Chapter296
AlthoughGregorywasall aboutdorsandcents,hebookedmearoominthesix–<b>star</b>hotelinVistaTownContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.
IhadnstoheadbacktoRiverCitythatverynight,butGregory,overthephone,said,“TillbeheadingtoRiverCitytomorrow,Icangiveyoualift”
“Okaythen.”
ArideinaBentleywasn’tsomethingyoutumdown.
Thenextday,Ihadhopedtosleepinbutgotrudelyawakenedbyacall.
“Comedown.”ItwasGregory’s<bx</b>voice<b>.</b>
Wokenupbyhimtwodaysinarow,Icouldn’thelpbutfeelimitated.“Jesus,didyoupunall–nighteragain?”
Gregoryfakedsurprise.“Wowsomeone’s grumpyinthemoming?”
Itookadeepbreath,forceditdown,andsmiled.“Notatall,justworried<b>about</b>you,Mr.Ford,what’stheearlymorningcallfor?”
Gregoryyawned.“Ramonawantstoseeyou”
“Huh?”Caughtoffguardandyawningmyself,Icrawledoutofbed.“Now?”
Hesuddenlysnapped,“Whatelse?YouthinkIhavenothingbetterto<b>do</b>thantowaitforyoudownherebecauseI’vebeensecretlyinlovewith youforyears?”
“Okay,fifteenminutes.”Iquicklywashed<b>up</b>,changedmyclothes,grabbedmybag,andwentdownstairs.
TherewastheFordfamilyhunk’s car,boldlyparkedundertheporte–cochere.Hewasleaningcasuallyagainstit,headslightlydipped<b>.</b>yingwithalighterinhishand,givingoffthisvibeofdefiance.
Ijoggedover.“Let’sgo.”
“Justintime.”Hencedathiswatchcasually.“Notasecondless”
HewasimplyingIwasdawdling.
Imisedaneyebrowandsmiled.“Takethatasplimentonmypunctuality.”
Iwasreadytohopintothe<b>back</b>oftheBentley.
“Ms.Webster,mindyingchauffeur?Hestoppedthedoorwithonehandandgesturedtowardthedriver’sseatwithanod,tossingthecarkeysintomyhands.
Then,hfortablysettledhimselfintothepassengerseat
Beggarscan’tbechoosers.ThatwaswhyhesentmethelocationtotheMyersMansion,makingmehisdriverbydefault
Reluctantly,Iwalkedaroundthecartothedriver’sseat,abouttinabouthickofchivalry,whenIsawhimpulloutasleepmaskfromnowhere.
Withatiltofhishead,he wasoutlikealight
Ithought,Thisguymust’vebeen<b>a</b><b>sleep</b>–deprivedghostinhispastlife!
Still,Ieasedupontheeleratorandbrake,drivingmoregentlythanusual.
WesmoothlyarrivedattheMyersMansion,agrandestatenestledonahillside,itsserenegardensreminiscentofssountrysideestates.Andthepersoninthepassengerseatwasstilldeepinslumber.
Ireachedoverandtappedhisshoulder“Mr.Ford?”
Therewasnoresponse.
Ikeptcallingouttohim.“Gregory?Gregory??
“Justcallmebymyname.Itsoundsbetter?Hesuddenlyyankedoffhissleep<b>mask</b>,bleary<b>–</b>eyedand<b>staring</b>atme,“<b>You</b>
Ford‘almostsoundslikeyou’reteasing,notbeingreboutit.”
Iwasspeechless.Icouldn’tpinpointwhy,butasGregorysaid, Ialwaysfeltlikeafree–spiritedhedgehogaroundhim,ditchingall<b>caution</b>andsensitivity.Butthatsideofmefeltmorereal.
Gregorysnorted,“Neback,huh?SeemsIwasright”
Withthat,hepushedopenthedoorstretchedhislegs,andgotoff.HeknewtheMyersMansionwell,effortlesslyguidingmetofindRamona.
Uponseeingme,Ramonaquicklystoodup,hershawlnearlyslippingoff.“Ms.Webster,you’rehere.”
“Yeah.”Ismiled.“Ramona<b>,</b>Gregorymentionedyouwantedtoseeme?”
<b>14:26</b>
…Ramonapausedandsoftlysaid,“Ialsowantedto showyoumydressingroomincase<b>you</b>designsomethingIdon’tlike.Wewon’thavewastedyourtime.”