She had intended to change the bedsheet herself, but she hadn't expected Erik to have already stripped it off. Moreover, it was already in the washing machine. This man, is he always this fast? She'd assumed a man like him wouldn't be willing to touch menstrual blood.
Seeing her emerge, Erik handed her a cup of brown sugar water. The moment she saw him offering her something to drink, Janelle felt intensely resistant. Seeing her scrunch her nose, Erik couldn't help but laugh. The little girl really disliked medicinal drinks, always resisting them.
"This isn't medicine. It's brown sugar water. Don't look at me like I'm trying to poison you, okay?" He wouldn't dream of harming her!
Janelle took the cup. She had a cold constitution, and her period did cause significant abdominal pain. However, she was someone most accustomed to enduring. She could tolerate many unpleasant things. So every period, she simply endured it. And this man – they'd only known each other for a few days! Yet he'd already bought everything she needed.
"What's wrong? Drink some. It'll help your stomach feel better." Erik brought the cup to her lips. Janelle took it and drank the entire cup of brown sugar water.
Sweet.
After she finished the drink, he pulled out a chair for her. "Eat a little. You need to eat three meals a day. You'll get used to it slowly." Breakfast was the most important meal of the day.
"Hmm." For the first time, Janelle didn't resist his suggestion. Watching her eat breakfast obediently, a smile curved Erik's lips. Even the way this little girl eats is captivating.
"Why are you staring at me? Eat."
"Watching you eat is satisfaction enough for me."
Despite saying that, he still ate with her. After breakfast, Erik once again drove Janelle to Blue Whale Co., Ltd.
They encountered Jiang Chao at the entrance. Jiang Chao had arrived via a hired car. Since his stay in Graham City wouldn't be long, he hadn't bought a car. Seeing Janelle arrive, he simply waited there, intending to enter with her.
Erik disliked seeing Jiang Chao. The man irritated him no matter what. Yet, Jiang Chao greeted him.
"Rest well. I'll come have lunch with you at noon." She'd been extremely busy lately; mealtimes were her only free moments.
Janelle shook her head. "No need. I'll be very busy today." Everything was prepared; it was time to wrap things up. "Janelle, no matter how busy, you still need to eat."
Janelle nodded. "Don't worry, I won't skip it." Eating had become a task for her. She had to eat, or her stomach would protest. "Mr. Lorenz, we'll be heading in now," Jiang Chao said, deliberately provoking him.
Erik couldn't be bothered to respond. If Jiang Chao weren't still useful to Janelle, he would have dealt with him already. How dare he try to assert his presence in front of me!
"Why provoke him?" Janelle asked, puzzled. Jiang Chao wasn't usually the type for such pettiness.
"Janelle, I'm just worried about you. What kind of man is Erik? If others don't know, surely you do?" Erik was genuinely dangerous. Janelle had already been through so much; if she fell for someone like him, Jiang Chao truly feared she would get hurt.
"I know." She had known exactly what kind of man he was from the very beginning. "Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt me." No matter who it was, she wouldn't give them the opportunity.
"Little Junior Sister, I know you're capable. But Erik became a figure feared by everyone in a place like the borderlands. He's no pushover either. It's better if you're careful." Dealing with someone like him... One misstep could lead to utter ruin.
"Senior Brother, I know you all care about me. But you can rest assured. I'm not that helpless little girl from five years ago anymore."
"Hmm." When they first met Janelle, she had been so pitiful, so broken. She was also their master's only female disciple. Naturally, all her senior brothers doted on her. It was just that, due to past events, the little junior sister had never liked getting close to others. But regardless, whenever she needed help, they would all come running. "Anyway, no matter what happens, we'll always be your backbone." Even if it meant going against Erik. If he dared hurt their little junior sister, they would never let him get away with it.
Janelle and Jiang Chao headed straight to the project team. With Jiang Chao present, all work progressed rapidly. The entire day, Janelle and Jiang Chao were busy with the project team finalizing the last details of the plan.
Seeing her progress so swiftly, Westin began to panic. However, the progress on his project was genuinely difficult.
"What are you doing? The company gave you all the people you asked for, all the money you needed. Why is this still the outcome?" Westin had been shouting all morning. "If you can't handle it, pack your bags and go home right now!"
The project manager didn't dare utter a word. Only after Westin had finished venting did he speak. "Mr. Rovella, this project is indeed very challenging. Every member of the team has been working day and night. Rest assured, I will deliver a satisfactory outcome."
"I don't care about the process; I care about the results. If I don't see results tomorrow, none of you need to come back. Now get out!" Westin chased him out.
The project manager returned and proceeded to berate his subordinates. The team members didn't dare breathe too loudly. Only after he left did they dare whisper amongst themselves.
"Why does Miss Rovella's project team seem so harmonious?"
"Right! We work overtime every day and still get yelled at, while they can leave before 5 PM and don't even have to clock in the morning!"
"It's so enviable. Clocking in is such a pain." They worked so hard, only to be scolded, while Miss Rovella's team... team dinners, meals, karaoke... it all seemed so relaxed.
"Alright, stop envying them. At least we get paid well!" That was their only consolation. "Let's keep pushing hard! Otherwise, none of us will be here tomorrow." When you took someone's money, you had to work for it.
Meanwhile, Kevin and his team could leave early today. All their work was completed ahead of schedule. Everything was set for tomorrow's bidding. For several days in a row, Janelle and her team had been intensely busy. Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly.
Tonight was the cocktail party hosted by the Aleens Group. The Aleens Group was from Imperial Capital, and this was their first event in Graham City. Many of the city's elite families attended. The Hills were also invited; after all, they were currently Graham City's wealthiest family.
Lillie came to find Nelson; they needed to leave together soon. As his fiancée, going alone would invite ridicule from Graham City's rich second generation. Nelson emerged from his room, but he now seemed gloomy and sullen. He had no desire to attend this party. In Graham City these days, he was nothing but a laughingstock.
However, Mrs. Hill was forcing him to go. "How long can you hide? Nelson, the assessment is approaching soon. Do you plan to face it in this state?"