Chapter 12

Sylvia was a fascinating person. She was dedicated to her work and detailed in her approach. She also treated me with respect despite being newly hired as her supervisor, and she skillfully guided me through the company's policies and procedures. Sylvia had been a huge help in many ways, especially since I was not the social type and had kept my distance from most of the team. But with her support, I began to build stronger relationships, and the whole company atmosphere felt great. Perhaps because she was too obvious about it, the office started gossiping about us. They spread rumors about how perfect we were for each other, claiming we were just too shy to acknowledge our feelings. Sylvia even once teased me about their gossip, saying, "They say we're perfect for each other and can't wait to see us together. What do you think, Hudson?" I did not know how to respond and chose to remain silent. After seeing my reaction, Sylvia quietly returned to her work. Having been used