C262 Director Bought Me Lunch

The waiter smiled. "No problem. Would you like everything billed to the card you have?" Amanda remembered Sarah's instructions and immediately shook her head. "No." She smiled shyly. "Director Sarah said everything should be billed under her account." The waiter looked surprised. "The Director?" Amanda nodded proudly. "Yes."

The waiter quickly changed the invoice. "Very well. We'll have everything delivered immediately." Amanda thanked him before quietly waiting by the counter. Although it was only lunch, she felt strangely happy. Ever since becoming Chris's secretary, she had constantly worried about making mistakes. Chris was gentle and easy to work with, but Director Sarah carried an invisible pressure that made everyone nervous. But today... She had not only spoken to her kindly... She had even bought her lunch.

Amanda couldn't help smiling. "Maybe the Director isn't as scary as everyone says," she thought. "She's strict... but she really takes care of her people." A few minutes later, the meals were packed neatly. Amanda carried the bags herself before returning to Wood IT Company. Inside Sarah's office... Sarah had already arranged several documents across her desk while waiting. She rubbed her slightly swollen stomach before smiling softly. "Our little one..." "You've started making everyone notice you already."

She gently placed a hand over her stomach. "It won't be long before hiding you becomes impossible." A knock sounded on the door. "Come in." The door opened and Chris walked inside. He looked around. "So... my lunch hasn't arrived yet?" Sarah laughed. "You only came because of lunch?" Chris smiled as he sat opposite her. "I came because my wife is here." Sarah rolled her eyes. "You've become smoother with your words lately." Chris chuckled. "Me Never." Sarah burst into laughter.

The two continued chatting while waiting. A few minutes later another knock sounded. "Come in." Amanda entered carrying several bags. "Director... Vice Director... lunch is here." She carefully placed every dish onto the coffee table before arranging the plates one by one. Chris watched quietly before asking, "You ordered quite a lot." Sarah smiled. "I told Amanda to order for herself too." Chris looked towards his secretary. "Really?"

Amanda lowered her head awkwardly. "Director insisted..." Chris smiled. "Then don't refuse. Consider it your reward for working hard." Amanda nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Vice Director." She then turned towards Sarah. "Director... thank you very much." Sarah smiled warmly. "You don't have to thank me." "You work hard every day. A simple lunch isn't worth mentioning." Amanda felt warmth fill her heart. This was completely different from the strict image everyone in the company had of Sarah.

She bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Director." Sarah nodded. "Go enjoy your lunch before it gets cold." "Yes, Director." Amanda happily left the office, gently closing the door behind her. The moment she stepped outside, she couldn't stop smiling. Several employees noticed her cheerful expression. One of them laughed. "Amanda... did you win the lottery?" She shook her head. "No." "Then why are you smiling like that?"

Amanda smiled even brighter. "Director bought me lunch." Everyone around her froze. "What?" "The Director?" Amanda nodded proudly. "Yes." Another employee blinked in disbelief. "Our Director actually bought you lunch?" Amanda laughed. "She's not as scary as everyone thinks." The employees exchanged glances. Perhaps... Their new Director wasn't only strict. Perhaps she genuinely cared about the people who worked under her.

While Sarah and Chris finally began eating together. The atmosphere inside Samantha's office was completely different from the cheerful mood in Sarah's office. Just as Samantha finished organizing the documents on her desk, she stretched her arms and glanced at the clock. "It's already lunchtime..." she murmured to herself with a smile. She had planned to have lunch with Sarah as they usually did whenever their schedules allowed.

After all the tension from the previous day, she wanted to relax for a while with her sister. She stood up, picked up her phone, and was about to leave when a knock sounded on the office door. Knock! Knock! Without giving it much thought, she answered, "Come in." The door slowly opened. The smile on her face immediately disappeared. Standing outside were two people she had not expected to see. Nicolas Heaps. Lindsey Heaps. Her parents.

For a brief moment, no one spoke. Samantha slowly walked back to her chair and sat down gracefully, her expression calm and unreadable. Neither happiness nor anger could be seen on her face. She simply looked at them in silence. The couple walked inside before quietly closing the door behind them. An awkward silence filled the room. Normally, children would greet their parents first. Today... Neither side did. After gathering his courage, Nicolas forced a smile. "My daughter... are you doing well?"

Samantha remained expressionless. Before she could answer, Lindsey stepped forward. "We were worried about you, Samantha. We... we wanted to come and see how you've been." Still... No response. Samantha simply looked at them as though they were ordinary visitors. The silence became heavier. Finally, she spoke. "Dad... Mom..." For a brief second, hope appeared on their faces. Then she continued calmly, "I'm fine."

She leaned back in her chair. "I know both of you didn't come here just to ask whether I'm doing well." Her eyes rested on Nicolas. "So tell me..." "What is it that you really want?" Her straightforward question immediately made Nicolas stiffen. Lindsey also lowered her head awkwardly. Neither of them knew how to begin. After a long pause, Nicolas finally spoke. "Samantha..." "We brought you into this world." "We raised you." "We made sure you had everything you ever wanted."

His voice became softer. "When you were little, you had the best schools... the best clothes... the best toys..." He forced a smile. "You were surrounded by wealthy friends." He looked directly at her. "Tell me honestly." "Was there ever anything you asked for that we didn't give you?" Samantha's eyes slowly drifted away. For the first time since they had entered, memories began flashing through her mind.

She remembered birthday parties. Family vacations. Her father proudly carrying her on his shoulders. Her mother brushing her hair before school. Back then... She had believed she was the happiest girl in the world. A faint smile appeared on her lips. Then... It slowly disappeared. She looked back at them. Her voice was calm. "So..." "What changed?"