Chapter 11 Benjamin Misunderstood

• Danna let out a disdainful snort. With inexplicable animosity, she scoffed, “Now, be on your way out!”
• Arissa was breathless with anger. After shooting one last glance at Danna, she turned her back against Danna and left the room.
• Seeing how she had offended her potential boss' fiancée, she reckoned that she probably did not have a chance of getting the job anymore.
• “Even if you really were his fiancée, you shouldn't be so rude and unkind to others!” Arissa retorted. At this point, she was no longer intimidated by Danna's threats. She was determined to leave this situation with her dignity intact.
• “You!” Danna's face began to scrunch up in anger.
• She glared at Arissa's departing figure with sinister thoughts boiling within her.
• At this point, Arissa had walked out of Benjamin's office and headed toward the direction of the elevator. She then boarded the elevator immediately.
• Just then, the private elevator inside the CEO's office opened. Benjamin stepped out of the elevator.
• The man's posture was tall and proud, while he had extraordinarily handsome features. He also radiated an innate sense of nobility that could make anyone's heart in his presence flutter.
• Danna's heart began to pound at the sight of him. Staring at Benjamin's impeccably handsome face, a hint of madness arose within her. This man was hers in her mind, and whoever was to stand in her way shall be met with death undoubtedly.
• With his long and narrow yet sharp phoenix eyes, Benjamin quickly scanned the room. However, instead of finding the supposed interviewee, he saw Danna instead. Immediately, he frowned at the sight of Danna.
• “Benjamin, you're here! I brought you breakfast,” Danna exclaimed after quickly adjusting into a gentle expression. She then briskly walked over to Benjamin's side and attempted to wrap her hand around Benjamin's arm. However, Benjamin swiftly dodged that attempt of hers.
• He walked toward his desk with a stone-cold expression instead.
• “What are you doing here?” he asked in an eerily cold voice, with no hint of warmth in his tone at all.
• Danna's heart sank. Looking at her pair of lonely hands, the smile on her face began to stiffen. Nevertheless, she recollected herself and quickly followed after him, gathering a smile on her face once again.
• “Well, I was afraid that you haven't eaten breakfast. Here, I made this for you. Please eat it while it's still hot!” Danna replied as she opened the lunchbox and placed it on Benjamin's desk.
• Yet, Benjamin only swept one glance at the lunch box before monotonously replying, “Please go and leave me alone. I have other things to do.”
• Benjamin sat down and began to work. That eerily cold and apathetic attitude of his made her feel like her heart sank alongside a large stone. After all these years, he still refuses to forgive me?
• “Benjamin...” Danna called out. She could feel a tinge of sorrow in her nose. Seeing how indifferent and cold Benjamin was, her heart fluttered in panic.
• Especially after that encounter with Arissa, Danna sank even deeper with fear. If Benjamin were to find out...
• “I've just had my meal back home. Now, put these down and head off. I'm busy!” Benjamin ordered.
• He cut her off abruptly without even casting her a glance, demanding that she left that instant.
• “In that case, please have them when you feel hungry later!” Danna pleaded. She cast him an unwilling gaze, reluctant to part ways with him.
• However, she soon spotted Benjamin dialing an internal extension number. It looked like he was summoning for Ethen.
• Immediately, Danna could tell what he intended to do next. Feeling panicked, she opted to strike first.
• “Oh, by the way, Benjamin, when I arrived at the office earlier this morning, there was a lady sitting here by the couch. She seemed to have accepted a phone call from another company inviting her for an interview. She requested that I convey this on her behalf. Apparently, the other company managed to offer her a better remuneration package than Graham Group. The total remuneration offered by Graham Group was too low in comparison now. So she chose the other company and decided to leave this interview prematurely.”
• Benjamin's face darkened immediately. The eerie sense of chills he radiated prior grew more intense too.
• Realizing how mad he had gotten, Danna secretly beamed with smugness.
• There shall be no chance for you to join Graham Group anymore, Arissa York. The one thing Benjamin hates most is people failing to keep their promises. He hates a sudden change to pre-agreed plans too.
• “Got it.” Benjamin put the phone back down. He proceeded to ignore Danna and got back to work.
• Gazing toward her perfect guy, Danna hoped to stay on for a little longer. Nevertheless, in the face of Benjamin's cold hostility, she did not dare to approach him anymore. Thus, she had no choice but to leave the office.
• Danna had just reached the office entrance when she bumped into Ethen. Upon seeing Danna, Ethen was stunned.
• “Ms. Adams!” Ethen addressed her.
• “Hmm,” Danna murmured. She put on her cold and aloof stance once again, then headed in the direction of the elevator with her head held high.
