Chapter 521

Susan stormed back into the office, still fuming. "What the heck was that argument in the elevator? Neither of us made any sense. We could've just talked it out, but no, Caleb had to go all aggressive on me. And in the office, no less! How are we supposed to have a real conversation like that? And how does he even know Oliver and Michael are hanging out? He talked like he saw it himself. Plus, he didn't send me any video yesterday, so why's he saying I ignored him?"

She checked her phone records; their last chat was the night before last. Nothing from yesterday. Caleb wouldn't just lie to mess with her, right?

"What the heck is going on?" Susan muttered, frowning.

"Ms. Wilson, your takeout's here," her assistant said, walking in with a bag. "What did Mr. Eilish say to you just now?"

Susan's face hardened. "Remember what I said I wanted in an assistant on your first day?"

The assistant nodded. "Yeah, you said you need someone who gets things done and doesn't talk much. I'm sorry, Ms. Wilson, did I overstep? I don't know what got into me, maybe it's been too long since I dated, and Mr. Eilish is just so handsome..."

"You shouldn't gossip about your boss's private life," Susan snapped. If the assistant hadn't blabbed so much, she and Caleb wouldn't have had that nasty run-in.

"I'm really sorry, I won't do it again," the assistant promised quickly. "Please forgive me this time."

Susan was firm. "When a subordinate messes up, they get one chance. Do it again, and you're out."

The assistant nodded. "Yes, I understand. It won't happen again."

Back at work, Susan was swamped and ended up staying late until eight. She could've finished sooner, but Caleb's drama had her all distracted and off her game.

After hours of grinding, she was beat.

Susan walked out of the Eilish Group building.

"Susan," Michael called out, walking over.

"What are you doing here?" Susan asked, surprised.

"I just finished meeting an old friend nearby, and since you mentioned working late, I thought I'd check on you. Didn't expect to catch you right as you got off. What a coincidence," Michael said, feeling a bit guilty since he'd been waiting since six, too nervous to even grab dinner.

"Oh," Susan said, too tired and stressed to question it.

"Have you eaten?" Michael asked.

"Yeah, had a sandwich," Susan replied.

"That's not much. I haven't eaten either, let's grab a bite," Michael suggested.

"Didn't you just meet a friend? How come you didn't eat?" Susan asked.

"Well, he had another appointment, so we just had coffee," Michael explained.

"Oh."

"Come on, I'll take you home after we eat," Michael said.

"Okay," Susan agreed, getting into the car.

City lights flickered outside the window.

Susan leaned her head against the glass, watching the night blur by.

She kept replaying the elevator argument with Caleb, getting more confused and frustrated. She sighed.

"What's wrong? Something on your mind?" Michael asked.

"What? No."

"Sighing chases away good luck, remember?" Michael teased.

"Yeah," Susan replied.

She used to be so naive and optimistic, with nothing to worry about. Just a sheltered flower in a greenhouse, living under her parents' protection.

"You're still frowning," Michael pointed out.

"Am I? Maybe it's just the first day back at work, feeling a bit tired," Susan said lightly.

Michael suggested, "If you're beat, just close your eyes and chill for a bit, okay?"

Susan didn't feel like chatting either, so she shut her eyes like he said. But her brain was still buzzing with thoughts of Caleb.

Michael glanced over at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. 'Man, if we get hitched, picking her up from work would be the best,' he thought.

At his age, and having been through a divorce, he wasn't looking for some grand romance. He just wanted those small, everyday joys. He felt like he and Susan were on the same wavelength, and they'd be a great match if they got married.

His ex-wife was a whole different story-hot-tempered and bossy. They fought all the time, and she even threw stuff. Their divorce was a total mess.

But with Susan, everything felt easy and happy, even when they weren't talking.

This just made Michael more determined to tell her how he felt.

A lot of childhood friends got married young, only to realize later they were perfect for each other. Those kinds of relationships often lasted a lifetime.

"Susan, we're here," Michael said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Susan opened her eyes and saw they were parked in front of a pasta joint near their old high school.

She was pleasantly surprised. "How'd you think of coming here?"

Michael unbuckled his seatbelt, smiling warmly. "We used to eat here all the time. I remember you loved the pasta, so I thought we could relive the good old days."

"The professor's got some serious emotional intelligence," Susan chuckled.

"Let's go."

They walked into the shop together.

"After all these years, this place hasn't changed a bit, and the owner's still the same," Susan said, feeling nostalgic as high school memories came flooding back.

"Yeah, it's still the same couple running it, sometimes their kids help out," Michael added.

"Have you been here in between?" Susan asked.

"Yeah, I come here every time I'm back in town for a bowl of pasta. In the past two years, I've been coming almost every month." He had brought his ex-wife here, but she hated the place, preferring fancy five-star restaurants. Looking back, their values were really different, so the divorce was inevitable. Plus, he couldn't have kids and didn't want to hold anyone back.

If he married Susan, he'd treat Oliver like his own son.

The owner's wife brought over two bowls of pasta.

Susan wasn't hungry at first, but the aroma made her stomach growl. "Smells so good."

"Better than a dry sandwich, right?" Michael asked.

"Definitely." Susan picked up her fork, took a bite, and sighed happily. "It's still the same familiar taste, hasn't changed a bit. So delicious. Amazing!"

Food really had a magical effect on mood; Susan's gloominess was significantly lifted.

"As long as you like it, I'll bring you here every week," Michael said.

"Your wife would be angry," Susan teased.

"Susan, I..." Michael found an opening to confess but was interrupted by his phone ringing.

"Sorry, I need to take this." Susan pulled out her phone. It was a work call, and she quickly made decisions, arranging everything methodically. "Yes, do as I said."

After hanging up, she found Michael looking at her.

She asked, "What's up?"

"Nothing, just seeing a different side of you. A decisive and efficient career woman."

She had so many different sides, and each one surprised Michael.

"Not a career woman, they just say I work too hard," Susan joked. "I had no choice but to hustle before, with car loans, mortgages, so much pressure. My monthly salary just covered all the loans and living expenses, couldn't afford to miss a month."

Looking back, she was pretty proud of herself and grateful she made it through, otherwise, she wouldn't see the rainbow now.

Michael looked at her with a mix of admiration and pity. "It's too hard being alone; you need a man."