"Who started it, then?" I pressed on, staring Patricia down.


    "I..." A flicker of fear crossed her eyes, but she remained silent.


    "Not talking?" I let out a coldugh. "Fine. I''ll just go ahead and tell Mr. Hastings what you said. He absolutely despises people stirring up rumors in thepany. Even if your words are true, you''re still spreading his personal affairs. Let''s see if he deals with you or not."


    I made a show of pulling out my phone, only for Patricia to grab my wrist in panic. "I-It wasn''t me! It was Mia who said it!"


    Mia? I recalled her poised and elegant demeanor. This was not what I had expected from her.


    "There''s been word going around the R&D department that you were sent here to rece Mia," Patricia continued hastily. "The rumors kept growing, so she told me that you were actually kicked out, and she also mentioned this whole engagement thing."


    I frowned. I hadn''t heard a word of these rumors before. Given my position, it made sense that no one would dare say them to my face.


    "Please, you can''t tell anyone," she pleaded. "Mia only told me about this and made me promise not to spread it."


    I rolled my eyes. I was more worried about her alerting Mia too soon.


    "Do you know why Mia only told you and no one else?" I asked, looking at Patricia with something close to pity.


    "Why?"


    "Because she knew you wouldn''t be able to keep your mouth shut. When the rumors spread like wildfire, you''d be the one med for it. It would have nothing to do with her."


    "But she told me about it!" Patricia was agitated now.


    "Oh? Do you have proof? Did she send it over text?"


    Patricia visibly deted. "No... She told me when we were having coffee together."


    It was a ssic move-choosing an informal setting with no record of the conversation to ensure that Mia could deny ever saying anything. It was a typical maniptive tactic.


    ...


    "Mia Anderson?" Alex repeated the name, his expression nk. He clearly had no recollection of her.


    With thousands of employees in thepany, it was natural that he wouldn''t remember everyone.


    "I looked into her career history," I exined. "She started in the creative department before


    requesting a transfer to the R?


    department. Her performance was outstanding, so she was promoted to lead Creative Team Two


    "Why would she do this?" Alex frowned. "Is she dissatisfied with thepany?"


    "Maybe," I said, looking at him. "But shouldn''t you be more curious about how Mia even knows details about your engagement? The rumors might be exaggerated, but there''s stil truth in them."


    Alex nodded, then pulled out his phone. "Oliver, find out if Mia has connections with the Schneider family."


    "You''re certain it''s the Schneider family?" I leaned in curiously.


    "Who else would it be?" He paused slightly while putting his phone away, then nced at me thoughtfully. "Unless... it was you?"


    "Are you insane?" I rolled my eyes. "Why would I spread rumors about myself? Why aren''t you suspecting Oliver?"


    "He wouldn''t do something like that." Alex dismissed the idea with a wave.


    When I left his office, it was already the end of the workday. Just as I stepped outside, a ck Mercedes G-ss screeched to a stop right in front of me, blocking my path.


    The window rolled down slowly, revealing a towering man in a ck suit.