Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Judging by Appearance

(Aurora’s POV)

I walked into the lobby of Everett Global at nine o’clock sharp. The atrium was a cathedral of glass and steel, screaming power and money. I approached the reception desk and was immediately directed to Human Resources.

Monica Vance, the HR Manager, was waiting for me. She was sharp, efficient, and handed me a thick stack of onboarding documents with a practiced smile.

“Welcome aboard, Ms. Caldwell-excuse me, Ms. Caldwell,” she said with a practiced smile. “Please fill these out in the lounge area. W-4, NDA, and insurance enrollment.”

I took the clipboard and sat on a sleek leather sofa. As I uncapped my pen, voices drifted over from the nearby cubicles.

“Did you see her?” a woman whispered loudly. “Is that the new Executive Assistant for the VP?”

“Must be,” another replied with a giggle. “Look at that outfit. She looks more like a fashion blogger than an employee. There is no way she’s here for actual work.”

“Probably some executive’s eye candy. I give her a week before she breaks a nail.”

I didn’t shrink away. I paused, resting my pen against the paper. Slowly, I turned my head.

I locked eyes with the brunette leading the gossip session. I didn’t say a word. I just arched a brow and offered a small, cold smirk that clearly said, Just you wait.

The woman blinked, her mouth snapping shut. The silence that fell over the cubicle farm was instant. It was more effective than any reprimand.

Monica, noticing the tension, cleared her throat loudly.

“Ladies,” Monica said, her voice cutting through the air. “Ms. Caldwell is our newest Senior Researcher for the Bio-Tech division. Her hiring was approved directly by Phineas Everett. I suggest you get back to work.”

The gossipers turned pale and buried their faces in their screens.

I returned to my forms. I breezed through the tax information until I reached the “Emergency Contact” section. My pen hovered over the line.

My legal husband was Jasper, but we were done. My mother would sooner sell me out than help me. My brother, Leo, was a minor and hospitalized.

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Chapter 22 Judging by Appearance

A wave of bitter irony washed over me. I was surrounded by family on paper, yet I was completely alone.

I wrote down Olivia Redmond and her cell number.

Under “Marital Status,” I checked the box for Divorced with a heavy, decisive stroke.

Monica collected the papers. Her eyes lingered on the checkmark for a split second, but her professional mask didn’t slip.

“Everett Bio-Tech is our biotech research subsidiary – separate entity, but wholly owned by Everett Global. Their R&D department is in a high-security building on the north side of the campus,” Monica said, standing up. “Given the clearance level, I’ll escort you there personally.”

We stepped into the executive elevator. The lift rose smoothly, the city skyline expanding behind the glass walls. At the twentieth floor, the doors slid open.

A portly, middle-aged man in a grey suit stepped in.

“Good morning, Mr. Everett,” Monica said deferentially.

She turned to me. “Aurora, this is Mr. Arthur Everett, Mr. Phineas Everett’s older brother.”

My heart skipped a beat. I nodded politely. “A pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“New hire?” Arthur asked.

“Yes, for the lab,” Monica answered.

“Good, good. We need bright minds,” Arthur rumbled.

His voice was deep, booming, and rich with bass.

I froze.

That night on the balcony, Phineas had told me the man begging for forgiveness from his mistress was his “older brother.” That man had a reedy, nasal voice, prone to whining.

It wasn’t Arthur.

Phineas had lied to me.

Why would he lie about who was on the balcony? Unless… he was just trying to distract me?

My mind flashed back to the way Phineas had pressed me against the railing, his hand covering my mouth, his hard chest flush against my back. The memory was so vivid I felt a sudden spike of heat rush to my cheeks.

“Are you alright?” Monica asked, looking at me curiously. “Is it too warm in here?”

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hy Appearance

I shook my head quickly, dispelling the image. “No, I’m fine. Just first-day nerves.

The elevator opened, and the cool air of the R&D facility hit me.

Unlike the main office, the lab was silent. It smelled of antiseptic and ozone. Researchers in white

coats moved with purpose, eyes glued to microscopes or tablets. There were no “hellos,” no coffee break chats.

Director Cole, a man with Einstein-like hair and a stained lab coat, didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

“You’re the new one,” he said, handing me a tablet. “Verify this genomic sequence data. The previous trial showed anomalies. I need the error rate calculated.”

He walked away before I could say yes.

It was a task that would usually take a team two days. I sat down at my station, tied my hair back, and went to work.

I didn’t look up for hours. The data flowed through my mind like music. I spotted the sequencing error within the first hour and spent the rest of the afternoon running the verification simulations.

At five o’clock, I emailed the final report to Cole.

He came out of his office five minutes later, tablet in hand, looking bewildered.

“You’re done?” Cole asked.

“Yes, Director. The error was in the third codon sequence. I’ve corrected the projection.”

Cole scrolled through the report, his eyebrows climbing higher. “I expected this on Friday.”

“I prefer to clear my queue daily,” I said simply, taking off my lab coat.

Cole looked at me with new respect. “You live in the city? I’m heading that way. Do you want a lift?”

“Thank you, but I’ll manage,” I said politely.

“Suit yourself,” he grunted, though not unkindly. He walked out to the parking lot, and I followed a

moment later to catch a cab.

(Serena’s POV)

I marched into Human Resources, annoyed that my training schedule hadn’t been finalized.

“Monica, I need those dates,” I said, leaning over the counter.

I stopped when I saw Monica standing by the secure copier, personally scanning a personnel file.

That was grunt work.

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Judging by Appearance

“Why are you doing that?” I asked.

“Bio-Tech new hire,” Monica said, not looking up. “Level 5 clearance documents. Managers only.”

I glanced at the ID photo on top of the stack. A young woman with dark hair and hazel eyes stared back. She was stunning. Too stunning.

“Her?” I scoffed, picking up the photo. “She looks like she belongs on a runway, not in a bio-hazard suit.”

I narrowed my eyes. Everett Global’s R&D lab was the holy grail for scientists. Phineas was ruthless about qualifications. He famously fired a board member’s nephew for incompetence last month. “Is she some shareholder’s mistress?” I asked, lowering my voice. “Who pushed her in?”

“Look at the signature line,” Monica said dryly.

I looked down. Phineas Everett.

My jaw tightened. Uncle Phineas signed off on this? Personally?

“Whatever,” I muttered, tossing the photo back. “She won’t last a month.”

I grabbed my schedule and headed for the exit. As I walked toward my car in the parking lot, I saw Director Cole’s sedan pull up to the curb.

The window rolled down, and he was talking to someone.

I squinted. It was the new girl, Aurora.

She was standing close to his car, smiling politely. Cole was laughing at something she said.

My stomach turned. First day on the job and she was already cozying up to the Director? I knew it. She was just another climber using her face to get ahead.

I unlocked my car, slamming the door shut. I made a mental note to keep a very close watch on

her.

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