Chapter39
Avelexted,“Selena,canyoufindoutBrightonEnterprises‘CEO’sschedule?”
Selenareplied,“I’lltry!”
Avelurnedoffherphoneandwaitedquietly.
IntheCEO’soffice,DesmondexinedthesituationtoLucasandthenasked,“Mr.Tudor,shouldwearrangeameetingwithBrightonEnterprises?”
Lucasreplied,“Noneed.”
Desmondwastakenaback.“Butif thisisn’thandledwell,MissYoungmightloseherjob.”
Sincetheincidenthappenedunderherwatch,ifshecouldn’tmanageitandfindtheleaker,shewouldtakethefall.Gettingfiredwouldbetheleastofherworries.Ifrumorsspreadthatsheleakepanysecrets,shewouldn’tbeabletoworkintheindustryanymore.
Lucaslookedatthedocumentsonhisdesk,hisexpressioncalmanddistant.“Shecanhandleit.”
Histonewasconfidentasifheknewherverywell.
Andhedid.
Withherpersonality,shewouldn’ttakethemequietly.
Desmondlookedathim,feelingconflicted.Theywereabouttodivorce,yetLucasstillseemedsoproudofher.
+15BONUS
Aroundnoon,SelenamessagedAveline.
Selenatexted,“Ifoundit!Intwodays,theSkylerfamily’spreciousprincessishostingabirthdaypartyandhasinvitedalltheelitesofCloudreCity,includingBrightonEnterprises‘boss.
“I’llsendyouthe timeandce,butbabe,Ican’tgetyouaninvitation.”
Avelinereplied,“Knowingthisisenough.I’lltreatyoutodinneranotherday!”
Selenatextedback,“Great,Iwantspicychicken!”
Avelinereplied,“Noproblem!”
TheSkylerfamily’sheiress,JenniferSkyler,washostingherbirthdaypartyonayacht.Avelinestartedmonitoringtheeventearly andfoundouttheywerehiringpart–timeservers.
Shesignedupimmediately.
Aftertwodaysoftraining,theyachtpartybeganthatevening.
Avelookherbagandwenttothechanging roomtochange.Aftermostpeoplehadarrived,shewentback<b>to</b>thechangingroomandtookouttheeveninggownshehadpreparedearlier.
She wastherejusttofindsomeone,soshekeptitsimple.Withlightmakeupandackeveninggownthatwasunderstatedyetelegant,shefinishedherlook withatouchoflipstickandsteppedout.
Bythistime<b>,</b>theyachtwassailingintothemiddleofthesea.Theeight–deckyachtwasbrightlylit,andthedeckwasfilled withelegantlydressedguests,minglingandenjoyingtheevent.
+15BONUS
AvelookassofchampagnefromawaiterandbegansearchingforBrightonEnterprises‘CEO,HenryBrighton.However,theyachtwasenormous,andshefoundherselfwanderingaroundthedecklikeaheadlesschicken.
Shecouldn’taffordtomissthisopportunity,butwherewashe?
Asshelookedaround,shesuddenlybumpedintosomeone.
“I’msorry,I’msorry…”Avelinequicklyapologized.Whensheturnedtoseewhoshehadbumpedinto,thepersonlookedsomewhatfamiliar.
Themaninfrontofherhadneatlystyledgrayhairandacasual,roguishsmile.Hiscksuitwasslightlyunbuttonedatthecor,givinghimacarefree,charminglook.
RussellrecognizedAvelineandalookofsurpriseshedinhiseyes.Seeingtheconfusioninhereyes,hechuckled.“What?Youdon’trememberme?”
Avelinehesitated.“Havewemet?”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
Russellreplied,“That night,youtookmyearpieceandinsistedwedrinktogether…”
Avelinesuddenlyremembered,her faceshowingabitof
embarrassment.“I’m reallysorryaboutthat.Idranktoomuchanddidn’tmeantooffendyou.