CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 188 LOVE IS A TORTUROUS THING (5)

She knew Kris Cooper liked the project proposal. His only reason for not voicing his approval was her.

Back at her desk, she tried to push those strange feelings out of her mind and focused on refining the proposal and drafting a work plan.

The project was about to launch, and the promotional video had to be completed beforehand. They only had two weeks, which wasn’t much time.

She’d been busy all day, and before she knew it, it was time to leave work.

Seeing her still engrossed in her work, Merlin Bradley patted her shoulder in concern.

"Vera, aren’t you leaving yet?"

"Oh... you guys go ahead. I’ll just finalize this work plan. The project funds will be available tomorrow, and then we can coordinate everything."

After everyone else had left, she carefully completed the work plan. As she was tidying her desk, she suddenly remembered the contract.

Pressing her temples, she tried hard to recall. No matter how much she thought, she just couldn’t remember where she’d put the contract.

She was sure she’d signed it and left it on her desk...

Could it have been stuck in a folder and fallen out in the upstairs conference room?

After some thought, that seemed like the only possibility.

If it really was left in the conference room and someone else found it, Kris Cooper would kill her.

Upon this realization, Vera quickly packed her bag, left the office, and took the elevator to the 52nd floor.

By now, it was after working hours, and the hallways were quiet, devoid of any staff. She sighed in relief and, like a thief, slipped out and headed towards the conference room door.

"Please, God, let the door be unlocked!"

Praying quietly, Vera reached out and gently turned the doorknob.

CLICK!

With that soft sound, the conference room door opened smoothly.

Secretly delighted, she quickly pushed the door open and went inside, gently closing it behind her. She rushed to where she had sat, checked the tabletop—nothing. Then she bent down, pulled out the chair, and searched.

The floor was bare.

It wasn’t on the conference table, so it should be here on the floor. How could it have vanished? Could the cleaner have swept it away?

At this thought, she quickly scanned the conference room again. It was immaculate, without even a trash bin in sight.

Vera carefully eased the door open and poked her head out, checking both ways down the corridor. Confirming no one was there, she slipped out of the conference room and went to the nearest trash bin in the hallway. She lifted its lid and shone her phone’s flashlight inside to check.

The trash bin was clean, completely empty.

She moved on to the next trash bin and continued her search.

...

After checking three bins without luck, she spotted another one up ahead and quickened her pace towards it. She lifted the lid; this one was also empty.

Could the cleaner have already changed all the trash bags in the bins?

As she was rummaging in the bin, lost in thought, she heard footsteps and faint voices from a side corridor.

Vera’s heart clenched. She quickly let go of the bin and fled the scene.

Panicking, she scrambled forward. Seeing a door to the side, she pushed it open without a second thought, pulled it shut behind her, and listened, holding her breath.

Once she was sure no one had followed, she finally let out a breath, still shaken, and patted her chest.

"Thank God nobody saw me, or they would’ve thought I was some freak who steals trash..." Halfway through her sentence, she froze, pressing herself fearfully against the door as if she had seen an alien. "Kris... Kris Cooper?!"