• This brief encounter had Ethen muttering inwardly. Ms. Adams can be pretty disrespectful and ill-mannered sometimes, huh?
• Soon after, Ethen retracted his gaze and walked toward Benjamin's office. Seeing how Arissa wasn't there, Ethen was puzzled.
• Could it be that Ms. York has gone to the bathroom?
• “Mr. Graham, have you met Ms. York already?” Ethen asked as he walked toward Benjamin's work desk. Yet, he received a piercing glare from Benjamin in return.
• Ethen felt utterly puzzled. Looking at his boss, who was clearly infuriated, he tried to carefully ask again, “You've met her?”
• “Next time, don't waste my time with people who are disinterested in the company!” Benjamin roared. Which bloody company is it that could afford to offer a better remuneration than Graham Group?
• “Blacklist this candidate and never consider hiring her again!” he continued.
• Jeez. Do you think my business is short of a mighty individual like you?
• Upon hearing this, Ethen blinked in confusion. He had no idea what had happened. Arissa was a candidate that he spent a lot of effort getting in touch with. It was a mere coincidence that she had plans to return to the country, thus was willing to accept the job offer. Mr. Graham, don't you know how hard it is to get hold of promising talents these days?
• “Mr. Graham, mind if I ask what happened?” Ethen was determined to get to the bottom of this.
• “You're asking me?” Benjamin's piercing gaze swept across the office. When he caught sight of the lunchbox on the desk, his temper exploded into an even fouler state.
• Well then, who else should I have asked? Weren't you the one who saw her?
• Ethen let out a sigh. He felt it was such a shame this recruitment effort did not go through. Previously, Benjamin had seen Arissa's resume too. He also agreed that her skills and experiences were suited for the role and the company.
• “Now, take this away!” Benjamin instructed domineeringly.
• “Right, okay!” Ethen quickly picked up the lunchbox on the desk. He carefully peeked at his boss before commenting, “Ms. Adams treats you well, huh? Making an effort to make you food the moment she returns is great.”
• Honestly, Ethen did not like Danna much as a person. Regardless, he had no choice but to speak nicely of her since she was his boss' sweetheart. Who knew if the day came when she became his boss' wife? It was safer and wise to speak nicely of her now.
• Benjamin shot Ethen another glare. Ethen was surprised, gulping instinctively.
• He then smiled awkwardly and said, “I'll take it away this instant if you don't like it. But Mr. Graham, Ms. York is a rare talent. Are you sure you won't reconsider your decision? Has there been a misunderstanding somewhere along the lines?”
• Ethen had only gone to the bathroom and left her for a short moment. Thus, he couldn't understand why Arissa had left by the time he came back.
• Sigh. If only I hadn't walked away. None of this would have happened then.
• “The woman declared that the terms we offered were not up to her expectations,” Benjamin scoffed. “Now, is there anything else?”
• Seeing how bad of a mood his boss was in, Ethen merely shook his head and decided not to report other matters pertaining to their work. He would wait for Benjamin to be in a better mood again before reporting the rest of their work details. With his brows knitted together, Ethen turned around and left the office. Didn't Ms. York agree to the terms offered by our company the last time we spoke over the phone? Why did she change her mind at the last minute?
• Ethen couldn't get over his confusion. When he reached the entrance of the office, he turned back to face Benjamin before asking him, “Mr. Graham, did Ms. York personally tell you that she was declining our offer because our offer was unattractive?”
• Ethen just felt that something was off. Typically, even if an employment negotiation failed to work out, candidates would usually be more indirect in declining the offer. They wouldn't outright fuss and complain about the employment offer, especially when their potential employee was Benjamin Graham. Wouldn't they think twice before choosing to offend Mr. Graham? Only a dimwit would be stupid enough to do that, right?
• “She told me about it!” Benjamin stated bluntly. He wanted Ethen to drop this ordeal. That way, he could go back to reading his documents.
• After being stunned for a while, Ethen caught on that Benjamin was referring to Danna. His lips twitched in response to this realization.
• Ms. Adams could have come to see Mr. Graham at any time of the day. Yet, she came coincidentally at the moment of Ms. York's interview. Also, Ms. Adams didn't respond to my greetings on her way out. Could it be that she was the one who chased Ms. York away?
• Ethen glanced over at Benjamin but did not dare to say anything more. He headed back to his office. After giving things some thought, he decided to call Arissa and understand what happened.
• After all, he was the one who scouted for Arissa. His instincts told him that there must be a reason behind her unpleasant encounter today. Arissa couldn't have despised the Graham Group for no reason.