Chapter40
Russelllookedatherinsurprise,thinkingshewapletelydifferentfromhowsheactedatthebarthatnight,drinkinglikecrazyandunstoppable.
“It’sfine,”Russellsaid,ncingathisclothesbeforeadding,”Was–thisalsoanident?”
Avelinefeltevenmoreembarrassed.“Thisreallywasan
ident.Howaboutyougivemeyourjacket,andI’llcleanitforyou?”
Russellchuckled.“Here?Now?”
Avelinefrowned.“I’mAvelineYoungfromDKGroup’s
CloudreCitybranch.Youcansendthejackettomyoffice,andI’llhaveitcleanedandreturnedtoyou.”
Hersenseofboundariesanddistancewaswellexecuted.
“Aveline…”Russellsilentlyrepeatedhername,thensaid,”Alright,I’llrememberyou.”
Withthat,heturnedandwalkedaway.
Avelinesighedinrelief.Thankfully,hedidn’tpursuethematter.Shereallydidn’twantanymoretrouble.
Onthesecondfloor,neartherailing,Sophiawatchedbelowwithalookofsurprise.
Avelinewas heretoo?
Howdidshegetin?
SeeingthatAvelinewasaloneanddressedinlywithoutanyjewelry,Sophianarrowedhereyes.
BONUS
SheguessedthatAveline probablydidn’thaveaninvitation.
Atsuchanevent,anyonecaughtsneakinginwouldbethrownintothesea.Ha!
AvelineresumedhersearchforHenry.Finally,onanotherdeck,shespottedhimchattinghappilywithagroupofpeople.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.
Surroundedbymany,shecouldn’tapproachhimdirectly.So,shestoodatadistance,quietlywaitingforanopportunity.
Thenightgrewdarker,theseabeyondtherailingapitch–ckexpansewiththefaintsoundofwavesgentlybrushingagainsttheyacht.Atthatmoment,Henrymoved,walkingwithafewotherstowardstheoppositesideofthedeck.
Hewasleaving!
Aveline’shearttightened,andsheimmediatelyfollowedhim.
“Mr.Brighton,hello.I’mAvelineYoungfromDKGroup’sCloudreCitybranchandtheleadontheShentonproject.I’dliketodiscussthedesignconceptsandideasfortheShentonprojectwithyou.IbelievenooneunderstandsthembetterthanIdo!”
SheblockedHenry’spath,sayingallthisinonebreath,thenwaitedforhisresponse.
ThesmileonHenry’sfacefadedslightly.“ButI’vealreadyreceivedbetterdesignns.I’mnotinterestedinyours.”
Avelinereplied,“Whatyoureceivedismydesignn…”
HenryBrightoncutheroff,“That’syourissue.Pleasedon’twastemytime.”
Atthesametime,twoserversapproached.“Doyouhaveaninvitation?”
Aveline’sexpressionfroze.
Henrywalkedaway.Instinctively,shewantedtofollow,buttheserversblockedher.“Stop.Pleaseshowyourinvitation.”
Theirvoiceswereloud,drawingtheattentionof thosearoundthem.
“I…”Avelinebegantospeak,butthenshesawtwopeoplenotfar
away.
LucasandSophia.
Theystoodtogetherlikeaperfectcouple–Lucastandhandsome,Sophiagentleandgraceful.
Avelinesuddenlyfeltdeeplyembarrassed,likeajokebeingscrutinizedby everyone,andLucashappenedtoseeit.
Wouldhemockherforoverestimatingherself?
Aveline’sfingersclenchedtightly.
Theserver’stonegrewmoreaggressive,“Pleaseshowyourinvitation.Ifyoucan’t,we’llhavetothrowyouintotheseaaspertherules!”
Notfaraway,LucasdownedhischampagneinonegulpandstartedwalkingtowardsAveline.