Chapter 417

Carol's shy vibe really got to Joe.

He walked around the desk, grabbed her shoulders, and got close.

"So, Ms. Lester, what should I do now?" Joe asked, looking at her with those loving eyes.

Carol's face turned even redder, her breath quickened, and she tried to push him away.

"Don't do this, I'm not ready. Maybe you should find a job here first," she said, her voice shaky.

Joe gave her a gentle smile. "So, Ms. Lester, will you hire me?"

"Actually, we both work for Ms. Taylor," Carol pointed out.

Joe just shook his head, still smiling. "I don't care who I work for. Being with you is all that matters."

Carol felt her heart melt at his tenderness.

"Wait, there's a loose thread on your shirt," she said, grabbing a pair of scissors and moving closer.

A blue thread was sticking out of Joe's collar.

Carol carefully snipped it off.

They were so close, feeling each other's warmth and quick breaths.

Suddenly, Joe hugged her, making her jump. She looked up at him, shocked.

Joe gazed into her eyes, slowly lowering his head.

Carol's lips trembled, anticipating what was coming. She closed her eyes.

Just as their lips were about to meet, a knock on the door startled them.

Carol quickly pushed Joe away and straightened her clothes.

"Come in," she called out, her face still a bit red.

Juliet walked in.

"Ms. Lester, Ms. Taylor asked me to bring these documents," Juliet said, noticing the weird vibe.

Only Carol and a handsome guy were in the office. Carol looked flustered, and Joe seemed calm, even smiling at Juliet.

Sensing the awkwardness, Juliet put the documents on Carol's desk, giving them a curious look.

"Alright, Juliet. Got it. Anything else from Ms. Taylor?" Carol asked, trying to sound calm.

Juliet shook her head. "Nope, just the documents. I'll leave now."

Juliet wasn't dumb; she felt the tension and quickly left.

After she was gone, Carol sighed in relief.

She glared at Joe, who just shrugged and smiled.

"Sorry, you're just too irresistible," Joe said.

Carol waved it off. "Enough, let's drop it. Your start date is tomorrow. Can you make it?"

Joe nodded. "I can, but I don't have a place to stay right now. You know my situation. I even took a risk and showered at a motel just to see you today."

After a moment of hesitation, Carol pulled a key from her drawer and tossed it to him. "This is my apartment key. You can crash there for now."

Joe caught the key, giving her a grateful nod. "Thanks a lot, dear. I'll be waiting for you at home."

He winked at her, blew a kiss, and then walked out of her office.

As soon as Joe left and closed the door, Carol's flustered expression vanished, and she got back to her usual self.

She pulled out her phone, sent a quick message, and then sat down to tackle the files Isabella had given her.

Meanwhile, Joe bumped into Sarah on his way out.

"How'd the interview go, Jack?" Sarah asked, curious.

Joe smiled. "Thanks, Sarah. Your advice was spot on. Looks like I got the job, so we'll be colleagues soon."

Sarah was thrilled to hear that.

"Want to grab dinner tonight? I can fill you in on more about the company," she offered.

Joe checked his watch, looking a bit regretful. "Sorry, Sarah, I have plans this afternoon. Maybe another time?"

A flicker of disappointment crossed Sarah's face. "Sure, another time then."

Joe said his goodbyes and left Isabella's company.

Meanwhile, Juliet headed to Isabella's office to share what she'd seen.

"Ms. Taylor, I haven't seen that guy on the HR floor before. He must be a job applicant or a new hire. But I think Ms. Lester and that new guy might..." Juliet hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.

Isabella looked up, smiling. "Don't worry about Carol. She's not one to act rashly just because a guy is handsome. Just keep this to yourself and don't let it affect her plans."

Juliet scratched her head, a bit confused, but she knew Isabella was right.

Isabella waved her off, signaling her to leave.

Isabella wasn't too concerned about Carol's personal life. She trusted her.

A woman who could climb the corporate ladder had to be sharp and savvy. Most importantly, Isabella believed Carol wasn't the type to get involved in office drama or shady behavior.

Meanwhile, Joe arrived at Carol's apartment and immediately started searching for surveillance and listening devices. He didn't fully trust her.