Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Sherilyn frowned, remaining silent.

Karol, ever the chatterbox, couldn't contain herself. "Did you hear? Caroline suddenly vanished off the face of the earth, and the managers over at Nexus Media Group are losing their minds. They were grooming her to be the next big thing...Sherilyn, this could be our

shot!"

Sherilyn's silence deepened, her brow furrowing even more.

So, Nexus Media Group is investing on the fly? What in the world is Gilbert up to?

Across the room, Gilbert's gaze cut through the crowd, landing squarely on Sherilyn. She looked better today, probably because Jenna hadn't given her a hard time last night.

Caleb called out to Gilbert, "Mr. Johnson, would you like to take a seat...?"

"No, thanks." Gilbert waved him off with a smile, "I'm just a bystander here, wouldn't want to meddle."

Glancing at his watch, he said, "It's getting late, and you all have been working hard. I've ordered some afternoon tea for everyone, take a break."

With that, he glanced at Charles.

Charles, understanding the cue, went to open the door. A line of delivery folks had already arrived, carrying boxes inside.

To everyone's surprise, it was an assortment of treats from the Crimson Table.

Caleb thanked him with a smile, "Mr. Johnson, that's very generous of you."

"It's the least I could do,"

Gilbert replied with a light chuckle, "You're all making money for Nexus Media Group. It's hard work, especially for you, Mr. Marshall. I appreciate it." "Mr. Johnson, it's all in a day's work..."

Checking his watch again, Gilbert said, "Mr. Marshall, I think we'll call it a day. Sorry for the interruption, but I'd like to take someone with me."

"Huh?" Caleb was caught off guard, his eyes still on the sweets from Crimson Table.

Standing at full attention, he asked, "Mr. Johnson, who would you like to accompany you?"

"Over there." Gilbert's gaze shifted, landing on Sherilyn in the corner.

He strode over to Sherilyn with ease.

"Sherilyn..." Karol swallowed nervously, "Mr. Johnson is coming this way! He's actually here for us!"

Sherilyn, however, frowned, her gaze lowered.

Stopping in front of her, Gilbert's smile was gentle, "Let's go, I've already spoken to Mr. Marshall."

"Mr. Johnson..." It dawned on Karol then that Gilbert was here for Sherilyn.

Were they still an item? Had Mr. Johnson not grown tired of her?

Karol forced a smile, glancing at Sherilyn, "Sherilyn, Mr. Johnson is talking to you."

The room buzzed with whispers.

"Who is she?"

"The new face playing the lead beauty, named Sherilyn."

"She knows Mr. Johnson?"

"From her look, if she doesn't know him, who does? Ha..."

"Chosen by Mr. Marshall, no wonder..."

The whispers weren't loud, but they were audible.

Sherilyn snapped her head up, glaring at Gilbert, but restrained herself from making a scene. She knew better than to lash out; who knows what people would say afterward!

"Let's go."

Gilbert, noting her puffed cheeks, felt a twinge of guilt but reached for her wrist anyway. Sherilyn instinctively tried to pull away but, considering the setting, she held back.

"Come on." Gilbert's smile was persuasive as he led her out of the meeting room.

Before leaving, he nodded to Caleb, "Mr. Marshall, thanks for your hard work. Let's wrap up early today." "Sure thing, Mr. Johnson."

With the big boss' word, there was nothing more to be said.

Once outside the meeting room, Sherilyn broke the silence, pulling away from Gilbert.

As expected, Gilbert, with a smile still playing on his lips, softly teased, "Angry at me? Should I not have come? Think about it, what day is it today?"

What day? Sherilyn, caught up in her irritation, couldn't recall.

"You and your memory."

Gilbert raised a finger, tapping her forehead gently, "We had a doctor's appointment today, remember?

Acupuncture and picking up your prescription. Does that ring a bell?"