Chapter: 1115

She quickly left the chat and forced herself to settle down and review the project materials.

In the workplace, Jonathan was the CEO, and she was merely a project team supervisor. She reminded herself not to mix personal feelings with professional duties.

Bethany found herself grappling with the abrupt shift back into corporate life.

Yet, she wasn't intimidated or hesitant.

After all, working was a part of life!

She devoted the entire night to studying the materials and project details Brody had sent over, annotating key points with her own insights and findings.

As dawn approached, with merely three or four hours until the Bates Group meeting, she hastily organized her space, set an alarm, and caught a brief period of sleep.

No sooner had she closed her eyes, it seemed, than the alarm sounded.

She swiftly dressed in a classic professional ensemble, applied minimal makeup, and made her way to the Bates Group headquarters, her laptop in tow.

Her prior stint at Bates Group had been brief, so she was a stranger to most there.

Surveying the project department, her gaze settled on Colt, stirring a comforting sense of recognition and relief.

“Ms. Holt?"

Colt looked equally taken aback to see her.

His surprise was mild. He had spotted her name on the new project briefing just yesterday.

Still, he figured she might not genuinely be working there. Perhaps she would just hold a nominal role, given her ties to Jonathan.

Bethany caught the speculative, somewhat nosy look in Colt's eyes right away.

She approached him quickly and pulled him aside.

"Not many here are familiar with me. I'd appreciate it if you keep my past out of the conversations, Colt. I'm counting on you."

"Don't worry! I wouldn't dare." Bethany was rumored to have ties with Jonathan, the head of the Bates Group.

No one would risk crossing her.

“Okay, please don't misunderstand. My relationship with Jonathan..."

"I get it, I totally get it! Honestly, Ms. Holt, I've always found you strikingly beautiful and competent, yet a bit too stern. When Mr. Blakely showed interest in you, I couldn't figure out why you turned him down. He's a real prize — wealthy and good-looking! But once I saw you with Mr. Bates, it all made sense. I wouldn't have chosen Mr. Blakely over him either!"

Bethany was at a loss for words.

“Mr. Bates is practically an icon! Just catching a glimpse of him weakens my knees. And you were actually..."