Chapter 2 She Is a Pro

"A resignation letter," Louisa answered honestly. She never lied to Thaddeus because he had once told her that he hated being lied to, even if it was a white lie. Thaddeus' expression darkened. "In the future, any resignation letter, no matter whose it is, should be handed straight to HR. "Don't overstep your duties. If you have too much free time on your hands, perhaps you should spend more time with your grandmother." As the door slammed shut behind him, the smile on Louisa's face slowly faded. "Thaddeus, it's my resignation letter." At 6:00 pm, Louisa accompanied Thaddeus to the Watson residence. As soon as their car pulled to a stop, Danica came running out, her white dog in her arms. Her eyes were filled with joy and bashful affection as she looked at Thaddeus. The dog in her arms, however, seemed far less fond of him and barked loudly at him. "Be good, Snowy. He's your daddy," Danica cooed. Louisa's lips twitched imperceptibly as she glanced at Thaddeus. He had never liked dogs or cats because he was allergic to animal fur. Yet the very next second, he reached out and tapped the dog lightly on the head. "So, you're Snowy, huh? If you keep barking at me, I'll have Mommy send you away." Louisa stood frozen, staring at the hand that had touched Snowy. She suddenly felt a bitterness rising within her. She had once kept a cat, housed strictly in a cage, no less. Due to his allergy, he had made her give it away. Yet here he was, talking to Danica's dog and even touching it. It turned out that allergies could disappear when one was around the person they truly liked. "Teddy, my parents are waiting for you inside," Danica said. As a trained dancer, she was slender and graceful. Even her voice and the way she looked at people carried a gentle softness. Who wouldn't adore such a delicate, sweet woman? Even Louisa, as a woman, felt inclined to look at Danica a little longer than usual. Arm in arm, the couple walked ahead, while Louisa and the driver followed behind, carrying armfuls of gifts. This meeting was nothing more than a discussion between the two families regarding the wedding details. Louisa sat off to the side with a notebook in hand, swiftly jotting down every point. She was the picture of professionalism. "That's everything we can think of," said Danica's father, Patrick Watson, by which time Louisa had already filled the entire notebook. Still, Danica's mother, Rosalie Gump, asked in a worried tone, "Ms. Graham, did you get all that? You didn't miss anything, did you?" "Don't worry, Mom. Haven't you heard how capable Thaddeus' personal assistant is?" Danica chimed in, then turned to Louisa. "Ms. Graham has been able to stay by Thaddeus' side all these years precisely because of how well she does her job. Isn't that right, Thaddeus?" Danica asked, shaking his arm coquettishly. "Mr. and Mrs. Watson, you can have full confidence in Ms. Graham," Thaddeus said. As he spoke, he shot Louisa a look, a silent warning not to make any mistakes. As Danica had pointed out, Louisa had handled everything for him over the years, from business matters to personal affairs—large and small—without a single error. Anyone else could doubt her, but Thaddeus shouldn't have. And a warning? That stung even more. Louisa, though no longer holding out hope for him, felt her heart sink even further. "Teddy, I want Ms. Graham to be one of my bridesmaids at our wedding," Danica announced suddenly, smiling sweetly at Louisa. "Will you do me the honor, Ms. Graham?" Louisa recalled her schedule and said, "I'm sorry, but I'll be occupied that day." "Teddy," Danica whined. "You're not allowed to assign Ms. Graham any other work that day. Just have her put on a bridesmaid's dress and stand by our side to witness our happiness." Danica was an expert at crushing one's hopes and spirits. She appeared pure and harmless, yet she was already wielding the blade, quietly driving Louisa, her rival in love, to the brink. … On the ride back, Louisa remained silent. Thaddeus massaged his temples, appearing exhausted. When the car arrived at Maple Grove, she bade him farewell in a formal and polite manner. "Good night, Mr. Cromwell." "I'm having an allergic reaction. Go find my ointment," Thaddeus said as he spoke, tugging off his tie. Red spots dotted his neck.