Katherine clenched her fists, having not expected to be the one ultimately responsible for Mr. Gu's project.
If she didn't take it, it would be equivalent to her giving up the motivation to stay here. Without a project to highlight her own achievements, it would be even more difficult for her to change her current position in the future.
Her current predicament reminded her of how happy she used to be. Both Kai's kindness towards her and everything she once possessed had become the most beautiful memories.
But what could she do now? She had already lost to Wei Yumeng and could only start again from the very bottom.
As soon as Katherine returned to her office, the malicious gossip from her colleagues had not stopped.
"Look, our great contributor is back."
"Katherine, I heard you smashed Mr. Gu's head with an ashtray. That's really impressive."
"But... we've wasted another project because of you."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Miss Katherine has already lost more than just this project. Don't you remember the workers who came to the company before? She didn't want to deal with it then, did she?"
"That's right, our Miss Katherine, so high and mighty, wouldn't bother with such things, nor would she take responsibility for her mistakes."
Katherine quietly walked to her workstation, pretending not to hear.
If she were to rush up and argue with others now, she would likely be giving Wei Yumeng another opportunity to kick her out.
Katherine took a deep breath. She now had a renewed goal, and her hatred for Wei Yumeng could not be dispelled by this.
Since Wei Yumeng was determined to make her life difficult, Katherine would do everything to the extreme.
Holding the termination contract, Katherine's first task was naturally to deal with Mr. Gu. She knew very well what Mr. Gu wanted, and it was precisely for this reason that she had chosen him as a collaborator in the first place.
She gathered her documents and left again, this time heading to the hospital where Mr. Gu was staying.
Wei Yumeng watched Katherine leave the company from the window, sighing softly. In fact, Katherine had many commendable qualities, but she had never used her strengths for the right things.
Regardless, Wei Yumeng hoped that Katherine would learn a lesson from her current situation.
If Katherine hadn't brought it upon herself, Wei Yumeng wouldn't have deliberately taken her anger out on Katherine regarding company matters.
"Director Wei, what are you looking at?"
"Where did Katherine go?"
Wu Yi replied calmly, "She probably went to Mr. Gu's place."
"Do you know anything about Katherine and Mr. Gu's situation?"
Wu Yi shook her head. "No, this project was already underway before I became her assistant. I'm not clear about the specific details. She always handled and received clients herself."
Wei Yumeng nodded. This was in line with her previous guess. She was just asking on a whim.
She was just faintly worried. Before, when Katherine asked her to deliver documents, she had encountered such a person. If Mr. Gu was also like that, wouldn't she truly be pushing Katherine into a fire pit?
But then she quickly dismissed the thought. Since this was something Katherine had initiated from the beginning, no matter what the other party was like, she should be responsible to the end.
Even if something happened, what did it have to do with her?
Thinking this, Wei Yumeng returned to her seat.
"Wu Yi, go find me detailed information about Mr. Gu. Bring it to me."
Katherine walked to the door of Mr. Gu's ward, hesitating for a moment. By walking in, she would be showing weakness to Mr. Gu, but what other options did she have now?
Finally, she pushed the door open, overcoming her psychological barrier, and walked in.
"Mr. Gu, I believe we need to discuss the project further."
Mr. Gu, lying on the bed, snorted at Katherine. "I don't think we have anything to discuss. Since you rejected me last time, our cooperation has been severed."
Katherine clenched her fists and deliberately bent down to look at Mr. Gu.
"Mr. Gu, if I apologize for what happened last time, would we still have room for negotiation?"
Katherine deliberately bent down because she was prepared. This low-cut dress was originally intended for this moment.
As expected, Mr. Gu was momentarily stunned by the glimpse of her décolletage, but he quickly recovered.
"Katherine, I know you're a smart woman. But some things aren't so easily forgotten as if they never happened. If I give you this chance, how can you guarantee that something like that won't happen again?"
Mr. Gu's meaning was clear. He was openly asking Katherine to become his woman, so he wouldn't have to worry about her doing such things again.
Katherine was disgusted to the core. She felt that Mr. Gu was probably the most disgusting man she had ever met. She could even imagine that countless women had made similar transactions with Mr. Gu, and in the end, she would likely only be played out by this old man and discarded.
But Katherine had no other choice now. She could only agree or not agree.
How could she willingly agree? But she had no other way.
"Mr. Gu, as long as you withdraw the project termination, everything can proceed according to your wishes. What do you think?"
Katherine forced herself to suppress her discomfort and smiled at Mr. Gu.
Hearing Katherine's words, a smile immediately appeared on Mr. Gu's face. "Easily done. Since you've said so, how could I not give you face?"
"Xiao Hong, come in!"
At Mr. Gu's call, his assistant, who had been waiting outside the door, entered. "What can I do for you, Mr. Gu?"
"Go and have Miss Katherine draw up a new project contract. Make all the terms according to her wishes, immediately."
The assistant named Xiao Hong looked surprised but still nodded. "Miss Katherine, please come with me."
Mr. Gu watched Katherine's retreating back with a lecherous gaze. "I knew you would never escape my grasp."
Katherine followed Xiao Hong to the company. After the contract was finalized, Xiao Hong gave Katherine an address.
"Miss Katherine, Mr. Gu will be waiting for you here tonight. I hope you won't break your promise."
Only after Xiao Hong left did Katherine's inner turmoil erupt. She immediately threw the piece of paper with the address into the trash can.
She couldn't understand why she had to go to such lengths now, and why she had to endure such humiliation.
She finally let go of all her pride and hid in a corner, weeping.