CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: SECRETLY HOLDING HANDS IN THE ELEVATOR

Clara graduated from a prestigious university, where she consistently excelled academically and even won awards in several highly competitive competitions.

Her résumé was impeccably crafted, and she handled the interviewers’ questions with ease, leaving them all very satisfied.

At five-thirty that afternoon, Clara received a call from HR, informing her that she’d passed the interview and inviting her to start work at nine o’clock the following Monday morning.

Today was Thursday, giving her a few days before Monday.

These days, Clara continued like before, writing her thesis every day and taking time to visit her mother in the hospital.

Monday came quickly.

Clara arrived at the Sheffield Group’s building ten minutes early.

It was her first day at work, and inexperienced, she assumed arriving ten minutes early would prevent her from being late. What she didn’t anticipate was the crowd waiting for the elevators in the lobby.

There were a total of five elevators on the first floor.

The two elevators on the right operated between floors 1 to 15, while the two on the left serviced floors 16 to 30.

Another elevator was tucked away on the far right, unmarked, seemingly able to access every floor.

Strangely, the entrances to four elevators were packed with people in business attire, yet the entrance to the other elevator was eerily empty.

The elevator doors opened, and people rushed in anxiously, worried they would miss it and be late to work.

Clara barely squeezed into the elevator when another man stepped in behind her.

As soon as the man entered, the elevator’s overload indicator sounded: "Ding——"

The elevator doors wouldn’t close, yet the man stood still, showing no intention of stepping out.

Voices from the back complained: "It’s overweight, someone who came in last needs to get out and wait for the next one."

"Yeah, hurry up and get out. Don’t waste our time."

Clara glanced at the man beside her.

The man remained unmoved, as steady as a rock.

Aware of Clara’s gaze, the man looked at her and said, "It’s overweight, you should get out."

Clara protested, "I got in before you!"

"Stop wasting everyone’s time, just get out!" the man snapped, giving Clara a push.

Thin and slight as she was, Clara stumbled out of the elevator with that push.

As the elevator doors closed slowly, Clara shot a glare at the man.

The man glared back defiantly, as if to say: I pushed you, so what? What can you do about it?

In her mind, Clara cursed him as a bastard.

Sheffield Group’s employees were supposed to be well-educated, but even here, there are people of such low quality. It’s true that academic degrees don’t reflect one’s character.

"No worries, it’s eight fifty-three now. The elevator next to us is about to arrive, we should be just in time." a girl nearby said.

Clara turned to look; the girl was tall and slim, with a bob haircut that made her seem her age, also in business attire.

The girl addressed Clara, "I saw that guy push you just now. His name is Jonah Shaw, and he’s the assistant director of our department. I can’t stand him. Are you new here today?"

Clara nodded, "Yes."

"Which department are you in?"

"Network Information Department."

"Wow, what a coincidence! I’m also in the Network Information Department. You’re the new assistant director?"

"Indeed."

The girl smiled, "Nice to meet you, I’m Lisa. You can also call me Lisa. I’m one of the assistant directors, so we’ll be colleagues from now on."

Clara returned the smile, "Nice to meet you, I’m Clara Sterling."

Just then, the elevator doors opened.

Nearby men with more strength pushed past Clara to get in.

In just two seconds, the elevator was full again.

Clara stood there, speechless.

Lisa was also unable to get in. She saw Clara and said, "It’s your first day, huh? Arrive before eight fifty, and there won’t be this many people. After fifty, the crowd trying to make it in right at nine shows up. Remember to come earlier tomorrow."

Clara smiled slightly and nodded, "Got it."

"Sigh..." Lisa fiddled with her work badge, watching the elevator numbers change, "Looks like we might be late today."

The Network Information Department was on the twenty-seventh floor, and with the elevator stopping at each floor, it would definitely be cutting it close.

Just then, several people who hadn’t made it into the elevator started greeting someone in a particular direction.

"Good day, President Sheffield."

"Good morning, President Sheffield."

"President Sheffield."

Clara’s heart skipped at the mention of "President Sheffield."

"Good morning, President Sheffield!" Lisa suddenly tugged Clara, whispering, "Greet him quickly; that’s our president."

Still in a daze, Clara followed suit and bowed, "Good day, President Sheffield."

This was her first time greeting Silas Sheffield like this, and it felt odd.

With her head bowed, Clara saw a pair of leather shoes stop in front of her.

When Silas Sheffield stopped, his two assistants followed suit.

Zachary Lynch noticed Clara, his gaze slight.

Wasn’t this the madam?

She’s working at Sheffield Group now?

Zachary was shocked inside but remained expressionless outwardly.

Silas asked abruptly, "Couldn’t catch the elevator?"

Apart from Clara and Lisa, there were three others who hadn’t managed to get in.

The question was directed at all of them, without any specific names or titles.

Someone responded, "Yes, President Sheffield."

Silas walked to the executive exclusive elevator and pressed the button, "Let’s all go together."

Everyone was taken aback by the invitation.

Once they realized, they quickly rushed into the exclusive elevator.

"Wow, today’s our lucky day—we get to take the executive elevator. Let’s go, Clara." Lisa pulled Clara along.

Clara came to understand that the elevator was exclusive to Silas Sheffield, explaining why no one had dared to wait beside it earlier.

Clara followed into the elevator.

Once inside, Zachary swiped his card and asked which floors they needed.

"Twenty-third floor."

"Twenty-fourth floor."

"Twenty-seventh floor."

Zachary pressed the buttons for their respective floors.

There were eight people in the elevator altogether.

Silas entered first and stood at the back.

The others instinctively kept a respectful distance from Silas, standing as far from him as possible.

When Clara entered, the only available space was next to Silas.

She pursed her lips and moved to stand beside him.

Lisa was in front of Clara.

The numbers on the elevator display changed,

and despite the cramped space, the atmosphere was tense and silent.

Apart from Silas and his assistants, everyone was riding the executive elevator for the first time, with the CEO known for being The Grim Reaper. Everyone was tense, not daring to even check their phones.

In this peculiar quiet...

Clara felt a warm sensation on her hand.

A large hand gently held her hand, the rough pads of his thumb rubbing her palm softly.

Over and over, sending tingling sensations up her spine.

Clara’s heart began to race.

The elevator stopped on the twenty-third floor, and two people got out.

With fewer people, there was more space.

Clara’s breath caught nervously, fearing someone might notice.

Silas interlaced his fingers with hers, holding her hand tightly.

Clara felt her heart drenched in sweet honey.

Yet she was a bit anxious.

Luckily, everyone in the elevator kept their gaze straight ahead, avoiding eye contact.

And since they were in the back corner, even if someone looked down deliberately, they wouldn’t see their interlocked fingers.

"Ding—" The elevator door opened on the twenty-seventh floor.

Silas released Clara’s hand.

Clara gently bit her lip and stepped out of the elevator.

"Eight fifty-eight, just in time." Lisa stepped out to the time clock and scanned her fingerprint.

After clocking in, she turned to Clara and said, "I’ll show you to your workstation... huh? Why is your face so red?"