Chapter<b>288</b>
Seeinghim approach,Dorothyquicklymaskedherusualsharpandspitefuldemeanorwithaforcedcalm,thoughahintofhertemperslippedthroughasshemutteredunderherbreath,“Alwayslookingoutforeveryonebutyour<b>own</b>.”
Susanlostabitofherearlierfirmness,simplyasking,“Why’sthat?”
“Well,IpromisedmygrandmaI’dgetherafewcustomoutfits.”
Gregorycouldn’thelpbutchuckle,TmbringingJaneoverthisweekendtogetherthoughts.Ifyou’vegotherallriledupandshegivesmethecoldshoulder,howamIsupposedtoexinthattoGrandma?”
Atthat,Dorothy’seyebrows shotupindisbelief,“You’retakinghertomeetAdah?!”
“Andwhat’sittoyou?”Gregoryshotback,hispatienceclearlywearingthin.
Dorothyscoffed,“Adahhasalwaysbeenbigondecorumandreputation.Howcouldshepossiblyapproveofsomeone…likeher?”“Consideringwhatshe’sputupwithfromyou,Ithinkshe’dloveJane,”Gregoryretorted,notbotheringtospareDorothy’sfeelingseveninfrontofSusan.
Holdingbackherfrustration,Susanconceded,“Fine,welldropitfornow,foryoursake.”
“Muchappreciated<b>.</b><b>”</b>
Gregory’stonewasdismissiveashepracticallyshowedthemout,hisindifferenceenoughtogrindanyone’sgears,yetleavingthempowerlesstoretaliate.
Oncethemother–daughterduowasoutofearshot,Iturnedtothankhim,“Iappreciateit.Whatbringsyouhere?“.
<b>“</b><b>You</b>owemethreedinnersnow.”This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.
GregorycasuallypulledupachairandslumpedintoitLike<b>I</b>said,I’mhereforbusiness.”
Iwasskeptical,‘Sincewhenareyousocharitable?”
He’dalwaysbeenamanofprofit,neveromakealosingdeal.
Withasmirk,heteased,“Starlingtocatchon,<b>are</b>you?You’renight,I’mheretoproposeabusinessdeal.”
“<b>And</b>what’sthat?”
“You’llmakeafewoutfitsformygrandma,andinreturn,you’llowemeafavor
Ifrowned,“So,Imaketheclothesandoweyoua favor…Howisthisadeal?”
ItseemedlikeIwasgettingtheshortendofthestickwithnorealbenefitinsight
Gregoryleanedback,stretchingouthislegsinarxedpose,“Mrs.Ferguson,orrather,theformerMrs.Ferguson…”
Icuthimoff,“Ihaveaname,Jane.”
Forsomereason,healwayslikedtoaddressme formally,whichfeltmorelikemockeringfromhim.
“Alright,Jane,”hecorrectedhimselfnonchntly,“Illpayforthecustomwork,but,youknow,thosehighsocietdiesinVistaTownlovenothingmorethantogatheraroundandytheircardgameswithher.
<b>“I</b>seewhereyou’regoingwiththis”
Itclickedforme.Igotit.Customworkwasusuallyforthehigh–endfolks,andtheFordfamily wasthecreamofthecropinVistaTown,alinkanyonewoulddietohave.
HavingAdahFord wearsomethingIdesignedwouldcertainlyopendoorsforme.Still,Leyedhimwarily.“What’sthisfavoryouwant?”
Afterapastevent,Ihadlearnedtobecautious.Gregorywasunpredictableandoftenoperatedwithoutclearprinciples.
Thaven’tdecidedyet.”
Heshrugged,lookinggenuinelyintriguedbyme,“Whatdoyouthinkyou<b>have</b>thatIwouldgooutofmywaytodeceiveyoufor?”
Iwasatalossforwords,pondering<b>for</b>amomentbeforeagreeing,“Alright,I’min.”
Althoughhewasenigmatic,hehadn’tdoneanythingtoharmme<b>.</b>ForashotattheVistaTownmarket,itwasworththegamble.
Withthedealmade,heshowednosignsofleaving.
“<b>Are</b>younotgoingtoleave?”Iasked,puzzled.
Gregoryfiddledwithhisphone,notlookingup,“I’mwaitingforyoutofinish