“I can’t shortchange you, though,” Abel chuckled. “Otherwise, when your parents ask, they’ll say I’m bullying a child.”

“My parents couldn’t care less about me,” Emmeline shrugged.

“Alright then, how about one hundred thousand a month?” Abel suggested. “If that’s not enough, I can always add more.”

“One hundred thousand?” Emmeline fluttered her dark lashes. “That’s way too much, Mr. Ryker. Even a few thousand a month would be amazing for an intern like me.”

“That’s settled then,” Abel said firmly.

He couldn’t afford to skimp, not with the risk of Benjamin finding out and mocking him for it.

The secretary walked in with a stack of papers waiting for Abel’s signature. He picked up the pen and began to review them one by one.

If it wasn’t suitable, he denied it. If it was, he signed it without hesitation. For those that were somewhere in between, he called the other party to discuss and come up with a better solution.

After an hour or two of this, Emmeline was feeling overwhelmed just watching him. She couldn’t help but silently thank her lucky stars that Adelmar had Benjamin to manage things. Otherwise, she might have died trying to keep up with everything.

Bored out of her mind, Emmeline decided to take a walk outside.

“Mr. Ryker, my eyes are getting blurry. I need some fresh air,” she said.

“Hmm,” Abel’s gaze was still fixed on the documents in his hands. “Just walk around the floor, don’t go anywhere else.”

“Got it.”

Feeling relieved, Emmeline twirled her little mustache and headed for the door.

“Hey, handsome, handsome!” The secretary at the door waved at her. “Come over here.”

Emmeline walked over and leaned on the reception desk. “What’s up, sis?”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” the secretary batted her eyelashes seductively.

Emmeline sized up the young woman. “Are you into younger guys?”

“I’m not old,” the secretary pouted her fiery red lips. “I’m only 24.”

“Only… 24?” Emmeline raised an eyebrow. “How much younger do you want to be?”

The secretary was taken aback. Was 24 considered old?

Emmeline stood up and left.

The secretary quickly grabbed a small mirror from her drawer and examined herself from every angle.

“Am I old? Old at 24? Do you think 24 is old?” The secretary exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Emmeline was strolling down the hallway, exploring the Ryker Group building for the first time. It was more complex than she had expected, with twisting corridors leading to various departments.

Suddenly, a large hand reached out from behind her and dragged her into the adjacent restroom.

Emmeline was about to retaliate on reflex, but when she turned to face her attacker, she was surprised to find it was Adrien.

Her hand dropped back to her side.

Adrien pinned her against the sink.

“Kid, are you really Emma in disguise?”

Is this guy suspecting me?

“Confess now, or I won’t guarantee that I won’t spill it!”

Emmeline stayed silent, blinking her eyes as she thought of a plan.

Adrien raised his hand and reached for her mustache.

This time, Emmeline couldn’t help it and slapped him across the face.

“Your moves are still as fierce as ever,” Adrien said. “You’re definitely Emma!”

“Mr. Adrien, are you mistaking me for someone else?” Emmeline replied in a hoarse voice. “I’m Emmett.”

“If I hadn’t seen you like this before, I might have believed you,” Adrien said. “Don’t forget that time you went to Imperial Palace and beat me up, it was the same look, just different clothes!”

Emmeline sighed. She had been caught red-handed.

“Unlike that fool Luca, who only suspects but never confirms,” Adrien snorted. “Now, are you going to confess or do I have to call for backup?”

“I…”

“If you confess, I might be willing to help you,” Adrien said. “Otherwise, I’ll have to report you.”

Emmeline remained silent for a moment.

“I’m gonna count to three, one…”

“Two…”

“Adrien,” Emmeline blurted out, “stop yelling, it’s really me!”

Adrien pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice choked with tears. “Emma, it’s really you! You’re not dead! I thought you were dead!”

Emmeline scrambled to cover his mouth. “Stop crying, stop crying! If Abel comes, it’ll be trouble!”