Chapter 6 - 0 X +15 ) Gavin had been up all night with stomach pains , leaving him looking rough . When housekeeper Betty Linsay brought in fresh croissants , saying " Breakfast is ready , sir , " he forced himself to take a bite . He didn't get to eat the croissants last night when he wanted them most , and now they just didn't taste right . " Next time , get the ones from that bakery I used to love . " " Sir , those croissants you liked before were all handmade by Ms. Jordan herself . But they take hours to make . I thought the bakery ones would taste just as good . " Betty wiped her hands on her apron , looking slightly apologetic . Gavin pushed the half - eaten croissant away with a disappointed sigh . " Don't bother serving these for breakfast anymore , " he said , brushing crumbs off his fingers . s off his in " Yes , sir . I'll prepare something else tomorrow , " Betty said , lowering her eyes , puzzled . Back when Ms. Jordan was here , her boss had never complained about the food like this . After tidying up the kitchen , Betty brought in the pile of mail from the mailbox and set it on the coffee table . As Gavin came downstairs dressed for work , he stopped at the table . His eyes immediately caught the top envelope from that fancy wedding dress shop . A memory flashed through his mind . Cecilia curled up on this couch , happily sorting through fabric samples and chatting with the designer . Custom dresses took months to make . Even now , he had no idea what hers looked like . " Gavin , I've been dreaming about my wedding since I was little , " her voice echoed in his mind . " It'll be the most important day of my life . I want to make that wish come true . " Gavin stiffened , the words so vivid he almost expected to see Cecilia standing there . " What wish ? " He turned the envelope over in his hands . ' Can't have been that long ago , ' he thought . ' We grew up together . I would remember if she had said that as a kid . Must've just been one of her silly daydreams . " Cecilia's still working on our wedding . I knew she hadn't really given up . " Gavin told himself , thinking blocking him was just another one of her passing moods . He put the unopened letter back down , not realizing it was the last reminder from the dress shop . They needed to know whether to save or scrap the wedding gown . The 10 am meeting was pushed back half an hour . Gavin sat stiffly at his desk , face tight . " Ms. Yates , did you look these over at all ? " His sharp tone sliced through the room . " How could you miss mistakes this obvious ? " Stella stood stiffly in her crisp blazer , her flawless makeup failing to mask the tension in her face . She lowered her head further , fingers tightening around the files . " I'm truly sorry , Mr. Foster . " A choked sob laced her apology . Gavin's voice lost some of its edge . " I'm not scolding you . You're still learning . Mistakes happen . But your job is to make my work easier , not harder . " Frank rushed in to help fix things . Gavin quickly marked the errors , his tone matter - of - fact . " These dates are wrong . With audits coming up , every team needs to be accurate . Check with Ms. Jordan before submitting . " He cut himself off . The room went quiet . Gavin kept his eyes down , but his fingers clenched slightly around the pen . " You 1/3 12:43 Tue , Aug 12 G - 95 % X +15 Chapter 6 and Ms. Yates handle this . And tell the Project Division to meet right away . " " Understood ." Frank nodded curtly . He was more than qualified to handle the task himself. Stella's involvement would only slow him down at this point . Stella left the office with red - rimmed eyes , having nothing left to do . The other secretaries immediately gathered around to comfort her . " Don't take it to heart , Stella , " one colleague murmured , gently squeezing her shoulder . " Ms. Jordan had worked alongside Mr. Foster for years . Old habits die hard , and he sometimes forgets himself ." " Ms. Jordan made her share of inistakes too . It took ages before she really understood how Mr. Foster works . " Another secretary added . " You'll be taking her place in no time . We can all see you're exactly what he needs ." Their kind words only made the burning in Stella's chest grow hotter . ' I'll do better than Cecilia ever did , ' she vowed to herself , nails digging into her palms . ' However long it takes , however hard I have to work . ***** Cecilia got called into the meeting at the last minute : She took a seat at the far end of the long table and kept her head down . Her fingers moved quietly across her silenced phone to check work emails , trying not to draw attention . Gavin walked in as everyone greeted him . His eyes went straight to Cecilia . ' Used to sit right beside me , ' he thought . ' Now she's all the way over there , head down . Too proud to even say sorry ? ' Stella caught his fixed gaze , her chest tightening . The meeting continued until the Project Division's turn . Manager David was absent . His deputy exchanged a quick look with Stella . " All exhibitions are on track except the Jewelry Exhibition . Cecilia , your update please ." Cecilia looked up slowly . She had only had the jewelry project for two weeks , with an already impossible deadline . Now , under the spotlight , she faced a room of hungry stares . They all knew why she had been reassigned . None expected her to succeed . " Of course . " Cecilia stood with quiet confidence . Without notes , she detailed her progress : Professor Collins formally secured , four premium venues shortlisted , and preliminary talks underway with three top designers . For the first time in weeks , passion flashed across her face as she described her dream project . The executives glanced at each other , visibly impressed . Gavin sat back , momentarily thrown . ' She's doing this to impress me ? ' Oddly , the thought didn't irritate him . If anything , it gave him a quiet satisfaction . The deputy manager , determined to humiliate Cecilia , cut in sharply , " No signed contracts for venues ? No confirmed exhibitors besides Professor Collins ? Plans are worthless until they're executed ." Cecilia took the criticism calmly , but Gavin's expression darkened . " That presentation was meant for me , ' he thought . ' Who asked you to interfere ? " " There's still time , " he interrupted sharply . " The Project Division can bring any issues directly to me . " The offer hung in the air . It was an obvious peace gesture . But Cecilia , already checking her phone , didn't even notice . As the meeting ended , Stella stepped in Cecilia's path . " Mr. Foster wants you in his office , " she said , then added pointedly , " Your performance didn't exactly impress him . " Cecilia entered Gavin's office . By the window , her former pet plants drooped in the hot afternoon light . Her gaze flickered toward them for just a second before locking back on Gavin . " Did you need something , Mr. Foster ? " 2/3 12:43 Tue , Aug 12 3.95 % H X - Chapter 6 Gavin leaned back , eyes shut tight . " What was that stomach medicine I used to take ? " He wore an exaggerated pained expression , waiting for Cecilia to show she still cared . A humorless smile touched Cecilia's lips . " Mr. Foster , Ms. Yates handles your personal needs now . Unless this is project- related , I'll take my leave ." " You don't even care if I'm in pain ? " Gavin's eyes snapped open just in time to see Cecilia step into the elevator . The emptiness of the office suddenly made his stomach ache worse . ' Has she really moved on ? ' 3/3 田