Chapter 258


    After hitting send on those words, I quickly followed up: "Gift from a young hunk."


    I stared at the sent message, waiting for Ernest''s reply, but one second, two seconds, three seconds passed, and nothing came through. What''s going on? Is he mad? Ignoring me?


    My fingers hesitated over the keyboard, ready to ask him what''s up, but after typing out a whole sentence, I paused and deleted it.


    If he''s getting upset over someone else sending me flowers, how is he any different from Conrad back in the day?


    Back when I was in school, I wasn''t exactly short on admirers, not to mention those who missed the memo about Conrad and me while I was working.


    Every time it happened, Conrad would lose it. He wouldn''t just confront the guy; he''d me me for being too "approachable."


    To avoid his temper, I''ve bent over backward more times than I can count, even going so far as to distance myself from any male friends who could potentially stir up misunderstandings.


    I refuse to go through that again.


    So, I tossed my phone aside and got back to work.


    About ten minutester, my phone rang. It was Ernest, calling directly.


    I frowned and picked up, "What''s up?"


    "Why aren''t you replying to my messages?" Ernest''s voice buzzed through the phone, dripping with a sense of being wronged.


    I blinked in surprise, opened my messages, and saw he had sent several.


    [I''m not feeling great, but I know it''s not your fault.]


    [It''s okay for others to send you stuff, but you''re not allowed to like it.]


    [And don''t say things like that; it makes me anxious.]


    His messages overflowed with a sense of hurt; I hardly knew what to say.


    "Why aren''t you saying anything?" Ernest pressed.


    I found my voice, "Not sure what to say."


    "I''m not mad, just... a bit jealous," Ernest admitted honestly.


    I couldn''t help butugh, "Jealous? I''d love to see what Mr. Collins looks like when he''s jealous. Snap a photo for me, will you?"


    "What are you having for lunch?" Ernest smoothly changed the subject.


    Was he hinting at joining me for lunch or nning to surprise me with a romantic lunch delivery?


    Either way, I had to let him down. I informed him about my lunch ns with Jacqueline.


    "I was hoping to have lunch with my girlfriend," Ernest shared his original n.


    I chuckled. "Mr. Collins, getting a bit clingy, are we? Thought you were busy?"


    As soon as I asked, I remembered he was nning on leaving, probably had cleared his schedule.


    "Ernest, when you say you''re leaving, is it for work?" I revisited my question from the morning.


    "Not exactly, I''m dealing with some stuff. Then I''ming back to settle in Seabreeze City with my girlfriend," response caught me off .  ne


    But I knew hispany''s headquarters wasn''t here, nor did they have a branch in the area.


    "What about your job?" I blurted out.


    Ernest didn''t answer right away, which made me think of something Grant had said, "Ernest, why don''t youe work at mypany? We''re hiring, and we''re missing someone with your talents N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    "You want me to work with you?" Ernest seemed surprised.


    I blushed at the misunderstanding, "Not with me, just at the samepany. I''m in marketing; we wouldn''t be in the same department."


    "That means we can see each other anytime," Ernest''s words left me speechless.


    "Sure!" The next moment, he agreed.


    And instantly, I regretted it.


    Taking a job as Conrad''s assistant at hispany was all about getting closer to him, making dating a bit easier.


    But reality pped me hard. Far from fostering our love, it made Conrad take me for granted.


    "You get back to work. Talkter," Ernest hung up, leaving me in a daze.


    ''Careless words cause trouble,'' as the saying goes. No truer words.


    It''s toote for regrets now, though Hopefully, Ernest finds a better. opportunity and changes


    I


    tonight.


    Maybe I can persuade et


    I smacked my forehead, punishing myself for inviting trouble.


    At eleven, I left for Urban Harvest, the spot Jacqueline mentioned. The staff recognized me and led me to a private room.


    "Right this way," the server opened the door for me.


    Stepping in, I was taken aback to find not just Jacqueline but also Conrad and Haley there.