When Oliver and I arrived at the R&D department to report for work, we were greeted by Taylor Grayson, the R&D department manager.


    "This situation is really serious," Taylor said, his unshaven stubble making him look even more exhausted. It was clear he hadn''t been sleeping well for days.


    "Everyone in the R&D department is on edge. We''re engineers. We can analyze data just fine, but reading people''s minds? That''s a whole different story."


    "I know you too well." Oliver and Taylor used to be ssmates, so they were pretty familiar with each other. "You were like this back in university, and now, you haven''t changed one bit-not even after graduating."


    "Yeah." Taylor sighed with a wry smile. "If it weren''t for having you as my connection, I would''ve probably lost my ce in thispany long ago."


    "But let me be clear about one thing," Oliver said seriously. "Make sure you don''t tell anyone why Ms. Ashford and I were transferred here."


    Taylor gave him a long look before nodding in agreement. "Alright. I promise I won''t say a word. But in return, you have to promise me something-get this done as soon as possible. The new product development can''t afford any more dys."


    "You think I don''t know that?" Oliver rolled his eyes. "I''ve been following Mr. Hastings around daily. There''s no way I''m unaware."


    After that, we settled into our roles in the R&D department, though we were assigned to different teams. Mia Anderson led my team.


    "This will be your workstation," she said, pointing to my desk. She had perfectly styled, voluminous curlspletely different from the rest of the R&D staff, who looked unkempt and disheveled.


    Given my abrupt transfer from the executive office to the R&D department-twopletely unrted areas-spection was inevitable. Some colleagues whispered behind my back, some tried to cozy up to me, and some were bold enough to ask outright.


    But I stuck to my usual answers -"No idea, not sure, and noment."


    ...


    Ten days passed, and I still hadn''t uncovered anything useful.


    In Alex''s office, I gulped down a full ss of water.


    "Is the R&D department that poor?" He frowned at me. "Can''t they even afford drinking water?"


    "Of course not." I put down the ss and sighed. You have no idea.


    Whenever go to the pantry,


    someone always follows me in


    bombarding me with questions. Besides, the pantry is usually crowded. And right now, I''m thepany''s hottest topic. Every piece of gossip revolves around me. You think I''d willingly walk into that mess?"


    "The pantry?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "Is that a gossip hub?"


    l.ne


    I nodded. "As the boss, you wouldn''t know this, but for us regr employees, those few minutes spent refilling our drinks are the only chance we get to gossip."


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "Perhaps... that could be an opportunity."


    I gave him a puzzled look. "What opportunity?"


    He stepped closer, a sly smile ying on his lips. "A chance to infiltrate the enemy''s ranks."


    The following day, I waited for the busiest moment in the pantry, took a deep breath at the door, and mentally prepared myself before stepping inside.


    "Hey, did you hear?" One of the female employees leaned in close to her colleague and whispered conspiratorially, "Apparently, it was Serena who ruined Mr. Hastings'' engagement with Ms. Schneider."