The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Before Sasha spoke, she checked if there were any familiar people around, too. Then, she whispered, "I suspect there is a spy in our company."

"A spy?" Eric asked, repeating after Sasha.

He asked warily, "Why do you say that?"

Sasha said, "I never told anyone which project group I'm in, right?"

Eric nodded and answered, "You've been very low profile, indeed."

Frowning hard, Sasha said, "But Shane knows that I'm earning a lot of money. He's been disturbing me every day.

"I've been trying to avoid him, but somehow, he's been able to find me. He would act pitiful and say that he's starving, asking me to give him money for food."

At that thought, Sasha got even more displeased. She continued, "I'm soft-hearted, so I won't bear to watch somebody starve to death, would I?"

Eric said in agreement, "You're right."

As Sasha spoke, she became increasingly angrier.

She said, "I gave him ten bucks, and I told him to get some food. But he refused, saying that I didn't give him enough money to eat. So, I asked how much he wanted, and he asked for 20 thousand dollars!" Baffled, Sasha exclaimed, "Oh, please... His father kicked him out of the house. He's just a beggar now! How dare he ask for so much?"

Immediately after Sasha finished, she paused. In the past, before Sasha began to work, she used to spend a lot of money, too.

With her father providing for her financially, she would splurge on food and entertainment. Yet, her father never complained and continued to dote on her. Because of that, Sasha never knew the importance of money.

Now that she was working innoveldrama

Huxham Corporation, her current

hard-earned one-month salary could

not even measure up to a single meal that she used to have. Sasha finally realized how difficult it was to earn money, and she began to spend her money wisely

Eric said in agreement, "You're right; he's so shameless."

Coming back to her senses, Sasha continued, "So I told him that he's asking for a month's salary from me, so dream on! I will never give it to him."

Sasha couldn't understand how Shane could be so brazen.

Because of her kindness, she was willing to give him ten dollars in case he starved, but she didn't love him, enough to be willing to give

understand why Shane couldn't understand a simple fact like that.

unconditionally. Sasha couldn't nét

Eric asked curiously, "And what did he say?"

Upon hearing that, Sasha's expression became solemn. She answered, He said my income couldn't be that low. Of course, I didn't acknowledge that. I told him that Huxham Corporation doesn't pay as high of a salary as he

imagined. But guess what he said?"

Curious, Eric probed further. He asked, "What?"

In case Eric could not hear her clearly, Sasha slowed down and said, "He said that my current project is very successful and is earning a lot of money."

When Eric heard that, he became solemn, too. "Indeed, the sales volume of your current project is doing very well. You've broken records. Everyone knows that the project is profiting a lot.

"Mr. Huxham is also known to be generous, so he must give you a lot of bonus. If Shane was keeping a close eye on the project, he would know that you earned a lot from it," Eric said, gazing at Sasha. Sasha didn't refute. Instead, she asked, "But how did he know that I was in charge of that project?"

Frowning hard, Eric said, "Now that you mention that, I suddenly remembered-I think I saw him when I came back from a business meeting a few days ago."

Sasha drew closer to Eric and asked, "And?"

Eric said hesitantly, "I think he was talking to Yvonne. I was a little far, so I'm not too sure what they were talking about."