"You are not going to be handling that project anymore."

Those words caused Helen to be thunderstruck and she looked at him with her eyes wide open.

"What?" Unable to control her emotions, she almost screamed that word out loud.

"He said that you are not going to handle that project." Wayne repeated Reuben's words and Helen glared at him furiously.

"I meant why? Why are you taking me off the project?" She reiterated her question.

"Then you should have asked 'why' in the first place." Wayne rolled his eyes while Wade and Reuben seriously nodded in agreement.

'Can I kick this man in the face?' Helen was already frustrated after hearing Reuben's words and now Wayne was getting on her nerves.

"Fine...! Why am I not handling the project when you already gave it to me?" She calmed her violent emotions and asked again when no one spoke up.

"Wrong." Reuben shook his head and looked at the file in his hand.

"I had asked you to show me your designs. Not once did I guarantee that the contract will be given to you." Reuben promptly corrected her.

What he had said was the truth, Reuben had not yet told her that she would be the one handling this new project.

It's just that Reuben had always been happy with her designs thus far and he would instantly ask to sign a contract after seeing them.

So she thought that it would be the same way this time around.

But this time, he was not satisfied with her work. Hence, he would certainly not sign her for this project.

Helen tried to comprehend his words but one thought kept popping in her mind. When she couldn't take it anymore, she straight away decided to ask him about it.

"Is this because of what I did last night?" She questioned him with anger apparent in her eyes.

'Why is he rejecting my work because of personal matters?' She stared into his indifferent and cold eyes.

She no longer cared that there were two extra people in the room and asked him what was on her mind.

"You were the one who always said not to combine personal life with professional life! So why are you mixing them now?" She questioned him in a loud voice which resulted in Reuben's eyes narrowing dangerously.

'I haven't even done anything to her after that shitty move she made on me last night and here she is now, raising her voice at ME!' The laziness and indifference in his demeanor vanished and he slowly sat up straight.

"It would be in your favor to keep that voice of yours under control." He spoke in a low voice and the pressure exuding from his body immediately brought Helen back to her senses.

She trembled looking at his dark and cold eyes and tried to explain herself but no words would come out of her mouth.

"If I had mixed my private life with professional life, then you wouldn't be able to get a job in this city ever again because of your ludicrous behavior last night." He spat those words out menacingly and even the twins shuddered when they heard the harsh coldness in his voice.

"Be grateful that I let you off easily, thanks to all the times your talent was useful for Ming Enterprises." He tossed the file on the table and it smoothly slid towards her.

"But this?" He pointed his finger at the file that came to a halt on her side of the table.

"This was the worst design that I had laid my eyes on. It did not capture the essence of my project and most of all it wasn't visionary in any way." He straightforwardly told what he truly felt about her work.

"And because of this reason, I absolutely refuse to hire you for my project. Is that clear?" He asked after he was done.

Helen just looked at the file that had stopped before her and tears well up in her eyes.

'How am I supposed to know about something as childish as a game place?' She clenched her fists and refused to accept defeat.

"It was because I did not understand what you expected from me. Just give me another chance, this time it will be better! I'll work harder!" She promised and looked at him with eagerness.

"The results won't change and the reason for that is the fact that you did not understand my ideas and vision when I explained it the first time, so I know you won't get it this time as well." He harshly shot her down when he saw the determination in her eyes.

"But.. but…" She choked on her words when she looked into his expressionless eyes.

She hung her head down and stared at her clenched fists placed on her lap.

"Will I get to work with you after this?" She asked in a weak voice.

"Sure. Provided you learn how to behave appropriately." He placed his condition before her and she nodded with her head still bent.

'This means that he isn't pushing me away! He just doesn't like my design this time so I'll just have to work harder the next time.' She finally looked up at him with renewed vigor.

"I understand. Please contact me when you plan your next project." She said in her usual professional voice and stood up.

"I'll take my leave now, seniors." She picked up her file then bowed to them and after taking one last look at Reuben, she steadily walked out of the room.

After she had left, a weird and uncomfortable silence filled the room.

"Why do I feel like this is going to come back later and bite me in the ass?" Reuben looked at Wayne and Wade with apprehension.

The twins shared a look and nodded their heads without any hesitation.

'After all, Helen is not someone who quits so easily.' Wayne looked at the door and concluded.

Not wanting to talk about this matter anymore, Wade looked at his watch.

"Well, whatever! Lets order lunch!" Wade whined while rubbing his growling tummy.

Outside the room, Mathew Kim watched as Helen walked away with her head held high.

'Eh? She came back in one piece? I thought she'd be slaughtered for sure!' He wondered and saw her disappear.

Inside the elevator, Helen Gu looked at her reflection on the walls and slowly wiped the tear that rolled down her cheek.

'I will work harder on my next project and on making Reuben mine!' She held the file tighter and made a solemn promise to herself.

When the doors opened to the lobby of Ming Enterprise, Helen walked out with the same confidence that she had come in with.

'I'll definitely be back!'

She sweetly smiled at the receptionist when that woman waved at her and strutted out of the building.

---

The rest of the day went on without any trouble.

After her work ended, Lina said goodbye to Julia and Leon when she left her office and walked to the elevator and entered it.

Lina was texting Wade to ask him if he was back from his meeting outside when someone else entered the elevator and stood next to her.

She first observed the beautiful pair of heels on the woman beside her.

"Those are some great shoes!" Lina looked up and complimented her.

When she finally saw who it was, Lina's eyes rolled and she shook her head.

'I had to see her of all people!' Lina felt a headache arising.

Maxene Kang crossed her hands over her chest and looked smugly at Lina.

"At least you have good fashion sense." Maxene sneered at her.

"Isn't that obvious just by looking at my clothes?" Lina tilted her head and retorted, completely ignoring the jab that was directed at her.

Maxene scrutinized Lina's clothes and was stunned to see the accessories on her.

'Her clothes aren't from any famous brand but those shoes and her handbag are undoubtedly limited edition.' Maxene frowned while glancing at her.

What would Maxene do if she ever discovered that Lina's clothes alone cost more than Maxene's entire outfit for the day?

Feeling the scrutinizing gaze on her, Lina turned around and faced the other woman.

They just looked at each other without any words being spoken.

Just then, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. This dissipated the sparks that were flying around thanks to their heated eyes.

'Whatever! I just want to go back and sleep now!' Lina took the first step and exited the elevator.

When she took another step forward, she heard Maxene utter something.

"I know that you are hiding something from everyone." Maxene said and this made Lina stop in her tracks.

'Does she know that Wade and I are related?' Lina turned back and saw her step out and stand right in front of her.

"I saw what you did today. Don't think that you have fooled everyone!" She stared at Lina intensely.

'But what exactly did I do?' She scrunched her eyebrows And wondered.

Lina was puzzled as to what this woman was referring to. She tried to remember if she had acted weirdly today but she couldn't find any answers.

"Let's see how long you can stay here after I expose you!" Maxene looked at her with disdain and smirked.

"I would like to see you try." Lina rolled her eyes and confidently walked away.

Though Lina did not know what Maxene meant by those words, she couldn't care a damn.

'This is my baby! Who is going to fire me from my own company!?' She laughed inwardly.

Lina then smiled at the security guard who greeted her and walked out of Obsidia.

She looked around but couldn't find her car. So she sent a text to Derek that she was already outside.

'Today is the first time we met and she's already this hostile towards me? But why?' She wondered as she waited for Derek to arrive.