Chapter 87: Cece, They’re All Bullying Me

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Cece, They’re All Bullying Me

"Did someone at the company bully you today?" I asked tentatively.

’He’s like a completely different person in public versus in private...’

’He was like a wolf ready to bite someone’s head off when Julian Fletcher was here, but now he’s turned into a big, bullied puppy?’

Sebastian Lancaster looked up at me and spoke softly. "Do you... want me to partner with him?"

"This partnership is to protect the Lancaster Group’s interests. You have to separate it from personal grudges." I sat on the desk, looking out the window. "Only by successfully negotiating this partnership can you shut them up."

Sebastian Lancaster reached out and pulled me into his arms.

Losing my balance, I fell right into his arms, landing squarely on his lap... The position was undeniably intimate.

’But... thank goodness he has such long legs. If they were any shorter, I would’ve landed on the floor.’

"You..." I was about to lose my temper when he suddenly pulled me into a tight, pitiful hug.

His voice was muffled. "Cece... they’re all bullying me."

"..." My heart constricted. It was hard not to feel a pang of pity for him.

Patting Sebastian Lancaster’s back, I did my best to soothe him. "Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you..."

’Even though I can’t even protect myself.’

"Cece..." he called my name, his voice muffled.

"If Julian Fletcher and I both fell into the water at the same time, who would you save?" He suddenly looked up, his gaze burning into me.

I froze. ’Every time we lock eyes, his gaze always makes my heart clench.’

"What a childish question..." I almost wanted to laugh.

But he seemed to be taking it very seriously, staring at me with earnest, pleading eyes.

"What does he have to do with me? I’d save you, of course," I said with complete seriousness.

A faint smile finally appeared on Sebastian Lancaster’s gloomy face. He once again buried his head against my chest. "Cece... don’t lie to me again."

’For some reason, my heart lurched. This hypothetical scenario won’t actually come true one day, will it?’

’Choosing between Sebastian Lancaster and Julian Fletcher?’

"I have to go out for a bit. You be good and stay at the company. Assistant Foster will help you if anything comes up," I soothed him in a low voice, just like an adult placating a child.

"Where are you going?" Sebastian Lancaster asked, a little nervous as he grabbed my wrist.

"To meet someone..." Erin Whittaker had suddenly asked to see me, and I was a little curious myself.

’I’m ’Silvia Lynch’ now. There’s no way Erin Whittaker could recognize me as Cecilia Caldwell.’

’Even Madeline Quinn doesn’t believe me, so how could Erin Whittaker possibly be convinced so easily that I’m Cecilia Caldwell?’

’So I’m really curious as to why Erin Whittaker suddenly wants to see me.’

"Take me with you..." Asher was being very clingy. ’Is he afraid I’ll run off, or that I’ll just disappear again?’

"Ditching work on your first day?" I shot him a warning glance, then stood and checked the time. "I’m going to see Madeline Quinn. I’ll bring you back a treat when I get home."

Sebastian Lancaster looked reluctant, but he released his grip.

"Well, hello, Sis. What a coincidence." I saw Noelle Lynch just as I stepped out of the office.

She was wearing high heels and a very sexy outfit, an employee badge hanging around her neck. She carried a stack of documents, swaying her hips for all she was worth with every step.

I narrowed my eyes. ’This Noelle Lynch is really something else, managing to get a job at Lancaster Group.’

"A full-time employee?"

I reached out, took her employee badge, and glanced at it. President’s Secretary?

’Huh? She didn’t even need an internship?’

Noelle Lynch looked at me with a proud expression and a disdainful sneer. "Even without you, I can still get into Lancaster Group."

After saying that, she swaggered into the president’s office.

I was a little worried about Sebastian Lancaster, so I hid outside the door and peeked through the crack.

’Noelle Lynch is a full-blown vixen. How could a dazed and foolish Sebastian Lancaster possibly be a match for her?’

’I can’t believe I’m actually worried that Noelle Lynch might take advantage of Sebastian Lancaster!’

