Chapter 6

Roxanne quickly responded, "Hello, I'm one of Lawrence's students." On the other end of the line, Jenson paused before saying, "I'm busy right now." Roxanne, trying to sound polite, replied, "I can accommodate your schedule. When would it be convenient for you?" "After 6:00 pm. Where's convenient for you?" "Anywhere is fine," she answered. "Come to Goldenvale Law Partners after 6:00 pm," Jenson said curtly. "Alright." Just like that, the call ended. Roxanne blinked at her phone. Jenson was certainly cold and distant. It was still morning, so she had the entire day ahead of her before the meeting in the evening. She called Vivian to see if they could meet so she could hand over the money. Unfortunately, Vivian was busy and couldn't meet. Resigned, Roxanne decided to look for a studio apartment to rent temporarily. Staying in a hotel indefinitely wasn't ideal, especially since her new place wouldn't be ready for three months. She spent the entire day viewing listings but didn't find anything suitable. At 5:30 pm, she arrived early at Goldenvale Law Partners. The firm was located in a bustling area of the city, and the building itself was imposing, towering into the clouds with a commanding presence. She waited until 6:00 pm before stepping inside. The reception area was vast and modern, capable of hosting over a hundred people comfortably. Approaching the desk, she said, "Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Lambert." The receptionist asked, "Do you have an appointment?" "Yes," Roxanne replied. "Follow me, please," the receptionist said, leading her to an elevator. They ascended a floor, passing through an open-plan office area, before stopping at an office door. The receptionist knocked, and a deep voice responded, "Come in." The receptionist opened the door. "Mr. Lambert, this lady is here to see you. She said she's made an appointment." Roxanne peeked inside. The minimalist office was bright and spacious, dominated by a large desk piled high with case files. Behind the desk sat a man whose face was obscured by the documents. As Jenson looked up, Roxanne finally saw his face. His features were sharp and defined, exuding a rugged, almost severe allure. His eyes were piercing—cold enough to send a shiver down her spine, radiating an unapproachable air. She felt her confidence waver under his overwhelming presence. If Sebastian's gaze was sharp enough to silence someone, Jenson's presence was like a storm—silent yet suffocating. Jenson stood, revealing his tall, lean frame. He wore a black shirt tucked neatly into tailored trousers, his posture exuding quiet authority. "Olivia, bring two glasses of water," he instructed his assistant, Olivia Johanson, before gesturing to the seating area. "Have a seat." Roxanne walked in and sat across from him, trying to stay composed. Jenson's gaze briefly swept over her, his expression unreadable. Her small face was framed by short hair, one side tucked behind her ear, revealing delicate, porcelain-like features. She had the kind of beauty that was striking yet refined, with a new edge to her look that hinted at strength. "This is my résumé," she said, handing it over. Jenson took it, flipping through the pages with a quick, practiced glance. Olivia brought in two glasses of water, placing one in front of Jenson and handing the other to Roxanne. "Thank you," she said politely. Olivia nodded with a smile before quietly exiting and closing the door behind her. Jenson leaned back against the couch and remarked, "A graduate with both a master's and a doctorate in law, boasting impressive academic credentials but absolutely zero work experience?" He tapped the résumé lightly with his finger. "Why didn't you work after graduation?" Roxanne hesitated before replying, "I got married." Jenson asked no further questions. "I can hire you, but you'll start at the bottom. A one-year probation period," he said, his tone brisk and detached. Roxanne immediately nodded. "That's fine." Just getting her foot in through the door was an opportunity she couldn't pass up. "Start tomorrow," he said, already returning to his desk. "Thank you," she said, standing up. Jenson glanced back at her. "This is because of Mr. Sullivan." Her hand tightened slightly around her résumé as she nodded. "I understand." She left the office, carefully closing the door behind her. As the door clicked shut, Jenson looked toward it, his expression inscrutable. Outside, Roxanne exhaled deeply, feeling as though she had just escaped from a high-stakes negotiation. Sure, working under someone like him would be challenging, but it would also be a chance to grow. She took the elevator down and decided to walk around the area to familiarize herself with the neighborhood. She was wearing heels, and since she hadn't worn them in a long time, her feet began to hurt after a while. Sitting on the edge of a planter, she was about to take off her shoes when a shadow fell over her. "Looking for me?" The voice was painfully familiar. Roxanne looked up to see Sebastian standing under a streetlamp, his face partially obscured by the light behind him. From her angle, his sharp jawline was particularly pronounced. "I just happened to sit here," she explained. Sebastian's expression darkened. "Happened to sit here? Happened to put on makeup, wear nice clothes, and show up near my firm? And then, by sheer coincidence, you ran into me? Roxanne, if you're going to make excuses, at least make them convincing. Don't rely on coincidence so much." Today, she wore a camel-colored belted coat, the tie cinched neatly at her waist, highlighting her slender figure. On her feet were beige pointed-toe heeled ankle boots, and her fair, slim calves peeked out just slightly, making her appear both tall and elegant. When she sat down, even more of her legs were revealed, adding a subtle allure to her presence. By dressing like this, she had intended to present herself with dignity and poise. But a faint, cold smile crossed her lips. In the past, her life had revolved entirely around Sebastian. From choosing the right suits and matching ties to selecting his preferred brand of body wash, she had taken care of every tiny detail of his daily life. She'd had no time to dress up for herself. Now, this sudden shift in her style made it seem as though she had deliberately gone out of her way to look her best. She followed his gaze back to where she was sitting. Indeed, her location was suspiciously close to his office. She drew a deep breath and said, "You're mistaken. We're divorced, and I have no intention of reconciling." Her words only seemed to fan the flames of Sebastian's anger. For days, he had been plagued by her absence. The empty spot beside him in bed, the quiet mornings without her texts asking about his day, the disrupted routine—it all gnawed at him. Even when they had occasionally had disagreements, she had never stayed upset with him for more than 24 hours. That was just how much she had loved him. But this time, her silence had stretched on a bit too long. Coming home to an empty house, he had felt strangely unsettled. These past few days, he hadn't had his breakfast on time, and now even his stomach was starting to feel off because of it. He glared at her. "Roxanne, haven't you caused enough trouble? You cut your hair short just to annoy me, even though you know I like your long hair. You've taken this far enough." Although she looked prettier with short hair, he preferred the innocent look she had with long hair. Roxanne blinked at him, then burst out laughing. "You're delusional," she said coldly. "Maybe go to a psychiatrist and get that checked out."