Too Much to Bear, My Love
Chapter 70

“Ms. Larson, I hope you don't misunderstand. I'm merely looking at thefacts objectively. If my tone came across as harsh, then I'd like toapologize for that. If there are no other matters, please get back towork. I need to talk to Amelia about some other issues.”

Carter invited Jennifer out of his office.

Jennifer stood up. Shooting a frosty glance at Amelia, she walkedtowards the door.

She paused at the door and turned around. “Mr. Scott, I have a lunchappointment this afternoon. Since Amelia is a company employee, I'dlike to bring her along. Surely you can't disagree with me on this.”Before Carter could reply, Amelia agreed. “Ms. Larson, I'll join you onyour lunch appointment.”

“Good, just don't pull any tricks up your sleeve. We need to makeprofits, not pay for incompetent slackers.” She opened the door andleft.

Carter scrunched his brows and said apologetically, “Amelia, don't listento her.”

Amelia shook her head. “Mr. Scott, I won't think too much about it. Shedoes have a point, though. The company shouldn't be paying forslackers, and I did take a pretty long leave after only working for a fewdays. It's natural for others to feel uncomfortable about it. But don'tyou worry Mr. Scott, I will pour in a hundred percent of my effort toprepare a satisfactory questionnaire for you. I'll prove to everyone thatyou didn’t hire me for my looks but my abilities.”

Carter smiled gently.

He gestured for Amelia to sit down. “Amelia, don't be so nervous. Thecompany is progressing well, and everyone has their own assignedwork. While you were absent, your department colleagues veryenthusiastically covered your workload. They didn't want you to tireyourself out on account of your pregnancy. You just need to thankthem properly later.”

“No wonder my desk has been so clean! So they helped me tocomplete all my work! It looks like you have an eye for hiring peoplewho are both capable and kind. Don't worry! I will work even harder forcolleagues like them.”

Carter's gentle smile was comforting and soothing.

Amelia was caught up in his gaze for a moment before she realizedwhat she was doing. Calming herself down, she replied, “Mr. Scott, ifthere's nothing more, I'll get back to work. After all, I still have a lunchappointment with Ms. Larson later.”

Carter nodded.

When Amelia reached the door, Carter's voice rang out behind her."Amelia, I'll follow you to the lunch appointment. They'd meant to inviteme anyway."

Amelia replied, “Mr. Scott, you're the head of this company. Of course,you can attend if you please. You needn't inform me especially.”

When she got back to the design department, her colleagues wereclamoring for gossip on her fate in the company. Suddenly there was aloud noise, and everyone shot back to their seats.

Jennifer had entered and was the culprit behind the loud noise.“Everyone, this is working hours. I hope you're actually working duringthe mandated hours. A company will soon become a mess if rules areignored,” Jennifer said with a strict tone.

Jennifer's curves were accentuated in her power suit. Coupled with hertactfully applied makeup, she was extremely gorgeous. She looksindisputably innocent and sexy at the same time. Even when she’s stern,it's hard for people to hate her.

She's simply too beautiful. This is an age where looks are prized aboveothers. Even if she scolds others fiercely, no one can really bringthemselves to hate her.

Amelia looked at Jennifer's get-up. I must admit she’s a woman who'snot only beautiful but also incredibly talented; otherwise, she wouldn'tbecome the director in such a short span of time.

When everyone looked like they were busying themselves with work,Jennifer appeared pleased and looked at Amelia. “Amelia, are you freenow? Please come to my office.”

She immediately left after her orders.

Amelia got up as Jessica sent her an encouraging gesture. Amelia saidwryly, “I'm just going there to discuss some matters, must you be sodramatic? If the boss sees this, you'll be in hot soup again.”

That elicited some laughter from the others.

Amelia left the design department and entered Jennifer's office.

“Ms. Larson, you were looking for me?” asked Amelia.

Jennifer pointed at the chair in front of her. “Sit. We need to talk.”Amelia sat down and said calmly, “Ms. Larson, please tell me whatever itis you have on your mind. I have to get back to work soon; after all, I'vebeen on long leave and have a lot of work to complete.”

Jennifer set down the fountain pen in her hand and contemplated thewoman sitting in front of her. Suddenly she said, “Amelia, you're really avery beautiful woman.” Just like a foxy b*tch.

Amelia was stunned at the compliment and answered politely, “Thankyou for your compliment, Ms. Larson. But you are definitely morebeautiful than me.”

Jennifer crossed her arms and spoke in a haughty tone. “Amelia, you'rethe wife to the sole heir of Clinton Corporations, am I right?”

Amelia's smile was still plastered on her face, though her gaze hadcooled down considerably.

“You investigated me?”

“I won't consider it an investigation; I was merely curious about thewoman who had Carter wrapped around her little finger. Well, Isupposed I'm not surprised. After all, you look just like a temptress. Youknow, the kind of woman who enjoys leading men on. And how couldthey not fall for your tricks?”

Amelia stared at her coldly. “Ms. Larson, I hope you can be more civil.While you are humiliating me, you're actually dragging yourselfthrough the mud. You're a rich heiress with a good education; don'truin your own image once you open your mouth.”