"President Lancaster..." Noelle Lynch brought the documents over to Sebastian Lancaster, deliberately getting very close. She then leaned over the desk, showing off her curvaceous figure. "Take a look at these documents. They said if there are no problems, you can sign them."

Sebastian Lancaster frowned and moved away from Noelle Lynch.

Noelle Lynch moved closer again.

Sebastian Lancaster frowned and spoke. "You... smell awful."

"..."

Standing outside the door, I could clearly see Noelle Lynch’s slender waist stiffen.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Sebastian Lancaster wasn’t falling for her act.

"President Lancaster, please take a look. If there are no issues, just sign it." Noelle Lynch rolled her eyes and straightened up. ’She must be cursing Sebastian Lancaster for being a clueless idiot.’

Sebastian Lancaster opened the contract and glanced at it, his expression darkening. "Who reviewed this?"

His presence was so overwhelming that Noelle Lynch was momentarily speechless. "It was... the project department. Director Carter."

"Owen Foster!" Sebastian Lancaster called out in a low voice.

I turned my head and saw Assistant Foster enter the office with a grim expression.

’To be honest, in all the time I’ve known him, I’ve never seen Asher look so serious.’

"These few... they can be fired." Asher tossed the contract onto the desk.

’Clearly, there was a problem with the contract.’

"This kind of subtle tampering with a contract is usually very difficult to spot. We certainly can’t let this slide," Assistant Foster agreed with a nod after carefully reviewing it.

I stood outside the door, stunned. ’I’d almost forgotten... Asher isn’t an idiot. He’s a genius.’

’He probably only needs to scan a contract like this once to spot any issues.’

’It’s even possible he has a photographic memory.’

"Assistant Foster." Seeing Assistant Foster come out, I followed him. "Who let Noelle Lynch into the company? The President’s Secretary."

Assistant Foster gave me a polite nod. "She claimed to be your sister, so the young master made an exception."

I felt a flash of anger. ’Sebastian Lancaster is still a fool. I praised him for nothing just now.’

"My sister has been scheming and dishonest since we were young. It’s not appropriate for her to be working so closely with Sebastian. She can’t even handle a basic contract review; she’s completely unqualified for her position. Use this as an opportunity to have her transferred," I said quietly.

’It’s not that I’m trying to sabotage Noelle Lynch, but it’s her own fault for having ulterior motives.’

Assistant Foster gave me a meaningful look and nodded. "Of course, Madam."

...

Downstairs, just as I walked out of the Lancaster Group building, I saw Julian Fletcher leaning against a car door.

I ignored him, treating him like he wasn’t there, and tried to walk away.

"Going to the hospital? I can take you," he offered.

"Hah. Erin Whittaker lost her baby. Shouldn’t you be at the hospital comforting her instead of waiting here for me?" I sneered. ’Did Erin tell him she wanted to see me?’

"That baby wasn’t mine," Julian Fletcher said out of the blue.

’He’s just disgusting. Now he’s disowning Erin Whittaker’s child, too?’

"I never touched her." He seemed to be trying to explain something to me, looking a little desperate.

’He’s pathetic... and disgusting. If you’re going to lie, at least pick something people don’t already know is false.’

’An unmarried man and woman living together, and he claims he never touched Erin Whittaker?’

’Does he think he’s some kind of Willowby?’

’Besides... whether or not he slept with Erin Whittaker is none of my damn business.’

"Don’t stand here and disgust me." I shot Julian Fletcher a warning look and turned to leave.

Julian Fletcher seemed very persistent. "You’re Cece, aren’t you..."

’He seems desperate to confirm whether or not I’m actually Cecilia Caldwell.’

’Looks like he’s suspicious, but not sure.’

"If I were Cecilia Caldwell, I would’ve killed you outright instead of giving you the chance to disgust me." I hailed a taxi on the side of the road. As I got in, I glanced at the Lancaster Group office building.

I don’t know if it was my imagination, but I couldn’t shake the feeling... that someone was watching me.

’Was it Asher?’