Reborn to Marry My Best Friend's Uncle novel Chapter 23

When Sean's gaze fell on the sleek, fluid lines on the design drafts, his eyes darkened.

She was a world apart from the woman in his memory, who'd revolved solely around him.

Suddenly, he announced, "Since Cecilia is interested in design, perhaps she could stay at the studio and learn under Ms. Hudson for a while."

Roxanne blinked, then immediately caught on and nodded, smiling. "Of course. It'd be our honor."

Refusal wasn't an option when the investor himself made a request.

A flicker of triumph crossed Cecilia's eyes as she looked up at Annie. "Annie, looks like we'll be colleagues from now on. I look forward to learning from you."

Annie finally looked up. Her lips curved into the faintest, most polite smile. "My pleasure."

After giving his instructions, Sean gave Annie one last glance before turning back to Cecilia with a softened voice. "I'll pick you up tonight."

"Sure." Cecilia beamed sweetly, rose on tiptoe, and kissed his cheek.

The entire office witnessed the scene, so as soon as Sean left, the atmosphere in the office immediately livened up. Several colleagues quickly swarmed around Cecilia and greeted her in honeyed, fawning voices.

"You and Mr. Frost are so perfect together, Ms. Lambert! We're all so envious!"

"That's right! You're going to be our future boss' wife, so please look out for us!"

Surrounded by the crowd, Cecilia wore a demure smile and basked in the attention.

Disgusted by the display, Abigail sidled up to Annie and muttered under her breath, "What a bunch of bootlickers."

Despite her words, her eyes betrayed a hint of envy as she glanced at Cecilia.

Annie simply smiled. Fawning over the powerful and trampling on the less fortunate was just standard office politics wherever people gathered.

She threw herself back into her work, but Cecilia's gaze soon found her again, filled with venomous resentment.

Her calmness made Roxanne feel worse. She would have preferred if Annie had shouted and raged rather than suppress everything into this quiet, suffocating restraint.

"Please, Annie. It's my fault that I've failed you, but in the future—"

"It has nothing to do with you," Annie cut her off and offered a smile uglier than tears. "I understand."

With that, she turned and walked out.

Outside the studio, a black Bentley was parked conspicuously by the curb. Sean leaned casually against the car door with his head lowered as he checked his phone, as if waiting for someone.

Annie stopped walking. The anger that had been simmering in her chest all day finally boiled over as she marched toward him.

Hearing the footsteps, Sean looked up and lifted an eyebrow slightly when he saw her. Amusement flickered in his eyes.

"Can I help you?"