Chapter 16

Jacob furrowed his brow when he sensed Simon's hesitation. He then gestured for him to hand over the documents. "Bring it here." "Yes, Mr. Blake." Simon promptly handed over the documents. After opening the file, Jacob paused momentarily. On the first page of the personnel file was a two-inch photo of Nicole. She was smiling brightly, in a manner quite different from her current demeanor. Jacob glanced at her designated position. Executive Assistant? He smirked and tossed the file onto the desk. "She's quite good at manipulation." Simon dared not make a sound. Although he knew Jacob's intentions, he dared not make assumptions. While Jacob was reputed for his sharpness and competence, he had recently been found lacking in the presence of his ex-wife. "Well, Mr. Blake..." Jacob raised a brow lightly. "Let it be. Pretend you didn't know about this." "Yes, Mr. Blake." Meanwhile, Sue drove home with Nicole. She tossed her handbag aside as they entered the house and said, "Nicole, I'm going to take a shower first." "Go ahead. I still have some work to do. It's still early anyway. I'll take a shower later." With that, Nicole took out her laptop and started working on the project details. The resort had to be coordinated with the old village renovation. She looked at the red spots marked on the map. These were the few places where she had previously visited. The villagers there staunchly protested against relocation. However, shortly after, the Blake Group board of directors received unanimous consent from the village. Nicole furrowed her brow as she studied the computer screen. She couldn't shake the feeling that another visit was necessary, especially since the previous design plans were incomplete due to the few households. However, the prospect of coordinating with Jacob left her feeling overwhelmed. Why was it that as their divorce date loomed closer, their paths seemed to intersect more frequently? Nicole shook her head to clear her mind and refocused on the project. Sue emerged from the shower and dried her hair with the towel. Upon noticing Nicole engrossed in her work, Sue walked over and settled beside her. "Ms. Barnes, work will never end. Can't you take a break and relax tonight?" Nicole glanced at her with a resolute expression. "The resort project is about to commence. I need to pay closer attention to it. My meeting with Jacob is scheduled for tomorrow. We'll discuss our collaboration, so I can't afford any slip-ups. "If he knew he was dealing with me, I have no doubt he'd find ways to make it difficult. If my design plans aren't up to scratch, he'll seize the opportunity to criticize me," Nicole grumbled as she typed away. Sue shook her head. "I wonder what exactly you two are battling over." After tidying up the details, Nicole heaved a sigh of relief and closed her laptop. "It's a matter of pride, of course! You wouldn't understand. I'll go take a shower now." Sue was watching television when she suddenly heard a cry from the bathroom. "Ah!" Alarmed, Sue rushed over and pushed the door open. "Are you okay, Nicole?" Sue thought that Nicole had slipped and fell. Instead, she found Nicole shivering, wrapped in a towel. "What happened?" Sue asked. Nicole looked at her friend with annoyance. "I-I was halfway through my shower, and suddenly there's no hot water!" "What?" Although Sue was taken aback, she quickly led Nicole out of the bathroom. "Quickly change into dry clothes. Don't catch a cold! I'll call the property management!" Given that the weather transitioned from autumn to winter, Nicole felt chilly after being doused with cold water. She changed into dry clothes but still couldn't stop shivering. When Nicole heard Sue arguing with someone on the phone, she asked, "What's going on?" "The property management office is so unreasonable. They collect management fees from us, but they're not doing their jobs! They claimed the hot water pipes were blocked because no one had lived in this house for a long time. "I told them to send someone immediately, but they said we had to wait until tomorrow. I pay more than 30 thousand dollars in management fees every year. I have no idea what the point of paying such hefty fees is. I—" Before Sue could finish complaining, Nicole sneezed. "Are you catching a cold? Let me get you some medicine," Sue said anxiously. "There's no need to worry. I was feeling a little chilly earlier. It's nothing serious. I don't need medication." Nicole waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." The next morning, Nicole woke up with a fever which soared to 100.4°F. She dragged herself out of bed in a daze. Nicole must have started to run a fever sometime during the night, as she felt groggy, and her whole body ached with every touch. Her throat was sore, too, adding to her discomfort. "Cough, cough." A stifled cough escaped Nicole's lips as she walked to the living room to look for medicine. She met Sue, who was already prepared for the day ahead. "What's the matter?" Sue asked upon noticing Nicole's pale face and sluggish demeanor. Nicole coughed again weakly. "Just a minor cold. You should get to work. I'll manage with some medicine." Sue was concerned and reached out to touch Nicole's forehead. "You're burning up! Let me get you some medicine." "I'm fine," Nicole reassured while grasping Sue's hand. "I'll take some medicine later. You should head off to work." "Are you still planning to meet with Mr. Blake today?" Sue asked, her worry palpable. Nicole, however, remained undeterred. "Don't worry. If I feel terrible, I'll postpone the meeting until tomorrow." After convincing Sue to leave, Nicole tended to her fever with a light meal and medication before reclining on the sofa for a brief rest. As her fever gradually receded, she immediately took her laptop, changed her clothes, and left for her appointment. Nicole still had a lingering flush on her cheeks. The crisp morning air outside served to invigorate her spirits. The medication proved effective, as Nicole felt well enough to drive to the Blake Group. Throughout their marriage, Nicole respected Jacob's unspoken wish for her to stay away from the Blake Group. Thus, she never once stepped foot in the office. As she entered the place, she cast her eyes downward to quell the emotions swirling within her. Nicole said to the receptionist, "Good morning. I'm from Antax Studio. I'm here to discuss the resort project with Mr. Blake. May I know which floor his office is located on?" The receptionist glanced at Nicole with disdain as her attire wasn't impressive. However, realization dawned on her as she took in Nicole's striking features. "Did you make an appointment?"