Half-Hearted: Mr. Sinclair, Stop the Act!-Chapter 97: A Leopard Cannot Change Its Spots
The overcast days in Imperial City did not bring snow, but instead cleared up.
At ten thirty in the morning, Sienna Monroe just finished a meeting and walked out of the conference room when her phone suddenly rang with a melodious ringtone.
The caller ID showed the name "Vivian."
She paused her steps, the light in her eyes slowly dimming.
Ever since the incident with the acrylic board during the exhibition setup between her and Vivian Nash, there had been an invisible barrier between them, and they chatted less on WeChat.
Most of the time, she couldn’t be bothered to waste her time, pretending even through a phone screen, it was too exhausting.
So, let alone making phone calls.
As the ringtone was about to end, Sienna finally answered, her voice as gentle as always, "Vivian, what’s up?"
"Sienna, are you busy?"
On the other end, Vivian’s voice was even softer, light and graceful, just hearing it made one imagine her vulnerable charm.
Sienna chuckled, "Just came out of the conference room."
"I was worried you weren’t at the art gallery." Vivian sounded relieved, "Sienna, could you help me find the keychain in the right drawer of my workstation?
It’s very important to me, I forgot to take it last time due to the abrupt situation."
Keychain?
"You’ve already arrived at the art gallery? Why not come up and get it yourself?"
"I... it’s not convenient." Vivian hesitated, "Please, Sienna, help me get it."
"Okay, I’ll help you get it." Sienna paused, then asked, "Are there any other things you need?"
"Not for now. I’ll be waiting for you at the parking lot."
After Vivian left the job, no one had touched her workstation, nor occupied it.
Sienna walked over, opened the drawer she mentioned, and immediately saw the keychain, which had a dark blue dolphin charm hanging from it.
This isn’t...
The thing very important to her.
Isn’t it the charm bought during a date with Caleb Sinclair?
She sneered, her eyes indifferent and cold, as she mercilessly tossed the keychain on the table, "Gloria."
Gloria was pushed from Group B to take the A Group lead after Vivian stepped down from the leader position.
Hearing Sienna call her, Gloria immediately responded, walking to her side, "Director."
"Didn’t the HR department say they’re planning to recruit people? Your A Group is short; when new hires come, prioritize supplementing your group.
Go to the administrative department and report two desks and computers, lest people have nowhere to work when they arrive." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Sienna looked at Vivian’s workstation, speaking indifferently, "By the way, clear the things on this workstation, throw away what’s disposable."
Gloria was surprised, unsure, "Those personal belongings..."
"Just throw them away, no need to keep them."
"Okay."
Gloria watched her turn and leave, then glanced at the keychain on the desk, momentarily dazed.
They said it was a salaried suspension, but in reality, the Director had no intention of letting Vivian Nash come back.
Sienna walked to the parking lot entrance, spotting Vivian’s thin and frail figure.
It seemed a gust of wind could easily knock her down.
She took a deep breath, just managing her expressions when the masked Vivian suddenly turned back and smiled with curved eyes, "Sienna."
"Sorry, Vivian, it seems your keychain is missing. After you left, without any handover, many people needed to check things on the computer at your workstation.
So, it’s hard to track who took the keychain or how it got lost."
"Missing?" Vivian looked at her in surprise, "How could it..."
Sienna gently reassured, "Don’t worry, I’ve asked Nora to review the monitoring footage from these days carefully, to ensure your keychain is found."
Vivian opened her mouth, her throat feeling a bit dry.
She really liked that dolphin charm on the keychain, knowing it was gone stirred some regret and anger in her heart.
Could people at the gallery actually meddle with her belongings!
She gritted her teeth, forcefully suppressing her emotions, but the keychain was just an excuse, that wasn’t her purpose for coming today.
"Then that’s how it is." Vivian appeared distressed but still smiled, "Thank you, Sienna."
"There’s no need for thanks between us..." she paused, revealing a suitable amount of surprise and worry, "Vivian, is the injury on your face serious? Haven’t you gone to the hospital yet?"
