure up even to a humble plate of spaghetti.
"I'm going to grab some afternoon tea to keep myself fueled up. You can tag along. Spaghetti digests quickly, and even though designing is mostly mental work, it can really drain your energy." Abigail headed toward the parking lot, with Irene silently trailing behind her.
Abigail took her to a dessert shop and selected some cakes that caught her eye. Then, she turned to Irene and asked, "What about you?"
"No, thanks. I won't be eating this afternoon since I have plans." Irene declined politely.
Abigail then chose a box of colorful donuts for her. "These are great for snacking on the go, especially for someone like you."
Once they were in the car, she also handed her a small carton of milk.
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