Chapter 53


    Conrad lounged in his chair, sharply dressed in a ck suit, a white shirt, and a tie with stars. I had given him that tie for his birthdayst year. He never wore it, and he probably wasn''t fond of it. Yet, he was donning the tie again after we parted ways.


    Conrad''s expression was grim, his gaze fixed on me, harboring a fierce intensity.


    I knew what was irking him, but I calmly initiated, "What can I do for you, Mr. Wagner?"


    "Where have you been these days?" His tone was icy.


    "Taking my holiday!" I responded, deliberately missing his point.


    Conrad''s fingers twitched on the desk. "I mean, where did you go?"


    "Gxy Harbor!" I had nothing to hide, so I told him straight.


    His brows furrowed more tightly, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes, clearly clueless about Gxy Harbor.


    It was a small, obscure town. Why would Conrad know of it?


    But if he had cared, he would have known. I had mentioned it was my birthce, where my parents always dreamed of taking me.


    Yet, he had heard but forgotten because he never truly cared about me, and my words never mattered to him.


    "Did you go there for a vacation?"


    Conrad''s question almost made meugh. And I didugh, nodding lightly with a smile.


    "Why did you go off the grid? Couldn''t even send a text back?" Each word from him sounded like an usation.


    I pursed my lips. "That''s my prerogative, Mr. Wagner."


    His face darkened more. "Yes, you can say that, but thepany has rules. Employees can''t just disappear and affect their work."


    "Did I affect any work?" I countered calmly.


    Conrad''s Adam''s apple bobbed, and it somewhat reminded me of Ernest''s chin brushing against my nose, his Adam''s apple moving in the same way.


    It seemed like Ernest''s was a bitrger, somehow more masculine.


    "About the amusement park project," Conrad pointed at me, "are you saying that wasn''t affected?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "Not at all! denied outright, "Taking my holiday or not, the lighting issue would have been there. And once I knew of the problem, I cut my holiday short and rushed back."


    I was supposed to be off for ten days but returned after a week.


    Conrad was briefly taken aback and fell silent, then nodded reluctantly. "But it''s your project. Any issues fall on you."


    "I''m aware. I''m working on a solution to ensure the amusement park''s timelypletion," I assured.


    Conrad knew my capabilities and stubbornness. He nodded, "Fine, I''ll give you time. But if it affects thepletion, don''t me me..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence, but I


    knew what he meant and voicediret


    for


    ,"If it''s notpletedet


    I''ll bear all the consequences."


    "Can you afford that?" His voice suddenly boomed.


    My fingers tensed. "I know I can''t afford it, so I won''t let it affect thepletion."


    We exchanged words, a


    conversation that should have


    reassured Conrad, yet I could see it


    only irritated him further. Col


    silent, just staring at me.


    fell


    "Anything else, Mr. Wagner? If not, I should get back to work," I said, turning to leave.


    "Wait!" He snapped coldly.


    "Any further instructions, Mr. Wagner?" I asked, maintaining formal politeness.