An Appointment

"The fifth round of the interviews is gonna begin today," informed Cloe. "Do you want to take a look at the chosen candidates?"

"No," came the prompt reply from Raelle. "Hiring company personnel is Administration Department's job. Why should I go to take a look?"

"These days, it's a trend for bosses to interact with their employees," said Cloe with a straight face. She didn't even feel bad about lying straight to her boss' face.

"Troublesome!"

Cloe's face twitched at that and she had the urge to roll her eyes at Raelle but held back. She knew if she rolled her eyes before Raelle, she'd have to spend an extra hour rolling in the office.

Cloe shook her head and looked at the iPad as she opened Raelle's schedule to check and frowned at something. She looked at Raelle's face then back at the screen of the iPad. "Chief, you're gonna have a phone call with your husband during the lunch hour?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

Cloe opened her mouth but nothing came out. Did she dare to say that it seemed weird to her that her boss allocated a time for her husband in her busy schedule? No, she didn't dare say it out loud!

"Ah, that reminded me," began Raelle. "It's written I have a meeting with MC at 11 o'clock." She lifted her eyes to look at Cloe as she inquired, "Who is MC?"

Cloe tutted at her boss, "I'm disappointed in you, Chief."

"What did you say?"

Cloe smiled at her and didn't repeat herself. Instead, she checked the message on her phone and said, "Give me a minute. I'll bring MC to you."

Raelle leaned back in her chair and flipped the pen around her fingers as she continued to look at the door where Cloe's running figure disappeared. She didn't have to wait for long before the door opened again and Cloe's head appeared before her eyes. "Chief, I present to you, one and only, MC!"

"What are you talking about, Cloe?" Raelle heard the ever so familiar voice and stood up as she looked at Mu Chenyan appearing from behind Cloe. "Elle!"

Raelle looked at Mu Chenyan's familiar gentle smile before she looked at Cloe, "MC?"

Cloe grinned at her, "MC... Miss Mu Chenyan."

"It seems you don't have enough work at your hand," said Raelle.

"Why would you say that?" Cloe's smile stiffened instantly.

"Why else would you have time to play around like this?" Raelle strode over to Mu Chenyan's side as she continued, "Should I give you more work?" Along the way, she picked up a file from the desk and shoved it at Cloe saying, "Review these documents."

Cloe looked at the white file and said, "I just did though."

"And if I want you to do it again, are you not gonna do it?"

Cloe embraced the file as if her life depended on it, "Of course, I would do it! I'll do it for as long as you want me to."

Seeing their exchange Mu Chenyan frowned slightly, "Elle, don't bully her."

"What I'm doing is called bullying?" asked Raelle innocently.

"Yes," replied Mu Chenyan. She looked at Cloe and said, "Cloe, you can leave."

Cloe looked at Mu Chenyan like a lifesaver, "Should I bring you something to drink or eat?"

Before Mu Chenyan could refuse, Raelle chimed in, "You still need to ask that?"

"I'll be right back," Cloe closed the door and ran off.

Raelle held Mu Chenyan's hand and dragged her over to the sitting area. She sat down with her and asked, "Yanyan, did you make an appointment to meet me?"

"Of course," replied Mu Chenyan. "Our Elle is such a busy woman. How can I just barge in here?" She took a pause and added, "Besides, I'm most familiar with your habit of not breaking the rules. If you don't even break the rules you set for yourself, how can I do it?"

"You can come whenever you want," said Raelle. "I can make an exception."

Mu Chenyan smiled at her, "I don't want to be that exception. You keep it open for someone else."

Obviously, Raelle didn't understand what she was suggesting here. But she did think about who can she make an exception aside from her Yanyan?

"Why are you here though?" inquired Raelle.

"Why? I can't come to see you?" retorted Mu Chenyan.

Raelle shook her head, "No, I mean you usually don't come to visit me at the office. In fact, this is your first time coming to see me, at work."

Mu Chenyan hummed in reply. It was indeed her first time coming to see Raelle at work. Even when they were living in Country G, since the time Raelle took control over the management of the business, she never came to the office.

"It's because Elder Xiang kicked me out of the house," said Mu Chenyan with her lips curved downward. She looked aggrieved.

"Opa did what?" asked Raelle.

"He kicked me out of the house," repeated Mu Chenyan.

Raelle stared at her unblinkingly before saying, "That's not possible. He can't kick you out of your own house."

"But he did that," said Mu Chenyan firmly. "He said I'm useless at home so I should go out and do something useful. Apparently, I have no value at home now." She firmly held Raelle's hand and went on, "Why don't you talk to him? I don't feel good leaving him alone at home. Tell him to just let me take care of him, eh?"

"Opa doesn't need a babysitter," replied Raelle. "If he is asking you to go out of the house, I believe he is doing it for your own good. You spend way too much time at home."

Mu Chenyan stared at Raelle's face and sighed out. She knew this girl won't fall for it. But how was she supposed to tell this girl that she felt the most useless in this society. She had cut off from society for far too long now. It felt weird trying to blend back in. At least, she felt needed at home.