CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: COVERED IN DIRT AND ASHES

Ruby Sullivan was unfamiliar with the large cafeteria the company had in the basement level. It was her first time there, and she felt it was quite novel. Additionally, judging by the scent, the dishes seemed to be decent.

After buying braised fish, she carried her tray to find colleagues. Suddenly someone bumped into her from the side with force, spilling an entire bowl of complimentary egg drop soup onto her.

"Oh, so it’s the famous Wenny." The woman who bumped into her snidely remarked from a few steps away, wearing a cold smile as if watching a show and clearly not intending to apologize.

Ruby Sullivan snorted coldly, glanced at her name tag to remember the name, then continued walking without another look.

However, the woman persisted in chasing after her, blocking her way and deliberately raising her voice, "Wenny, are you going to complain to Mr. Sterling and get me fired?"

Everyone was busy serving themselves and eating, and except for the few nearby who glanced over, there weren’t many people stopping to watch the commotion; after all, it was the company cafeteria, and it wasn’t a big deal. But the woman’s shout certainly piqued people’s curiosity.

Wenny’s name was quite famous in The Sterling Group, especially after the video revealed this morning. People passing by couldn’t help but glance at her more, then secretly sigh — being beautiful is truly an advantage; she manages to move up even with a child in tow.

A lot of people gathered to whisper.

"Wasn’t it said before that this Wenny is the true star?"

"Of course not. I happened to be at the café that day, and Miss Sullivan cried seemingly pitifully. The video is still trending now. If her child was Mr. Sterling’s, would Miss Sullivan say so?"

"That’s true."

...

Ruby Sullivan frowned, these idle people who love spreading rumors really enjoy the spectacle.

"Miss Jane Lawson." Ruby Sullivan smiled with a cold face, "You’re not worth me making a complaint. You’re blocking my way, could you move aside?"

The woman called Jane Lawson arrogantly glared at her, but seemed at a loss. She wanted Ruby Sullivan to get angry so that things would escalate, but since she didn’t, nothing she did would work.

Having no choice, she continued blocking, "I’m not going to beat around the bush. I despise homewreckers like you the most. If you’re capable, fire me; I don’t want to work here anyway."

Ruby Sullivan just found her amusing, showing an expression of "Suit yourself," and carried her sweet and sour fish along the other aisle, signaling to Levi Joyce who was approaching not to come over.

Jane Lawson, seeing her looking so haughty, truly got a bit angry. She went over and grabbed her arm, attempting to argue further.

Ruby Sullivan leaned over, her hand unsteady, and the sweet and sour fish fell to the ground.

This time, she was genuinely somewhat angry. Her gaze darkened, and she threw the empty tray along with the rice in Jane Lawson’s face, "Whose dogs are running wild biting people, and failing to appreciate goodwill?"

Jane Lawson was smeared with rice over half her face, and with bits sticking to her hair, her embarrassment made her cry out loud, "You... are bullying others!"

"Nice acting!" Ruby Sullivan clapped her hands sarcastically, "Miss, you spilled soup all over me and didn’t even apologize. Yet you say I am bullying others?"

Levi Joyce had already sprinted over to her side, instinctively standing in front, "Boss, are you okay?"

Ruby Sullivan took a deep breath, purposely replying loudly, "I’m fine."

She wasn’t in the mood to eat anymore, so she told Levi Joyce before heading directly to the mall to buy new clothes. She couldn’t possibly match perfume with a soup odor.

After changing clothes, she called Howard to investigate Jane Lawson’s situation. A few minutes later, she got the news: Jane was from the Marketing Department and had handed in her resignation last week; she would leave The Sterling Group after finishing this week.

"Miss Sullivan, do you want me to investigate her whereabouts?"

"That’s not necessary. However, if you could find out who her owner is, I’d be grateful." Ruby Sullivan sighed helplessly, thinking that if Levi Joyce were half as useful as Howard, she wouldn’t need someone else’s assistant to help.

But remembering Levi Joyce’s ambitions weren’t in the business world, she couldn’t expect too much.

"Miss Sullivan, you’re too kind. I’ll find out and get back to you."

"Okay, thanks." Ruby Sullivan said and hung up the phone, feeling a bit stifled.

She wasn’t sure if the video incident and today’s events were related to Rhonda Sullivan, but she knew she was being swirled around by someone and couldn’t immediately retaliate.

Continue to seduce Ethan Sterling?

How much confidence does she truly have?

Ruby Sullivan smiled bitterly, surprisingly feeling a trace of confusion, "Dad, I kind of miss you..."

*

Jane Lawson wasn’t a high-level player, and with a slight threat from Howard, she confessed completely. After all, she simply wanted to make some money and didn’t intend for it to affect her future life.

The incident was orchestrated by President Lawson of the Marketing Department, probably because of unresolved anger from earlier, aiming to trouble her.

Ruby Sullivan nodded, somewhat skeptical, "What’s the relationship between President Lawson and Rhonda Sullivan?"

"The connections with distributors all have President Lawson involved. Judging from a work perspective, he should cooperate more with Miss Sullivan." Howard answered cautiously.

Ruby Sullivan nodded, "Thank you."

For someone at President Lawson’s level, if it was just because their junior lost a job and caused trouble, it would be overly childish. Ultimately, The Sterling Group is a part of The Sterling Family; Ethan Sterling didn’t bring her back for internal strife. If a vice president keeps troubling the boss, either they don’t want the job or intend to rebel.

Thinking of that portly man with a bald spot, she really wanted to dump today’s soup on his head to vent.

As the end of the workday approached, she deliberately left a few minutes early and went to Ethan Sterling’s office, unafraid of the strange looks from the secretarial team. She even smiled as their gazes met.

In the end, she’s a woman entangled with the boss in rumors; if she didn’t take the initiative to do something, it’d be a disservice to the rumors.

Ethan Sterling seemed slightly surprised, glanced at the clock, and still asked indifferently, "Anything?"

"Just leaving with you from work." Ruby Sullivan answered as a matter of course, "Being with you, I won’t have to worry about getting soup dumped on me."

Ethan Sterling looked up at her, smiling, "Are you... acting cute?"

Ruby Sullivan, feeling flustered under his gaze, lowered her eyelids, coughed a few times to cover her embarrassment, and answered properly, "Is it not okay to have a bit of courage?"

Ethan Sterling nodded, "Of course."

On the way back, Ethan Sterling received a call from his grandmother. Just as he answered it, she began scolding, "You little rascal, mixing with a married woman, do you want to drive me to my grave?"

Ethan Sterling laughed, unexpectedly sounding somewhat indulgent, "Grandma, how come you’re so well-informed even from Crestfall?"

"I’m returning home this week, you better sort out all this chaos before I have to step in."

"Grandma!" Ethan Sterling had barely finished speaking when his grandmother hung up. He was left speechless for a moment.

The elder Mrs. Sterling had a loud, commanding voice, allowing Ruby Sullivan to hear most of it. Imagining her matriarchal style, Ruby couldn’t help but laugh, "How does Mr. Sterling plan to handle me?"

Ethan Sterling glanced sideways at her, smiling faintly, "Don’t you know how much Grandma likes you?"

Ruby Sullivan snorted, unwilling to argue with him. Though outwardly dismissive, inwardly she began to ponder deeply why this man was so convinced she was Ruby Sullivan?