Before Sidney had actually resigned, she still had to spend every day with Frank, working side by side. Frank acted as though nothing had changed, and he didn't seem at all awkward, which made it difficult for Sidney to avoid him without seeming petty. Aside from the necessary work interactions, she tried her best to avoid any private time alone with him.
That afternoon, the store was busy. A nearby company had placed an order for 200 lunch boxes all at once. Although the store wasn't small, preparing that many at once was still quite rushed.
Sidney had been busy since early morning, without a moment to sit down and catch her breath. After finally packing the 200 lunch boxes, Frank hopped onto the delivery truck and asked Sidney to go with him to help.
Sidney shook her head, wiped the sweat off her hands on her apron, and said she was feeling a bit dizzy. She asked if someone else could go with him instead.
Seeing her pale face, Frank noticed something was off and called another assistant to go with him instead.
Sidney knew that the company had been newly established recently, and its base had taken a full year to build. Now that they had finished hiring employees, the company was officially up and running. The celebratory banquet would surely be grand. She knew what those kinds of events were like, having attended them before. They were full of insincere smiles and scrutinizing gazes, making it hard to breathe.
However, she also knew that there were people who were born for such occasions, with an air of ease and composure. Everyone's eyes followed him, and he didn't allow anyone to not make him the center of attention.
After washing her hands, she sat in the corner of the kitchen, eating her cold takeout. The rice had hardened, and the food wasn't much better, but she didn't mind. Meanwhile, the others were busy with their tasks—some ordered takeout to eat together, while others took the chance to catch a quick nap.
Sidney wolfed down the rest of the food, wiped her mouth, and then suddenly laughed bitterly to herself. Hadn't she stopped thinking about him a long time ago? Why, lately, had she...
On the weekend, Sidney cleaned her room and found her old phone. After leaving B City, she had changed her phone and number, hoping to sever all contact with people from there, but she hadn't canceled the old one. The reason was that Alondra didn't know about her situation, nor did she know that Sidney had changed her number. What would happen if Alondra tried to contact her?
So, she would regularly check the old number to see if there were any new messages. A year had passed, and this number had only received ads and scam messages. She had never received anything she wanted to know.
This time, she casually pressed the power button. Not waiting for it to fully boot up, she threw it onto the table and began sorting through the clutter.
Before long, the phone suddenly rang with a sound she hadn't heard in a while. Sidney froze for a moment, took a few seconds to snap out of it, and then slowly picked up the phone and pressed it open to check.
It was a message sent a few days ago, from an unfamiliar number, but she instantly recognized the signature at the end.
The next day, Sidney unusually took a day off. She still got up early, intending to look more presentable. She slipped into the white short-sleeved blouse she used to wear in school, pairing it with a simple white A-line skirt. Her bangs were carefully smoothed back and pulled into a neat ponytail, her look tidy and unassuming. With a practical crossbody bag slung over her shoulder, she headed out, catching the bus just like any other day.
She arrived at a luxurious hotel café in the city center, where the ceilings soared high, and everyone entering was dressed in immaculate suits. Sidney suddenly realized her outfit was still out of place. It had been a long time since she had been in such a setting, and she felt a bit intimidated. The waiter who opened the glass door for her glanced at her discreetly before smiling and asking if she had a reservation.
Sidney knew she was blushing because her face felt hot. She thought she would stammer from shyness or even avoid eye contact, but somehow, without thinking, she casually responded to the waiter, "My friend should have already made a reservation. Her name is Alondra."
The waiter quickly led her to her seat, where Alondra was already sitting.
Alondra warmly grabbed Sidney's arm and moved the chair closer for her.
Sidney's face clearly showed her displeasure. She sat there eating the cold bento, her chopsticks lightly tapping against the box, as if even this simple meal irritated her. She frowned slightly, clearly not enjoying the lukewarm food or the busy, indifferent atmosphere around her.
"It's been so long since we met, and this is the face you're giving me?"
"You know why."
"I didn't mean to leave without saying goodbye! I was afraid of dragging you into it, and besides..."
"Besides what?"
"I don't know if I can say it..."
"What can't you say?"
"That person told me to leave and warned me not to tell you."
That day, on the phone, Alondra had asked why this number had always been off. Sidney didn't want to explain everything or have the time, so she casually mentioned that she was divorced and had kept the number only for her.
"So, he told you not to contact me?" Unsurprised, Sidney had already guessed this possibility.
"At the time, it was to protect you that he didn't let me say anything. A well-intentioned lie, maybe!"
"What exactly happened to you? How are things now? Are you okay?" Sidney looked at Alondra, who seemed well-dressed and far from being on the run.
"Things have been resolved, which is why I dared to find you. Who knew when I did, I'd find you here."
"Did you really become a corporate spy for money?" Sidney frowned, as Alondra tried to change the subject again.
"At first, I was spying, but then I wasn't."
"Later, no?"
"Mm."
"Was it for that Josiah..."
"Josiah."
