After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 65

“Yes,” the person who had called Rebecca earlier replied. “Every year, the first place at the annual party gets

5,000 dollars, second place 3,000, third 1,500, and everyone else gets 50 for participation. The 10th anniversary

celebration should be more generous than regular annual parties.”

Someone added, “Our department always gets 50-dollar participation money every year.”

“Exactly, and Jane always claims it,” another said.

Rebecca instinctively looked at Jane before asking, “What did our department perform at previous annual

parties?”

Everyone gave a polite cough and stayed quiet, making Rebecca confused.

Jane, who'd been scrolling through the group chat, froze. Just as Rebecca thought she wouldn't get an answer,

Jane said, “A tic reading of the employee handbook.”

Someone said, “Exactly.”

Rebecca praised Jane earnestly. “That’s impressive. Most people won't touch that one. Jane, you're fearless.”

Someone shot her a thumbs-up, thinking, ‘I never knew Rebecca was the undisputed queen of flattery!

Rebecca looked puzzled. She genuinely believed reading the handbook on stage took guts. Back in school, every

class had to put on a skit for the talent show, and her class always bombed with the handbook-reading bit. Ever

since, she’d kept her distance from it.

“It was the department’s only option since each department had to perform,” Jane finally spoke, her tone gentle.

“If you've got another talent, you can sign up.”

“Holy crap! First prize is 30 thousand,” the colleague to Rebecca's left exclaimed. “They're going all out for the

10th anniversary?”

Rebecca glanced over and noticed Jason's secretary had sent new messages in the group chat.

First prize was 30 thousand, second 15 thousand, and third 5,000. The participation award was 50 dollars per

person for groups of five or fewer, or 300 dollars per department for larger groups.

Truthfully, Rebecca felt tempted. After becoming a wage earner, she'd realized the true value of money.

“Rebecca, can you pull this off?” Lisa Lambert, the girl to Rebecca’s left, looked starry-eyed, “30 thousand...

Damn, | should've learned a skill after last year’s party.”

The others began to chatter about the new messages, too. “Ugh, Department A’s gonna profit again.”

“Whatever. Whoever wins on Wednesday night, we can just throw a hoodie over their head and rough them up in

the parking lot.”

“Countin!”

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Amid the chatter, Andrea arrived. She'd overheard their discussion from afar, knowing everyone was waiting for

Rebecca's response.

So she said, “Rebecca, didn’t you win several national awards in classical dance? Why not sign up?”

All eyes

turned to Rebecca. After working together with her for those past few days, they found her humble, polite, and

easy to work with. The news reignited their hopes.

All they wanted was to redeem their department's past failures.

“The big shot is right beside us all along.”

“Rebecca, you're our department’s hope.”

“You should try,” Jane chimed in.

Under their collective gaze, Rebecca felt workplace camaraderie for the first time. “I'll decide my performance

piece tonight and let you know tomorrow.”

Everyone agreed. After the chat wrapped up, Lisa turned to Andrea with gossipy curiosity. “Andrea, can | ask you

something confidential?”

“Of course,” Andrea smiled, moving closer.

Lisa whispered, “Is Mr. Hanson participating?”

At that, Rebecca's figure froze almost imperceptibly.

Andrea caught that out of the corner of her eye. As Jeffrey had instructed her, she said, “Probably not. Mr. Smith

called him this morning, and he refused.”

Lisa wasn't surprised. As the CEO of the Hanson Group, Jeffrey only attended the parent company’s annual

parties, never participating in or interfering with other listed subsidiaries.

PrimePlay Technologies couldn't even compare to sof those subsidiaries, so it was normal that he refused to

attend the anniversary celebration.

“However...” Andrea instinctively glanced at Rebecca as she spoke.

Lisa pressed, “What?”

“If Rebecca invited him, Mr. Hanson would probably go,” Andrea said, her tone tinged with implication. “Lately,

he kept askingabout her project progress and seems quite concerned.”

Everyone's eyes sparkled with gossip. Even Jane glanced over.

“There's a misunderstanding, Andrea,” Rebecca replied calmly. “Mr. Hanson inquired because Mr. Taylor assigned

detailed tasks before my onboarding, assessing if | could keep pace. After Mr. Taylor mentioned the business trip

in the group chat, he privately informedMr. Hanson would oversee evaluations.”

Her explanation shifted the team’s gaze toward Andrea. What should've been routine work matters suddenly

Chapter 65

carried uncomfortable implications from Andrea’s phrasing.

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“| see.” Andrea didn’t expect Rebecca to catch on so quickly. She smiled and added, “I thought your school days

wish had ctrue.”

Rebecca was speechless as she thought, ‘What's this weirdo trying to pull?‘

“What wish?” someone asked.

“Nothing special. Just to work at the Hanson Group and earn Mr. Hanson's recognition,” Andrea casually replied,

sounding utterly sincere.

Others glanced at Rebecca, sensing juicy gossip.

Rebecca gave Andrea a passing glance without uttering a single word of explanation.

But her subtle look spoke volumes-the kind that even socially oblivious people would recognize as “can’t be

bothered with this psycho.”

“Finalize your performance plan and

informby Monday for appyal”

Sensing the aed shifihg Andrea

chahbed topics smoothly, switching

the conversation back to business.

Lisa, who was always agreeable, responded, “Will do.”

After Andrea left, curiosity buzzed in

the air. Everyone sensed Neil

betyseerchenrdRe ecca,

thalgh cracking the particular nut

seemed nearly impossible. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

“Rebecca,” Lisa leaned in and whispered.

Rebecca's voice lifted slightly. “What?”

With a gossipy look, Lisa said, “You knew Mr. Hanson back in school?”

“I didn’t,” Rebecca told the truth.

Jeffrey's identity had only been

vaguely disclosed by himself m

previously J ke abdathhd rarely

rdpdtted on him otherwise, let alone

Rebecca knowing him. The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Though the Jensen Group had a little clout in Jelasburg back then, it still wasn’t invited to the stable as the

Hanson Group,

“Then what about what Andrea just mentioned?” Lisa pressed.

While Rebecca was contemplating how to respond, Jane called out, “Rebecca.”

Rebecca answered immediately, “Yes?”

“There's a minor issue here.” Jane casually pointed at the design to rescue her. “The color contrast’s too harsh.

Adjust it later.”

Rebecca studied it carefully. The illustration was created with meticulous attention, and the color scheme

8:46 Sat, Sep 20 -

Chapter 65

85

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aligned perfectly with the game’s character design. There shouldn't be any issues as Jane mentioned.

Rebecca was about to explain it when her gaze met Jane's reassuring eyes. At that moment, Rebecca understood

Jane's protective mentorship.

Chapter 66