Love's Bitter Edge (Eva and Leonard) novel Chapter 488

I stood there in shock, not expecting the people from Erewhon to be so straightforward. The others around me were also giving me unfriendly looks.

Before coming here, Jack had already warned me that while people in this country might seem laid-back, they were actually quite competitive—especially with someone like me, a foreigner. If I didn't prove myself quickly, gaining a foothold in the company would be hard.

He had asked if I wanted him to back me up, but I had refused. Since I was already here, facing some setbacks was inevitable.

Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile and addressed the room. "Hello, everyone. I'm Rinatta Surrey. I'll be your new colleague. I hope we can all get along."

"Get along? I think it's more about whether the higher-ups will take care of you," the most vocal woman said again. One of the colleagues beside her quickly tugged at her arm.

"Anne, tone it down a bit," they whispered.

I raised an eyebrow but didn't retaliate. Knowing my enemy was just as important as knowing myself, and since I had just arrived, I couldn't afford to act rashly.

Our supervisor, Mr. Finnley, played the peacemaker, offering some token words of reassurance. However, it was clear from his tone that he was subtly implying my connection to Ms. Tanness, suggesting that I wasn't just an ordinary hire.

What "not ordinary" meant was anyone's guess, but I was sure it would lead to some gossip. It wasn't easy to be a foreigner, especially in a company overseas. I knew people weren't quick to accept someone like me.

However, I firmly believed in the power of competence. As long as my work was solid, they would have no choice but to respect me.

From then on, my life became a back-and-forth routine between the office and my apartment, with occasional hospital check-ups. I needed to take time off every week for my health, which had been arranged with Jack and HR.

When Ms. Tanness came to talk to Mr. Finnley about my leave, it was clear he wasn't pleased.

"A day off? Sorry, Ms. Tanness. You should know how busy our department is," Mr. Finnley said with a scowl. "No one likes to work overtime, so we don't normally take a day off. That's the rule in the design department."