Chapter 1519


    She pointed at ric, her words stumbling over each other.


    "I was listening to your design pitch. What else could I possibly be doing?" ric snapped back to


    reality, a sly grin spreading across his face as he said.


    "You should’ve acted like a good listener if you were listening to my pitch. Why were you leaning in


    so close? We almost kissed just now!" Hertha gasped, her voice a mix of rm and fright.


    "It was you who turned around suddenly. We almost kissed because of that. I know I''m quite the


    looker, and many women find me irresistible, but you didn''t have to be so eager especially with all


    these eyes on us."


    ric said with a roguish charm. His gaze swept over Ethan and Thssa as if to say they were


    witnesses. It was Hertha who had leaned in and almost caused the kiss. He was entirely meless.


    Ethan, ever the loyal friend, chimed in, "Yeah, Ms. Kensington, it was you who turned around so


    suddenly. Anyone who didn''t know better might think you were trying to make a move on my


    company''s lead project manager."


    Ethan''s lips curved into a teasing smile as he took a sip of his water.


    Feeling wronged, Hertha''s eyes blinked rapidly as she defended herself, "I only turned around in


    surprise because I felt his breath on my ear."


    "No need to exin. Exining is just making excuses. Haven''t you heard?" ric said with a


    laugh.


    Hertha''s face flushed with urgency.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thssa couldn''t stand it any longer. She was fully aware that ric was the one who had initiated


    the flirtation. Yet, there he was, calm and collected, while Hertha was all over the ce.


    How could Thssa let her good friend be at a disadvantage?


    She smiled and said, "Mr. Falconer, you know full well that Hertha is taken, so you should be


    keeping your distance to avoid any misunderstandings. Was it necessary to lean in so close just to


    hear the n? Hertha''s voice is loud enough. We could hear her perfectly from across the table;


    there was no need to get that close to hear her."


    Just as Hertha was struggling to find the right words, Thssa''sment gave her the confidence


    she needed. She lifted her chin and said, "Exactly! You could have easily sat across from me to


    listen!"


    "Hertha, it was you who came over to my side," ric replied coolly.


    Hertha was taken aback,


    Right, she had moved over to ric''s side and was eager to share her design ns. ric hadn''t


    moved an inch. She was contradicting herself.


    Seeing Hertha at a loss, Thssa gave her a boost, "Hertha moved closer so that Mr. Falconer


    could better see the ns. Mr. Falconer could have seen everything clearly if he just sat up straight.


    Why the need to lean in and bow your head?"


    "Oh, that''s right. Ms. Everhart just mentioned why did I lean so close, knowing Hertha is taken,


    right? Then Ms. Everhart, knowing full well about Lysander and Rosalind''s affair, why are you so


    concerned about Lysander?"


    Thssa blinked. Her heart raced, caught off guard by ric''s boldness of saying anything.


    She was about to retort when Lysander wheeled himself over.


    He arrived just in time to hear ric''sment. His deep, resonant voice filled the air, "She''s


    concerned about me? How did you see it, ric?"


    "Hey, you are here," ric said nonchntly. Smiling at Lysander, he continued, "Thssa has


    been looking after you for three years and tirelessly searching for doctors. If that''s not a concern,


    what is?"


    As ric finished speaking, Thssa''s breath hitched, her nervous gaze turning towards Lysander.


    At that moment, Lysander''s deep, profound eyes also found hers.


    In an instant, their gazes locked, and the air between them thickened.