Jonathan chuckled softly.
“It’s nothing. I just want her to face some challenges for once.”
Only then will she realize how easy she had it as a stay–at–home wife.
He left the last part unsaid, but Marina caught his meaning anyway.
“Honestly, maybe Niamh is just struggling to adjust to her new department. Give it a few more days and she’ll find her rhythm.”
“Mm.”
Jonathan’s agreement eased some of the tension in Marina’s chest.
She couldn’t risk Niamh returning to Jonathan as his assistant. Since Jonathan was determined not to fire her, keeping Niamh under her supervision was still the lesser evil.
For the next week, Niamh worked overtime every single day.
What baffled her was that Jonathan also stayed late at the office every night.
Whenever Jonathan stayed, Marina would stay too.
In a twisted way, that made Niamh feel a little better–it wasn’t just her burning the midnight oil..
One evening, with the office finally empty except for Niamh and Marina, Niamh was hunched over her designs when she saw Marina emerge from the kitchenette, cradling a ceramic bowl.
The medicine was for Jonathan’s stomach issues.
The Thomas Group treated its employees well; there were a few small kitchens scattered throughout the building, and every day, Marina would brew Jonathan’s medicine on the company’s induction stove.
“You’re not simmering it long enough. The heat’s all wrong…”
That’s why the medicine isn’t as effective, Niamh wanted to say–and had wanted to say for a while. But every time the words reached her lips, she bit them back.
She didn’t want to meddle.
And yet, the thought stuck in her throat like a splinter..
1/3
14:16
Tonight, she finally let it out–and instantly regretted it.
Marina appeared at her desk, medicine in hand, but instead of the irritation Niamh expected, she was smiling.
“You’re right, I’m no expert at this. So how about this? From now on, you’ll be in charge of making Jonathan’s medicine.”
“No backing out! Don’t forget, I’m still your manager.”
Just like that, Niamh’s already mountainous workload grew heavier–now she had to brew Jonathan’s medicine, too.
Standing by the stove, breathing in the bitter herbal scent, Niamh silently cursed herself.
Serves you right for running your mouth.
Serves you right for being a glutton for punishment.
Unlike Marina, she couldn’t just fake it. According to the doctor’s original instructions, the medicine had to simmer for at least two hours; anything less, or too much heat, and the remedy would be useless.
Suddenly Niamh wondered–maybe Jonathan’s last bout of stomach pain wasn’t just from eating spicy food. Maybe it was because Marina had been giving him half–cooked medicine this whole time.
As soon as Marina pushed open the kitchenette door, a deep, fragrant aroma greeted her.
It was nothing like the weak concoction she usually made.
“Is it ready?” she asked.
“Just needs a little longer,” Niamh replied.
Marina glanced at the sweat beading on Niamh’s forehead and couldn’t help but laugh. “So, were you like this at home, too? Working so hard–did Jonathan at least give you a bonus?”
Niamh turned off the stove and poured the medicine into a bowl, flashing Marina a wry smile.
“I made this for my husband. It wasn’t hard work, and I certainly didn’t need a bonus. What’s his is mine, anyway.”
2/3
14:16
The smile on Marina’s face froze, and Niamh felt a wave of satisfaction.
Still, Marina didn’t lose her cool. She picked up the bowl and said, “You’ve done enough–get back to your work!”
Niamh left the kitchenette and returned to her desk–only to stop dead in her tracks. When she’d left, there were only two folders on her desk.
Now, there were at least ten more stacked up.
“Niamh, these are all urgent,” a colleague reminded her quietly. “Manager Thornton says you need to finish them tonight.”
Meanwhile, Marina was delivering the medicine Niamh had prepared to Jonathan.
He took a sip, then paused mid–motion.
“What’s wrong?” Marina asked, her false lashes fluttering upward.
14-16
