He Clings to Me Every Night

The sight of colleagues from the CEO’s secretariat office filled the room she had entered. The absence of Chief Daniel Marshall, who occupied her every thought, abruptly left her speechless in embarrassment and clutching onto a stiff smile.

Standing perplexedly at the entrance, she was surprised by the sudden appearance of Adam Howard. His piercing gaze was fixed upon her, “Grace, are you surprised? Shocked even? You didn’t expect such a lively scene, did you?”

In an instant, Grace turned to look at Adam Howard.

Masking her embarrassment and sadness, Grace nodded in feigned awareness. On the surface, she still appeared to be the naive girl ignorant of the world’s ways.

“I genuinely didn’t expect everyone to be here. Thank you, Assistant Howard.”

“Come in, everyone’s been waiting for you to celebrate your housewarming.”

With an altered look in her eyes and a sinking feeling of disappointment, Grace held back her pain, pretending nothing was amiss. She followed Assistant Howard into the room and sat in the only vacant chair at the table.

It was clear; Chief Daniel Marshall was not going to make it.

He’d promised her a dinner, and he didn’t come. Grace felt a mix of emotions she couldn’t articulate, black and blue from the disappointment festering in her heart.

Nonetheless, she put on a brave face and thanked everyone for their congratulations.

She also accepted the gifts from her colleagues.

Adam passed his gift to Grace and spoke solemnly, “The executive office is a place where everyone aspires and strives. Apart from the chief secretary and me, all the others are relatively new employees.”

“To strengthen the team’s spirit and to enhance the understanding among us, Chief Daniel Marshall had commissioned me to organize this gathering and also to celebrate Grace’s housewarming. He hopes everyone will work together to do their best in the CEO’s office. ”

“If there are any issues at work or personal life that you cannot resolve, you can always come to talk to the chief secretary and me. We will try to find a solution. Chief Daniel Marshall is a very caring leader who treats everyone equally. Thus, as long as you work with dedication, Chief Daniel Marshall will take care of all of you.”

Blatantly discerning the implication behind Assistant Howard’s speech, all staff members raised their glasses to toast him.

This was a warning. Chief Daniel Marshall did not like office gossip or exclusionary behavior. He hoped everyone would focus on their assignments. The staff members didn’t dare say anything else or make any move against Grace.

Then, other colleagues toasted to Grace.

A flicker of sharpness in Adam’s eyes and a faint smile on his lips illustrated his cunning beneath a seemingly carefree exterior, “In the future, there will be many more team-building events like this one. Every weekend, Chief Daniel Marshall will treat everyone to a meal. He also plans to organize trips for relaxation.”

Other new employees were delighted, all except for Grace and the indifferent chief secretary.

Adam looked at Grace and continued, “In the future, everyone will occasionally receive gifts from Chief Daniel Marshall. Working in the CEO’s office, you’ll definitely enjoy the benefits. However, everyone should repay Chief Daniel Marshall’s care with their dedication at work.”

“We will certainly work hard.”

Upon hearing the responses, Grace’s eyes flashed with a hint of contempt. She felt some disdain for the new colleagues.

It was also clear to Grace that Assistant Howard’s words served as a reminder for her to keep to her place and avoid harboring any unwarranted ambitions.