Upon hearing this, Vivian immediately teared up, hesitated and removed her mask, revealing a swollen face, with the faint imprint of a palm still visible.
It was evident how hard Jenna Sherman had slapped her yesterday.
Yesterday was from outside the fence, distant, not very clearly seen.
Now, seeing her heavily injured face, the slight disappointment that surged after being interrupted by the police yesterday was instantly soothed.
Yet, on the surface remained that flawless concern and urgency, "What happened? Who hit you?"
Vivian studied her for a few seconds, not discerning any clues, she pouted, choking up, "It’s hard to explain in a few words, Sienna..."
"Let’s go to my office."
"No, I don’t want the people at the gallery to see... just giving them more of a spectacle."
"Then let’s chat at the café across the street." Sienna pondered for a second.
The two crossed the street, sitting in a corner position on the café’s second floor.
Vivian recounted yesterday’s incident of being confronted and later filing a case with the police.
"That person is outrageous!" Sienna feigned anger after listening, "She can’t be let off easily, she must rot in jail!"
While narrating the events, Vivian also observed Sienna’s reactions.
Still, there was no sign of anything unusual.
Could it be... Jenna Sherman wasn’t sent by her?
She really didn’t know about her and Caleb Sinclair?
Then who could it be?
Who could be behind Cheryl Talbot?
She suppressed several days of unresolved doubt, sipped her coffee, laughing bitterly, "I don’t know who I provoked, such a huge trouble has befallen me."
"Once the police get a clear investigation, these rumors will dissipate, don’t worry too much, the main thing now is to heal the injuries on your face."
Sienna looked at the slap marks on her face, "Did you hit the person back?"
Vivian smiled, "Of course, do you think I’m someone who would just take it lying down?"
After chatting for a while, her tense body gradually relaxed, and she asked, "How’s your situation with Caleb Sinclair recently? Is he keeping you company?"
Sienna’s grip on her cup paused slightly.
Here it is.
The main point.
She seemed to suddenly understand why Vivian had come to the gallery today.
To probe about Caleb Sinclair.
Caleb Sinclair had unilaterally cut contact with her, coupled with yesterday afternoon’s incident, Vivian must be flustered.
She lifted her eyelids, a sweet and happy smile on her face, starting to "unintentionally" show off.
"Yes, after returning from a business trip a few days ago, he comes to pick me up every afternoon and cooks me all sorts of things, he’s particularly attentive to me and the child."
"He originally said he wanted to take me to Svelta for a vacation, but the gallery is busy, I can’t leave, plus I’m not stable with the baby yet, Auntie Rennick said the first three months are the easiest to miscarry, better to wait until after three months to go out."
He comes to pick Sienna up every afternoon?
Then Caleb Sinclair does want to break up with her again?
But... why?
Clearly, before leaving the hotel that morning, he held her, murmured sweet words, unable to help himself and took her for another round.
She was puzzled, flexing her stiff fingers, lowering her eyelids, she laughed, "That’s good, now that you’re pregnant, you need his company more."
The two chatted at the café for over an hour, then ate lunch together at a nearby restaurant before parting ways.
Sienna withdrew her gaze from Vivian’s back, turning and heading toward the gallery.
While waiting for the traffic light, she stood still, letting the sun’s warmth envelop her.
Ding!
The phone’s message notification sounded abruptly.
[Vivian will be outside the construction company in the afternoon waiting for Caleb Sinclair, leveraging her pitiful charm to regain Caleb’s sympathy and softness, they will start contacting again.]
Looking at these words, Sienna suddenly laughed out loud.
So, what does Caleb Sinclair’s promise actually count for?
Well, as the saying goes, a dog can’t stop itself from eating shit.
That’s entirely correct.
A hint of irony flashed in her eyes, pondering for over ten seconds, she pulled up Sebastian Prescott’s chat on WeChat: [Lawyer Prescott, could I trouble you for a favor?]
