But she quickly recomposed herself, smiling as she said, “Enjoy your trip, Mr. Fowler."

Marcus picked up on Sylvia's sarcasm but he was feeling pretty good at the moment. Instead of arguing, he simply gestured for her to leave.

Sylvia headed downstairs and decided to grab dinner at the hotel restaurant. As luck would have it, she bumped into some coworkers returning from a company trip. They occupied 20 tables on the restaurant's second floor. The main gossip among the female staff was about why Marcus hadn't joined them today.

They cut their conversation short when they noticed Sylvia approaching.

Curiosity soon got the better of them, and they couldn't resist asking about Marcus.

Sylvia, respecting Marcus' privacy, replied vaguely, "Mr. Fowler isn't well. He needs some rest."

The thought of Marcus being sick sparked a buzz.

One of them, eager to gain favor with Marcus, suggested, "Maybe we should send someone to check on Mr. Fowler?"

Another, a hint of envy in her voice, commented, "I think Mr. Fowler already has company. That new secretary, what's her name, Brown? She resembles Melissa and is always by his side."

“Yeah, she's probably taking care of him," agreed another.

Sylvia just smiled and stayed silent, sipping her drink and eating at her own pace.

After dinner, Sylvia was invited to join her colleagues at a bar on the 26th floor. "There's a fantastic singer there, Sylvia. Come on, let's have some fun. You can help us with the expense report later."

Having rested all afternoon, Sylvia was up for some relaxation and agreed.

By nine, over thirty elegantly dressed Fowler Group employees arrived at the bar. The bar was somewhat dimly lit and not very crowded, except for a couple in the corner.

The employees didn't mind. They settled in, ordering drinks and snacks.

Then, the topic shifted back to Marcus. They speculated freely, increasingly convinced that Marcus was involved with the new secretary.

As they chatted with excitement, someone abruptly pointed to a corner, hesitatingly saying, "That looks like Mr. Fowler. And the person next to him... might be Melissa."

Ah...

How could Marcus be with Melissa?

That was impossible.