Helen’s POV:
The next day, I followed the team to settle in Zhester Technology’s building to carry out the due
diligence on Smart Technology for the merger case.
Soren was kind enough to provide a separate office for us.
"Thank you for your understanding with regards to these arrangements.Smart Technology currently has
no room for you to work in.Since our companies are close to each other, it will be more convenient for
you to send over the necessary documents.Anyway… sorry for the trouble," Soren explained.
Strictly speaking, this arrangement wasn’t conventional.
Smart Technology was the subject of due diligence, so we should’ve been allowed to conduct
operations there.I couldn’t understand why we had to work at Zhester Technology’s office.
Given Soren’s sincerity, everyone simply agreed to the arrangement and didn’t complain anything
despite the unusual circumstances.
Once we were at our desks, we began working.
Time was limited, so everyone was terribly busy.
Phil sent me and Mattie to Smart Technology to pick up some relevant materials.
Much to my chagrin, George and Jane were inside the elevator when it opened.
The CEO’s office and the core department offices were upstairs.
They probably came down from there.I knew that I wouldn’t be able to avoid seeing them now that I
had to work here, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.
Seeing Jane caught me off-guard.
Suddenly, the hatred that I had bottled up burst forth like a flood, ready to drown me at a moment’s
notice.I relied on my willpower to stay composed and professional.
If not for that, I would’ve lost my temper already Mattie, on the other hand, was over the moon when
she saw George.
"Mr.Affleck, it’s so nice to see you again," she exclaimed.
George nodded in response.
While I was hesitating to take the elevator with them, Mattie had already walked in and stood beside
him.
"Long time no see, Helen!" Jane greeted me abruptly.
She spoke in a kind, soft tone.It was as if she had forgotten the grudge between us, and how she and
Libby tortured my mother.it had been years since we last met, and she’d gotten so much better at
guising her true liature My hands clenched into fists at my sides, but I slowly loosened them up.
When I looked at her hypocritical face, I put on a smile, and all the emotions that were bubbling up
inside me gradually dissipated.
Why couldn’t I take the elevator with them? Why should I be the one to avoid her? I pretended that I
didn’t hear or see them, and just stood beside Mattie.
"Where are you going?" George asked politely when we arrived at the ground floor, just outside the
elevator.
"I’ll give you a lift," he offered.
It appeared as though he was talking to both of us, but his eyes were locked on me "You two are
heading to Smart Technology.I presume?" asked Jane.
"We’re on our way there, too.Why don’t you come with us?" She spoke to me like we were good old
friends.
"Helen? You know Miss Campbell?" Mattie asked.
It looked like she finally realized something "We went to the same high school."
Jane nodded while wearing a smile.I had bottled up my emotions ever since I entered the elevator.I
thought that as long as I just ignored her, she and George would leave me alone.
But to my distress, she was pushing my boundaries again and again.I refused to believe that a
hypocrite like Jane was merely trying to reminisce.
She probably said that just to piss me off! We did kind of grow up together, so the bitch knew me
well.She knew exactly how to provoke me without making herself look bad.Her words of concern now
seemed just perfect.
But being in the same space as this waste of life made me feel suffocated, let alone talking to her like
we were old buddies.I couldn’t stand it any longer.I shouldn’t have to endure this!
"We went to the same high school, huh?" I asked, staring right at her.
"Wasn’t there more that we had shared?" The fact that my father had an affair, and another family took
me and my mother by surprise.
We were ashamed to tell anybody about it, because we were worried that our friends and relatives
would laugh at us.
But now, I had nothing left to lose, so I was no longer afraid.
On the contrary, Jane was prestigious in the design industry.
Revealing that she was a love child could ruin her reputation Had she kept her nose clean, I would’ve
healed myself and tried my best to keep my distance from her in the future However, provoking me was
another story.
I swore to God that I wouldn’t back down from a fight. It seemed as though Jane didn’t take my
question seriously.
"You’re still the same Helen that I met in the past.You haven’t changed one bit," she said, chuckling In
stark contrast to my agitated and resentful demeanor, Jane was more relaxed, and she was even
smiling elegantly.
I could tell that she didn’t give a fuck about me.She was looking at me like I was a loser.
In our first encounter after many years, I suffered a crushing defeat against her.
My mother and I had been far away from Philly over the years.We’d been living in the shadows of Jane
and her bitchy mother.
Sadly for me, Jane was a lot luckier than I ever was.She and her mother moved abroad and led a
comfortable life.
That was probably why she’d been so patronizing of me since she got back Maybe… I had lost from
the very beginning.I stood in place, controlling my anger with great willpower.I didn’t want to give them
an impression that I was unprofessional.
No.
Never again.
After taking a deep breath, I was able to compose myself.
"Yes, we’re heading to Smart Technology to gather some materials.We’re honored to ride with
you.Thanks for the lift," I said politely I could learn to be just as fake as this bitch, Jane.
As usual, George drove himself.
jane was in the passenger seat, while Mattie and I were in the back.
Mattie kept babbling on and on along the way, George, cold as he was, responded only once in a while
When we were about to arrive, Mattie suddenly brought me up as a topic.
"We didn’t believe it when Helen first told us that she went to the same high school as you,
Mr.Affleck.Honestly, we all thought she was just bragging." I hated Mattie for mentioning that.
I never really liked her.
And hearing her make fun of me made me roll my eyes at her.
George was focused on driving, but then he suddenly looked at me through the rearview mirror.
"I’m so surprised that you actually remember that," he said.
Despite how calm he sounded, I could tell that he was a little annoyed.Mattie was happy to hear his
response.
"None of us could find a contact when our law firm was trying to fight for this case.Though Helen
offered to call you to ask for help, she failed.Everyone laughed at her and ridiculed her for a long time
because of it!" The thought of that embarrassing moment caused me to shrink into my seat.
I wanted to shut Mattie up more than anything.I looked down, not daring to look at George and Jane.
Needless to say, Jane was probably laughing at me inwardly.
"I’m sorry.It’s my fault you got laughed at," he said.
"You don’t know George.He always makes sure to separate business affairs from his personal
life.When it comes to business, he never takes sides." Jane chuckled.
"Your law firm is one of the best in the country, and I’m sure that’s why he chose you in the end." The
way she spoke of George showed just how close they were and how much she knew about him.She
was trying to show off that she was his confidante.
Pretty soon, we arrived at Smart Technology Company’s headquarters.Their boss came personally to
welcome George and Jane at the parking lot.
Mattie and I were set to go to the legal department to gather some necessary materials.
"Mattie, let me just make one thing clear to you.I hate being made fun of.Never gossip about me
again!" I grunted.
It was just the two of us now, so I could say what I couldn’t in the car.However, Mattie didn’t even take
me seriously.
"What’s the matter with you? It was just idle chatter.I meant you no will."
"Listen to me.I do not want to be the subject of your idle chatter," I argued.
"Big deal! Don’t get cocky just because Phil likes you.You believe that he can always defend you
against Anya, don’t you? Who do you think you are?" Mattie sneered, crossing her arms.
I stopped in my tracks to look her in the eye.
"Mattie, I’m here to work, not to argue with you." Her face was distorted by anger, and she was at a
loss for words.
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