?Chapter 334:


    Seizing the perfect moment, Rachel chimed in, “Since you missed the elevator, how about a coffee instead?”


    “No need,” Tracy replied through clenched teeth.


    “Alright then. Wishing you better luck next time squeezing in.” As Rachel wrapped up her words, her phone buzzed with a message from Samira. “Wasn’t I super cool just now?” Rachel replied with a thumbs-up emoji.


    “BTW, Tracy’s not getting upstairs anytime soon,” Samira added. “Why’s that?”


    “It’s peak lunch hour. The first floor is swarming with delivery guys, and the elevators are packed,” Samira exined.


    Rachel couldn’t help but smile, her mood unexpectedly lightening. Maybe today wasn’t such a bad day after all.


    But just as she stepped into her office, her phone rang again.


    “Hello, is this Rachel Marsh?” The caller ID was unfamiliar, but the voice was oddly recognizable.


    It was none other than a ssmate from her university days.


    “Yes, speaking.”


    Upon hearing Rachel’s response, the voice on the other end lit up with excitement. “Oh wow, Rachel, it’s really you. It’s me, Elsa! Do you remember?”


    “Of course, I do. How could I forget you?”


    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Elsa Pierce cut to the chase.


    “Rachel, if you’re free, would you like to grab a coffee?”


    Though they had been ssmates, they were never particrly close. And there was that old saying—when a long-lost ssmate suddenly reaches out, it’s rarely for a good reason. With that in mind, Rachel remained wary.


    “Sorry, Elsa, but work’s been keeping me swampedtely.”


    Elsa didn’t seem too surprised by the rejection. “That’s okay. I get it. It’s been years, and I know it must seem odd for me to reach out so suddenly.”


    She then let out a sigh and added, “I’ll be honest. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about. But don’t worry—it’s not about borrowing money or pitching an investment.”


    g?lnσν???s．c????, a world of tales


    Elsa paused before continuing, “How about this—I’ll send you something to your email tonight. If it interests you, we can talk then.”


    Just as she finished speaking, another call starteding through on Rachel’s phone.


    Seeing Jeffrey’s name sh on the screen, Rachel’s heart tightened. “Elsa, sorry, I’ve got to take this. Something urgent just came up.” Without wasting a second, she switched over to Jeffrey’s call. Jeffrey had been job hunting all morning, and Rachel had been worried sick about him.


    Still, she had promised to give him space, so she hadn’t interfered.


    But now that he was calling, her stomach twisted with worry.


    Her palms grew mmy as she quickly picked up. “Hey, Jeffrey?”


    “Rachel, I got a job!”


    Hearing his words, all the tension inside her instantly melted away. “OMG, really?” Rachel’s voice was filled with surprise and excitement.


    “Yes! I really found a job. I start tomorrow.”


    “That’s amazing!”


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