19 Chapter 19 : Cheating " This is our department's new colleague , who will be working with us on the PO product line . Let's all get along well , " Heather Monroe said as an introduction , then let the new employee introduce herself . 1 " Hello everyone , my name is Serena Jennings . I'll be working with you from now on , so please take care of me . " The others applauded Serena Jennings , except for Claire Shaw , who remained motionless . " Claire , do you know her ? " Chantelle Stone noticed Claire Shaw's unusual behavior . Claire Shaw forced a smile and remained noncommittal . She never expected that the new employee in their department would be Serena Jennings . Claire Shaw knew that Serena had majored in jewelry design in college , but Serena didn't graduate , without a diploma or degree . How could FY hire someone like her ? Even a top student from a prestigious university like herself had to go through two rounds of written tests and three rounds of interviews to become an intern and receive training , yet Serena .... Claire Shaw was about to snap the pen in her hand . Suddenly , she recalled FY's recent celebration party and came up with an idea . Serena Jennings , unable to return to the juvenile detention center job , accepted Peter's invitation . FY needed to develop a new product line , and Peter initially planned to make Serena the department manager , but Serena politely declined . Then he offered her a team leader position , which Serena refused again . In the end , Peter couldn't persuade Serena otherwise and had to let her be a regular employee . Serena had her own reasons . She knew that her lack of a college degree couldn't be hidden forever , and coupled with not having undergone intern training or having actual work performance at other companies , landing a leadership role too easily would invite gossip . 19 Chapter 19 : Cheating Serena also didn't want to reveal her identity as a master of piano series design , fearing the attention it would bring and questions about her inspiration . Even as a regular employee , she could still be of help to Peter . In the restroom , Chantelle Stone and Megan Ross were gossiping while washing their hands . " I told you , how can someone with only a high school education work with us ?! " " Her work isn't like ours ! We work hard like beasts while she easily makes it lying down ... " " Shh , aren't you being too blunt ? " " What are you afraid of ?! If she dares to do it , is she scared of us talking ? Everyone in the company knows she got her position by sleeping around . At first , I thought she was some big shot , but turns out , I was naive . " " We don't look any worse than she does , yet we can't bring ourselves to be as shameless ! " Chantelle Stone patted Megan Ross's shoulder , " Why bother joining a company after sleeping around ? Just for that bit of salary ? " " Wants to package herself as a wealthy beauty ! It's prestigious and makes it easier to hook someone else . " The automatic flushing startled Megan Ross and Chantelle Stone , making them realize they weren't alone in the restroom ! Serena Jennings pushed open the stall door and walked out , making eye contact with Chantelle Stone and Megan Ross , who exchanged glances and subtly walked away . Though they didn't specify names , Serena guessed she was the only one in the company with just a high school education . Serena sighed . Her trip to the restroom took no more than five minutes , yet when she returned to the office , Heather Monroe criticized her for taking too long and being lazy , and Chantelle Stone and others snickered behind their computer screens . During lunch , Claire Shaw spent a lot to order delivery from a Michelin - star restaurant for all the office colleagues- 19 Chapter 19 : Cheating Except Serena Jennings . Including team leader Heather Monroe , everyone entered the meeting room , and through the bright glass door , Serena saw them chatting and laughing , occasionally glancing at her with evident mockery in their eyes . Serena sat at her workstation , editing her design drafts while nibbling on a burrito , feeling that her career path was unusually rocky . On her first day of work , she was asked to work overtime , and as the only employee doing so , Serena finished her tasks nearly an hour after the workday ended . " Sorry , sorry , did I keep you waiting for long ? " Serena rushed out of the FY office building , where Lana Xavier's car was waiting with hazard lights on . " Get in , we can talk , " Lana Xavier beckoned to Serena , who normally would sit in the front seat , but Justin Nash was in the car too . Hearing that Serena had secured such a good job at FY , Justin Nash and Lana Xavier arranged to celebrate with her over dinner , though they didn't expect Serena to be forced to work overtime on her first day . Serena sat in the back seat with Justin Nash , while Lana Xavier joked about being their chauffeur . The three chatted and laughed , lifting Serena's spirits . Stuck in traffic , it took nearly an hour to get to the restaurant , and it was already dark when they arrived . Lana Xavier kept clutching her stomach , complaining about being starved , amusing Serena . Serena thought that celebrating with Lana Xavier and Justin Nash would involve a regular restaurant , and she would have been content with something like Pizza Hut . Instead , Lana Xavier and Justin Nash took her to Golden Harbor Nights . This was the same Michelin - star restaurant where Claire Shaw hosted lunch and was affiliated with the hotel of the same name with three Michelin keys . " You didn't have to splurge ... Serena wished to decline since Lana Xavier and Justin Nash had regular jobs with modest salaries , and it 13:97 19 Chapter 19 : Cheating wasn't necessary to come to such an expensive place for her . If they really wanted to eat there , it should be her treat . However , Lana Xavier and Justin Nash insisted and said they had already made a reservation . The three sat down to eat , enjoying lively conversation . " Come clean , what kind of luck did you have to land a job at FY ? Did you know that even the top student at University A couldn't get in ? " Lana Xavier clinked her glass with Serena's . " The HR must have been dazzled by my looks ! " Serena joked . " That makes sense ," Lana Xavier agreed . After some casual chatting , Justin Nash joined the conversation , mentioning a detective agency that had contacted him . Since Serena feared her phone wouldn't get through , she'd left Justin as her emergency contact . " Unfortunately , they couldn't capture evidence of Caleb Lockwood's infidelity . " Justin Nash showed Serena the photos the detective had sent him . All the photos were of Caleb Lockwood and Claire Shaw , always together , inseparable . Some even showed them with arms around each other's shoulders , entering different hotels . Serena squeezed her wine glass tightly . " The detective said that this alone won't cut it . The two of them weren't even holding hands , and in every photo , Claire Shaw was just holding Caleb Lockwood's arm . If Caleb's defense team claims he's just treating her as a sister , it's hard to contest that , as we lack concrete evidence of infidelity . Such photos would hold little sway in court ... " Justin Nash was quite disappointed , as he had hoped that hiring a detective would surely help Serena get her divorce . Serena was lost in thought . But her thoughts differed from Justin Nash's . 13:27 476 19 Chapter 19 : Cheating She was wondering .... Did Caleb Lockwood really cheat ? What if Caleb hadn't strayed ? Her heart was pounding ; Serena couldn't explain why she felt so weirdly nervous and anticipatory . She pinched the back of her hand , trying to clear her mind , but couldn't control her chaotic thoughts , nor notice when the atmosphere at the table became excessively quiet . By the time Serena regained her senses , Caleb Lockwood had been standing by the table for quite a while . Comment 1 Post your first comment! Vote