The Next CEO

She heard what professor Boa said, but she didn't say anything and just wait for him to continue speaking. Deep inside, she was pissed off. The rumor mongers had already crossed the line!

She got it that they are bored, but do they really have to use her for their fun? She heaved a deep sigh, sensing that professor Boa was waiting for her to react. He could wait but it won't happen. 

She has no plan to explain herself. 

"Jess, you know that I don't believe those rumors." He shifted in his seat, feeling awkward that she simply sat there with sheer disinterest. 

"You are brilliant, Miss Zimmerman…and there are people that envy that. And, you not giving a fuck on what was happening around you is simply enraging them." 

She snapped with sudden interest with the profanity that came out of professor Boa's mouth. The old professor has known for his cheery personality and it amused her to hear him curse. 

"Listen, Jess, there is something I will tell that can't leave this office," he raised his eyebrow waiting for her to answer.

She exhaled a deep breath, thinking, 'I woke up for this shit.' Professor Boa is a nice man and she respects him, so she keeps her temper in check. She gave the old professor a small smile and nodded. 

She has a feeling that if she does not react to every statement he said, this talk won't be over. 

"I don't care about those rumors, and from your demeanor, so are you," he said, waiting for her reaction again.

She bit her cheeks and said, "Yes."

"However, you will be doing your internship with ANAT Pharma and Co, and I'm quite confident that if you wanted to work there, with your qualifications -- you can." 

She didn't wait for him to look at her and ask for a reaction. She fake eagerness and nods her head. She really wants to get out of here and hit the sack once more. Her hangover is slowly coming back to her. The cold shower she had taken this morning was not effective in keeping her alive. 

And this useless talk about her scandalous relationship with Noah is slowly getting on her nerves. She wanted to find someone she could punch in the face. Alice would be a good candidate. 

"Working at ANAT Pharma and Co, and the fact that Mr. Tiefenbacher chose you in many applicants was enough to make me worry,-- for the future," he added as an afterthought. 

The more she listened to what professor Boa was saying the more confused she becomes. The corner of her lips was already twitching. She is itching to ask professor Boa to get to the point.

"You see, Miss Zimmerman," he leaned forward and dropped his voice to almost a whisper, "Mr. Tiefenbacher is not just an HR representative of ANAT Pharma and Co." 

She leaned forward to professor Boa, tilting her head to show interest when all she ever want to do is walk out of his office. And yeah, she was also thinking of telling the nice professor that she knew that Noah is NOT an HR representative but rather he is representing his own company.

"Who is he and how does it relate to this rumor about us?" she missed her bed too much, she has no more patience to wait for the professor to say his point. 

"Mr. Tiefenbacher is holding a high position in the company, and I'm worried that it won't be good for you once you start working with them, and this rumor follows you." 

"Thank you for your concern, professor Boa." She said in a formal tone, "However, I doubt if this rumor would follow me in ANAT Pharma and Co when the rumormongers would be doing their internship in a different company." 

"I...I think you misunderstood my concern, Miss Zimmerman." he cleared his throat trying to dissipate the tension in the air, with how she reacted.

She has a feeling that professor Boa knew who was the perpetrator of the so-called scandal she has with Noah. She lost her temper with the idea, that instead of calling out those who spread the rumor, she is the one who was called and told to be careful and behave with her action.

She finds it too unfair! 'What else is new?' she thought with bitterness with an old memory of how people dragged her name to some national scandal back home, despite her being a child and not knowing and understanding the issue. 

Her name and face were plastered all over the place, which made his grandfather ran after all those lowlifes as lawsuits fly all over the place. For her, it resulted in guarding her real identity in fear of the traumatizing event in the past happening again. 

She knew from a young age that lawyers and the press were a very bad combination. And now with social media, she was more paranoid than ever. Hence, all her social media accounts were under dummy names, and she avoids posting photos that would associate her with her family back home.

"I understand your concern, professor Boa. And I appreciate them, however, I don't want to stoop to the level of those people," she said with a smile.

Professor Boa realized that she could handle herself and dropped the last information he knew for her. 

"Mr. Tiefenbacher's family owns the ANAT Pharma and Co, and Mr. Tiefenbacher is going to be the next CEO, thus Miss Zimmerman, I'm telling you this, for your own sake, -- be mindful of your relationship with Mr. Tiefenbacher." 

She stood up from the chair, and extended her hand to professor Boa, he was surprised when she suddenly wanted to shake hands. Yet, he accepted the hand she offered.

She shook his hand, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, professor. I will never forget it. See you next semester." 

She didn't wait for him to answer and just walked out of the office. She released the breath she was holding in as soon as she stepped out of the room. 

She took out her phone and dialed Luke's number, she needed to vent out her frustration.