Chapter 38 Chapter 38 "Miss Olivia!" he said with a wide grin, extending both hands. "We've heard about you. You're the one working directly under Alpha Alexander, aren't you?" I smiled politely. "I suppose that's one way to put it."" He chuckled like he already considered me one of their own. "We were all hoping Alpha Alexander would visit in person." I played along, waving one hand lightly. "He's neck-deep in summit prep. You know how it is." John laughed. "Of course, of course. We're honored all the same." He then introduced me to the heads of administration and finance. Everyone seemed eager to make a good impression, though a few eyes lingered on me a little too long-not with suspicion, more like nervous curiosity. Still, I kept my tone light and friendly as John led me on a tour of the facility. The office was neat. The workshop was noisy and smelled of metal shavings and sweat. The dining hall was surprisingly spacious. I asked innocent questions here and there about operations, staffing, and overtime pay. I occasionally took pictures, telling them they were for Alexander's visual records. When lunch arrived, I chose to stand in line like everyone else and made my way to a long bench near the corner of the dining hall. I set my tray down beside three women in faded uniforms who were clearly startled at first but gradually warmed up to me as we ate. "Been working here long?" I asked, stabbing my steamed vegetables with my fork. "Six years," said the one with a braid, maybe in her early thirties. "This one's been here ten." She pointed to a shorter woman across from her. I nodded thoughtfully. "Ever run into any issues clocking in?" They exchanged a look. "The machine's right at the shop entrance," said the third woman. "Sometimes it glitches." "No cameras?" I asked. "Nope," said the one with the braid. "No one checks." I leaned in a little. "I heard something odd, actually. Some say the factory's haunted."" They stiffened. The braid woman set her spoon down slowly. "Who told you that?" she asked, her voice low. 1 shrugged. "People talk" The shorter one whispered, "There are two names that show up on the register every day. But no one's ever seen them. Not once." "Jennie Williams and Alan Fraco," the third added, then quickly looked around. I stayed quiet, pretending to pick at my food, while the recorder in my bag captured everything. They said the shop supervisor had warned everyone not to bring it up again. That even the timekeepers looked the other way. That was all I needed. By afternoon, I had gathered everyone involved-John, the shop supervisor, the personnel lead, the statistician, and the accountant-into a medium-sized meeting room near the admin wing. I smiled as I set my notebook down. "I appreciate your time," I said cheerfully. "There's just a small matter I'd like to clear up before I submit my report to Alpha Alexander." Everyone shifted in their seats. "I'd like to meet Jennie Williams and Alan Fraco," I said, casually flipping a page in my notes. Cha Dead silence. No one moved. The room grew heavy. Then the shop supervisor stood, face unreadable, and walked to the door. I watched his hand reach for the knob as he turned the lock and quietly shut the door behind him. Olivia's POV I kept my tone calm as I looked at John. "Why lock the door?" John smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "There are some things better discussed privately." I didn't say anything. Just waited. He folded his arms and leaned forward. "Jennie Williams and Alan Fraco... they're real. They were among the earliest employees here. Good people. Until the accident." My brows knit. "Accident?" "A safety issue-years ago," he said quietly. "It left them both with permanent injuries. They couldn't work after that." I looked around the room. No one corrected him. No one met my eyes either. John continued. "We offered compensation. Kept it out of court. But they didn't want a one-time settlement. They insisted on monthly wages for the rest of their working years. We agreed... off the record." I crossed my arms. "So for over a decade, they've been receiving salaries as if they were still working." "Theywereloyal," John insisted. "We didn't want to drag the company's name through mud. It's just two names. Small thing, really." "And Alpha Alexander doesn't know?" He hesitated, then gave me a pleading look. "He doesn't need to. He's got bigger things to worry about. This is internal. It's handled." I nodded slowly, pretending to consider it. "Fine. But I still want to meet them. Just for verification."" John paused, then nodded. "Of course. I'll have someone bring them in." Title: A Tangle of Love (English-dubbed) In "A Tangle of Love," a captivating romance unfolds within a unique observation show where participants navigate intricate relationships, love triangles, and power dynamics. 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