Jennifer sneered at her. “Amelia, you have a rather sharp tongue which Ireally don't appreciate. I know that Carter has feelings for you, butyou're here to work and not to seduce him. Please refrain from flirtingwith your boss during working hours.”

Amelia was boiling with rage.

I've seen slanders, but none as warped from the truth like this! Shemust be paranoid if she’s spouting these words

“Ms. Larson, I'm just going to repeat myself. Nothing is going onbetween Mr. Scott and me. You come from an elite background, so Ihope you can have a better moral fiber.” Amelia stood up andcontinued, “If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work.”

Jennifer halted her angrily. “Stop right there!”

"Yes?"

“Amelia, is this the kind of attitude you use when you're talking to yourdirect supervisor?”

“Ms. Larson, this is working hours, and I hope you can separate yourpersonal grievances from your work."

“You want me to be objective?” asked Jennifer. “Alright, get me all theblueprints from the past couple of years.”

Amelia stared at her, before nodding and leaving the office.

Amelia collated all the required original blueprints in a short while, andthe stack was even taller than herself. Her colleagues in the designdepartment couldn't help asking, “Amelia, what are you doing with allthese?”

“Ms. Larson wants to use them, so she asked me to collate them forher.”

Jessica appeared angry. “Isn't she just making your life difficult? Wealready submitted these blueprints to other companies, and they've allbeen reviewed. What does she want to do with them now? You'repregnant right now, and the way she’s treating you is just plainunreasonable.”

The male colleagues were also angry. “Amelia, we'll help you carry themto her office.”

“Thank you,” replied Amelia as she turned to comfort an indignantJessica. “Alright, don't I have all of you helping me? I'm not exhausted;don't be so angry on my behalf, or you might get wrinkles on youryoung face.”

Jessica couldn't help but laugh at her teasing words.

Looking at the tall stack of documents in her office, Jennifer askedAmelia, “What is the meaning of this?"

Amelia replied, “Ms. Larson, these are all the blueprints you requested.There are more outside; if you would like to see them all, my colleagueswill help me to move it in.”

Jennifer's expression darkened. “Amelia, you must be really talented atsocializing. You've barely worked in the company, but you seem to haveyour colleagues at your beck-and-call. I wonder if your seductiontechniques work on all genders?”

Amelia replied, “Rapport between colleagues boils down to sincerity. Ifyou're calling me a temptress, I think the term suits you more as youare much more beautiful than me. You can also build rapport with themif you'd like.”

Jennifer sneered. “You can leave.”

Amelia nodded.

Shortly after she returned to the design department, she heard thatJennifer had been called into Mr. Scott's office. Jennifer then left theoffice, glowering.

Jessica launched into another one of her gossip sessions. “Did youhear? Ms. Larson got called into Mr. Scott's office. The secretary toldme when she brought coffee in, she saw that Ms. Larson's eyes werered. I'm pretty sure she was told off by Mr. Scott for picking on you. Shewas called in so quickly after the incident. Let's see whether she daresto be unreasonable next time.”

Amelia just glanced at her. “Jessica, you shouldn't gossip duringworking hours. I'm sure Mr. Scott had some work-related issues todiscuss with Ms. Larson. You shouldn't come up with such fantasticalscenarios in your head, or you might accidentally blurt them out andbecome Ms. Larson's next target.”

Jessica stuck her tongue out and replied softly, “I just don't like the wayshe does things. She was only Mr. Scott's assistant when she first joinedthe company. In less than a month, she’s become the director ofdesign, and it feels unfair to me.”

A male colleague cut in. “Jessica, if you have her family and educationbackground, you'll be able to become a director in such a short timetoo.”

That shut her up.

The morning flew by thanks to the flurry of incidents.

Jennifer appeared at the door to the design department. “Amelia, let'sgo."

Time for the lunch appointment.

“Good, you're all here. I'm joining you today.” Carter's voice drifted in.Jennifer turned her head. “Mr. Scott, you're going as well?”

Carter nodded.

“I thought you're sending me to the lunch appointment because yousaid you were busy? Why-" Halfway through her sentence, Jenniferlooked at Amelia and understood the situation.

Her expression cooled considerably. “Since Mr. Scott wants to go, youdon't need to attend the appointment anymore.” This was directed atAmelia.

Carter merely said, “Let's go together. It's good to have two beautiesaround when we're discussing business.”

Jennifer spent the lift ride down fuming with anger.

Carter would drive to the appointment. He invited Amelia to take thefront passenger seat, and Jennifer was relegated to the backseat.Already fuming with anger, Jennifer became even more enraged at thesight of Carter's concern towards Amelia.

“Carter, what is the meaning of this?” Jennifer crossed her arms andasked aggressively.

“There's no other meaning; you're free to think what you like,” repliedCarter nonchalantly.

“Carter, when I joined the company, Mrs. Scott made you promise totake good care of me,” said Jennifer.

“In barely a month, I've promoted you to the director of design; isn'tthat pretty good care?”

“If you truly care for me, why do you let this woman work at yourcompany? Don't forget we're to be married in the future; if you're hungup on this woman, can you imagine the shame I would face?” Jennifersaid pettishly.