“Anyway, no one will recognize your original self since it’s been so long. Who would know that this ugly version and the real Alice are the same person?”
‘Could that be true? Would even the Vice President not recognize me?’
Alice suddenly became curious if Ryan would recognize her original self.
What would he think if he saw her as she used to be?
No, why was she even thinking about Ryan again?
Alice tried to shake off the sudden thought of him.
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled.
“Just three hours.”
Because it was Olive, because it was her request.
She couldn’t ignore the gratitude she felt for Olive, who had supported and comforted her when she was struggling.
It had been years, so what could possibly happen if she didn’t disguise herself for just three hours?
“Yay! Thank you! Alice, I’m so glad you’re my friend! Don’t worry! I’ll take care of everything.”
Alice didn’t know what she meant by taking care of everything, but she couldn’t ask more due to Olive’s intense emotional expression. She didn’t even know what spirit made her nod.
“Now that we’ve eaten, we need to get some caffeine!”
“Weren’t you just at the café?”
“I was just drinking tea. Coffee on an empty stomach makes me feel sick. There’s a café in your company, right? Let’s go there. We can drop you off and then go right back up!”
“Okay, let’s do that.”
Alice didn’t even know what spirit made her respond like that.
The two entered the café inside Mobid Holdings and stood in line to order their menu.
The lunchtime café seat battle was fierce.
“Still, I’m glad there are still empty seats.”
“If we had come a little later, there wouldn’t be any seats here either.”
At that moment, Alice spotted a rare silhouette walking into the café from a distance.
“Vice President?”
“Where, where?”
As Alice’s eyes met Ryan’s, he walked towards her.
“Wow, Alice Wesley must be enjoying the view every day.”
It was the first time Ryan and Olive had met face to face.
“Vice President, what brings you here?”
“Came down to buy some coffee, right?”
It was extremely rare for Ryan to come down to buy coffee himself. He always drank the coffee that Alice prepared and ordered when he needed it.
Seeing him come down to buy coffee himself was a first for Alice.
“Oh, I see.”
Alice felt an internal conflict about whether to introduce Olive to Ryan.
“Hello! I’m Miss Olive, Alice’s best friend.”
Without needing to think, Olive greeted Ryan first.
Flustered, Alice quickly approached Ryan, standing on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
“Olive is the only friend who knows about our relationship.”
Alice smiled with her eyes squinted. Ryan slightly bowed his head towards Olive.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Vice President. You’re even more handsome in person!”
“Oh, yes. I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”
But Olive hadn’t said anything before, had she?
Still, it was a relief that she said she had.
If she had said she hadn’t mentioned it even once, Olive would have been sulking.
“Later, when we have a housewarming party…”
Alice urgently poked Olive in the side to stop her.
Why was a housewarming party coming up here…
Haha. Alice just awkwardly smiled from the side.
“Yes, then I’ll head up first.”
Ryan took out his card from his wallet. It meant to buy coffee for both of them and come back up.
“Thank you! I’ll enjoy it.”
He had clearly come down to buy coffee, but just going back up meant he was either too lazy to wait or found Olive bothersome. It had to be one of the two.
Unaware of the underlying reasons, Olive’s voice brightened with excitement.
“Thank you, Vice President.”
Watching Ryan’s back as he left, Olive was momentarily lost in thought. So handsome. So dignified. She praised him and clung to Alice, teasing her.
It was while Ryan was gone, and they were waiting in line.
“Remember the secretary I mentioned? That’s her.”
“Oh my! No wonder! Why does she look like that?”
Other employees who spotted Alice began to gossip about her.
“Hey, isn’t this backbiting?”
Olive was taken aback, but Alice just told her to lower her voice.
“Why not…”
“No need to get involved, it’ll just end with that, so let it be.”
“Those who wouldn’t dare say a word if they saw your true self! Seriously! Do you still not want to take off your glasses? Tell them to flatten their noses!”
“Why would I bother…”
Alice focused on her order as it came up, as if she had no interest in the conversation.
Ugh! So frustrating! Is she just used to it?
Olive felt upset witnessing her friend pretend not to hear the gossip.
What kind of friend is she to me?
A friend more precious than a family that treats me like a beggar, and yet she’s being treated like this.
I actively supported the contract marriage, but there’s been no progress in their relationship. It seems Ryan still hasn’t seen Alice’s true self.
