I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 23
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Time evaporated, as if it had killed all the brain cells and then resurrected them, and now it was already the last day of the week, with the sunset coloring the sky.
Meanwhile, the two male colleagues who had been bothering Rix were transferred to a different region, and thanks to that, the subtle glances that had ignored Rix disappeared entirely. By the time rumors spread that the Lenoel handkerchief Ivonne used was a gift from Rix, even the female colleagues were showing subtle favor towards him.
“He’s a bit disappointing in looks, but…”
“At least he’s tall. That’s half the battle when it comes to impressing.”
“Right. You can always work on the face and body, can’t you?”
So, it was only natural that a wealthy employee with a well-connected background would become a candidate for a prospective groom.
On the other hand, there were only the Emperor and the Crown Prince as members of the imperial family, so why were there so many things to log about them? Ivonne, who was calculating the difference in the tribute received from the defeated country of Osblum according to the Emperor’s orders and allocating it to his assets, absentmindedly checked the time.
Half-past five in the afternoon.
Ivonne realized that the end of today’s working hours was approaching. Like all office workers, her face brightened a bit.
“We have a new recruit!”
Oh, no.
Hamel, the deputy head who had met Rix for the first time today after being busy with assignments from other departments for the past week, raised his head and announced. At that moment, an ominous aura filled Ivonne’s face and the faces of her other colleagues.
‘No way.’
‘It can’t be.’
‘Ugh, if he had any sense, this can’t happen.’
‘It’s half-past five now, right?’
Various thoughts crossed people’s minds, but in the end, they all converged into one.
“Let’s have a company dinner tonight!”
“Ah, damn it!” Someone cursed with their expression. Though no one spoke the profanity out loud, everyone in the internal affairs team heard it loud and clear.
It must have been the voice of their inner frustrations.
“Oh, why is everyone reacting like that? Is there, perhaps, some plans or something today?” Hamel asked, noticing the silent response from the internal affairs team.
His fingers adorned with rings, reflecting the wealth of a Count’s third son. His middle-aged eyes twinkled mischievously.
‘You won’t dare refuse the proposal for a company dinner from a superior, right?’
This thought was clearly conveyed. Simultaneously, those of common birth stood up and shouted.
“Huh? Plans? After work commitments for an office worker?”
“Even without that, I was about to suggest it, but with our deputy head suggesting it, I was moved!”
“Yes, my heart was pounding, and I was momentarily speechless. It seems like our hearts are connected!”
“With the new recruit joining, shouldn’t we take the opportunity to bond as a department?”
“Exactly! We were already postponing the welcome ceremony because you, deputy head, weren’t around!”
“Well then! As colleagues, let’s get along and cheer together!”
Everyone was exclaiming in excitement. Ivonne, on the other hand, sat at her desk, pretending not to see or hear anything, staring intently at her desk.
“Will Ivonne also join?”
Heavens, how cruel. Hamel pointedly asked Ivonne.
“Yes, um… yes? Ah…”
Ivonne could only awkwardly smile and raise her head. The laughter of the deputy head intensified, and those who had just flattered him turned their attention to Ivonne.
“No, she has a fox at home. If it’s not from Ivonne, it won’t eat. She can’t come with us.”
The deputy head looked around, asking if that was the case. People nodded with awkward expressions.
“But, well, I heard from Sylvia this morning that the fox left?”
How on earth did he hear a conversation from the women’s restroom? Ivonne glanced at Sylvia, and her face was also pale. It seemed Sylvia didn’t leak anything.
“How did you…?”
“Oh, who cares how I heard or where I found out.”
Hamel stared intently at Ivonne. In his gaze that scanned her pale face, a sense of decay and filth was felt.
“Will you be joining us today for dinner?”
Ivonne wanted to refuse. She knew all too well how Hamel, who was over forty this year, looked at her with ‘a certain gaze.’ If Hamel’s persistence had anything to say, it would have been better to have a meal with ten Atens instead.
“Surely, it won’t be impossible this time, right? Today, we’re welcoming the recruit who follows Ivonne so well.”
Hamel quickly interjected, fearing that Ivonne might decline, and sat next to Rix, who was sitting quietly beside her. A sense of defeat crossed Ivonne’s face as she forced an awkward smile.
‘If I don’t go, Rix will probably be resented at the dinner gathering.’
Amidst the unexpected dinner arrangements, when it was hinted that Ivonne might attend, some of the tension in the employees expressions eased.
In the end, Ivonne could only force a thin smile and say,
“It sounds like it’ll be fun.”
