CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: DISMISSING SERENA JENNINGS

"This won’t do... I looked it over, let’s change it back to the original version!"

Claire Shaw stood by Serena Jennings’s workstation, giving orders.

This was Serena’s new workstation.

She had changed jobs, no longer Caleb Lockwood’s secretary, but a member of the design department at The Lockwood Group.

A subordinate of Claire Shaw.

Serena wasn’t sure if this was Claire’s decision or Caleb’s.

She had prepared her resignation letter, but hadn’t submitted it yet.

The last time she mentioned resigning to Caleb, he had left her speechless.

After all, her working at The Lockwood Group was part of the deal for Caleb letting Lana Xavier off the hook.

Even if she raised the resignation issue again, there was a more than 90% chance Caleb wouldn’t agree.

Moreover, Serena herself was also hesitant about whether to resign.

She didn’t want to work under Claire Shaw.

But she even more didn’t want Claire to think she was afraid of her.

In the end, Serena’s prepared resignation letter still wasn’t submitted.

On the first day of transfer to the design department, as Serena expected, it was another overtime session.

A design that was revised over eighty times ended up reverting to the first version; she couldn’t accuse Claire of targeting her.

After all, such situations in the design world were quite common.

Fortunately, Serena had no aversion to overtime; as they say, habit becomes second nature.

More uncomfortable than the overtime itself was seeing Caleb coming in person to the design department to pick up Claire after work.

The last time at The Jade Pavilion, Caleb had made it clear—

He knew that it was her who carried him down eight flights of stairs.

Serena didn’t understand how Caleb knew.

Clearly, the outside world was spreading that it was Claire who carried him down.

Perhaps...

Even though Caleb was unconscious at the time, he might have had some awareness!

But Serena didn’t want Caleb to know about this at all.

She would rather have Caleb see Claire as his savior.

Considering their current tangled, unresolved divorce situation, the more her feelings were exposed to Caleb, the more awkward and painful it was for her.

Serena buried her head, pretending to work, acting like she didn’t notice Caleb’s gaze.

"Are you looking at Serena?"

Claire linked arms with Caleb and blatantly asked him.

"Yes."

Caleb straightforwardly admitted.

"You said she’s a design graduate, better suited for the design department... but can she really handle it?"

"Well..."

Claire tugged on Caleb’s arm, deliberately leaning into his ear to whisper.

Because she knew Serena could see them from the corner of her eye.

"Let’s talk outside!"

Claire led Caleb away, taking him outside the company building.

Outside, the sun was setting, and the streets were bustling.

"I think Serena isn’t quite up to it..."

Claire said with a worried look to Caleb, "I originally thought she’d be more adept at design, but as you can see... others can complete their work in eight hours, but she needs overtime... I think... maybe Serena isn’t suited to work at The Lockwood Group? Our company’s intensity is too high, the demands are steep, and someone like Serena... might struggle to keep up... the strain might be a huge blow to her self-esteem..."

She earnestly advised, watching Caleb slightly frown.

"Then let’s let her try for two months first..."

Claire’s lips slightly curled upward.

"If it really doesn’t work, I can transfer her back again."

The smile on her lips instantly dropped, but before Caleb could notice, Claire’s expression returned to normal.

"Caleb, why is it necessary for Serena to work at The Lockwood Group? Wasn’t she doing quite well at FY before?"

Walking arm in arm with Caleb, Claire asked as if making small talk.

Caleb chuckled.

"It’s nothing, just want her to go through some hard times."

So she could realize the joy of being a full-time housewife.

He didn’t say the latter half, but Claire had already guessed it.

"Actually Serena might just be adjusting to the new department, give it some time and she might get better."

"Hmm."

Noticing Caleb agree, Claire let out a small sigh of relief.

She certainly couldn’t let Serena return to being Caleb’s secretary.

Since Caleb didn’t intend to fire Serena no matter what, it was more convenient to keep her under her supervision than in other departments.

In the following week, Serena worked overtime every day.

To her confusion, Caleb unexpectedly also worked overtime daily.

And whenever Caleb had to work late, Claire would be there with him.

This did make Serena feel somewhat balanced; at least she wasn’t the only one suffering.

That evening, when the office was empty except for Serena and Claire,

Serena continued to work on her designs, and saw Claire come out, carrying a bowl of medicine.

The medicine was for Caleb’s stomach treatment.

The Lockwood Group provided decent employee benefits, with several simple kitchens installed, and Claire would use the company’s induction cookers to prepare Caleb’s medicine daily.

"You haven’t boiled this long enough; the heat is also off..."

So the medicinal effect wouldn’t show.

Serena wanted to say this for a long time, but every time she was about to say it, the words were swallowed back.

She didn’t want to meddle.

But this matter was like a thorn stuck in her throat.

Tonight she finally spoke out, but she regretted it immediately after.

Claire came over to her workstation with the bowl of medicine, smiling, which was not what Serena had imagined.

"I’m indeed not as skilled as you in brewing medicine, so from now on, you can handle brewing Caleb’s medicine..."

"I..."

"You can’t refuse! Don’t forget, I’m your manager."

Just like that, Serena’s already heavy workload had another addition—brewing medicine for Caleb.

Standing by the induction cooker, inhaling the scent of herbs, Serena cursed herself internally:

Damn your loose tongue!

Damn your foolishness!

Unlike Claire, she wouldn’t just muddle through the medicine.

According to the doctor’s original instructions, the medicine had to be brewed for at least two hours, or the duration and heat would affect its effectiveness.

Serena suddenly thought that the last time when Caleb’s stomach hurt so badly, it wasn’t just the spicy food; perhaps the improperly brewed medicine Claire made also contributed.

Claire had just pushed open the little kitchen’s door when she smelled the rich scent of the herbs.

It was different from hers.

"Is the medicine ready yet?"

"Almost there."

Watching Serena sweat on her forehead, Claire couldn’t help but laugh and ask, "Were you like this at home too? Working so hard, did Caleb pay you more?"

Serena turned off the heat, poured the medicine, and gave Claire a gentle smile.

"Making medicine for my husband isn’t hard, nor do I need extra pay; his money is my money anyway."

Seeing Claire’s smile stiffen, Serena felt a sense of satisfaction.

However, Claire didn’t get upset and picked up the bowl of medicine.

"You’ve worked hard, get back to work!"

Serena left the small kitchen and returned to her desk, stunned.

Before she went to make the medicine, there were only two folders on her desk.

But now that she’d returned, there were at least ten additional folders on her desk.

"Serena, these projects are urgent, Manager Claire said you need to complete them all tonight."

A colleague nearby reminded her.

At this moment, Claire was bringing Serena’s brewed medicine to Caleb.

Caleb took a sip of the medicine and stopped mid-action.

"What’s the matter?" Claire asked, her false eyelashes slightly lifting.