Chapter 11 Ulterior Motives
Rosalic bolted from the elevator as if her life depended on it.
Upon returning to her desk, she struggled to control her whirling emotions.
Such an unexpected run–in.
Indeed, it was a surprise.
5 Fre Couns
Now, they were working in the same department and were destined to see each other every day.
What a headache!
However, the real worry for her was…
Starling!
The daughter she had secretly with him.
What if he found out about Starling while they worked together?
That thought intensified Rosalie’s anxiety.
She could not let any of the Langes find out about Starling!
Should she resign?
However, after six years of hard work to get into Fulton, quitting seemed like too much to sacrifice.
“Rosa, Rosa! What are you thinking? I called you twice, and you didn’t even hear!”
Regina had come up to her at some point, giving her a gentle tap on the shoulder.
“Huh?”
Rosalie was jolted back to the present.
“What’s wrong with you? You look pale.”
“Do I?” Rosalie touched her face and managed a weak smile. “Maybe I’m just tired from last
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Chapter 11 Ulterior Motives
night.”
“Come on, let’s grab some lunch!”
“Okay, coming.”
Throughout lunch, Rosalie found herself distracted.
Her thoughts kept drifting back to Thomas and Tanya sharing à meal together, an image that oddly unsettled her.
She poked at her food, finding no taste in it.
“You okay? You hardly touched your food,” Regina observed with concern.
“I’m fine.”
Rosalie shook her head, her voice low. “I just don’t feel like eating.”
“With our schedules, you need to eat.”
“I really can’t.”
“At least have some soup. It just came off the stove; it should help settle your stomach.”
“Okay.”
Reluctantly, Rosalie stood to fetch herself some soup.
She ladled out a bowl of hot chicken soup and turned to head back to her table, but as she spun around, she collided with someone. A loud “bang” echoed as the soup splashed.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there!”
She repeated her apologies as the soup drenched the person’s clothes.
His once pristine white robe now sported stains, and his checkered shirt underneath was soaked.
And it was painfully hot!
“Was that accidental, or was it on purpose?”
His low, chilly voice floated down to her.
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Chapter 11 Ulterior Motives
Startled, Rosalie looked up to find Thomas right in front of her!
Not him again!
Wasn’t he supposed to be dining with Tanya?
His expression was dark, clearly displeased.
“I really didn’t mean it!” Rosalie stammered.
Seeing his chest scalded by the soup made her anxious.
Instinctively, she reached out to wipe off the soup from his chest, “Did I burn you? You might need to apply some ointment quickly!”
Thomas fixed his deep gaze on her, his expression unreadable.
In a husky voice, he grasped her hand that was on his chest, “Dr. Hawthorne, considering we’re in public and in front of our colleagues, do you think it’s appropriate for you to touch me like this? Others might assume you’re harboring ulterior motives.”
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