<b>Chapter 308</b>


    Meanwhile,agustofenergyseemedtobreezethroughthedoorasItriedtopeekinside,butthewaiterquicklyblockedmyview.


    “Privacy<b>is</b>apriorityhere,”heseemedtoimply withhisstance.


    “Goodevening,miss.AreyouafriendofMr.Shaw’sgroup?”thewaiterinquiredinapolitebutcurioustone.


    Shaw?Thenamedidn’tringanybells.


    Ishookmyhead.“No,IthinkI’vegotthewrongroom.”This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    AsIturnedtoleave,Icouldn’tshakethe feelingthateyeswerepiercingthroughme,sendingshiversdownmyspine.WhenIncedback,Ifoundthedoorseamlesslyshut.


    Backinourprivatediningarea,Christinehadalreadyordered.“Checkthisout.Anythingelseyoufancy?”


    Ireplied,“I’mgood.Whateveryouguyshavepickedisperfect.”


    Theincident lingeredinmythoughts,puzzlingme.Itwasn’tanyoneIknew,butthebitsIcaughtsoundedeerilyrelevanttomylife.Yet,Icouldn’trecanyonewiththesurnameShawamongBryant’scircle.


    Sensingmydistraction,Christineleanedin,whispering,“Pennyforyourthoughts?<b>”</b>


    “Nothing,”Irepliedwithaforcedsmile.


    Itwasn’tthetimeorceforsuchworries.Thankfully,thelivelyatmosphereintheroomsoondistracted mefrommybroodingthoughts.


    Jeff,adesigneratourfirm,stoodupwithhisssraisedtowardmeandChristine,hisvoiceshyyetfilledwithgratitude,“Ms.Webster,Ms.Jackson,I’mthrilledtobepartofJanedream…Thankyou,truly,forgivingmethisopportunity!”


    Amongtherecruits,hestoodoutduetohisageandexperience.Despitebeingadecadeoutofcollegewithlittletoshowfor<b>it</b><b>,</b>itwasn’tfockoftalent.Jeffalwaysstucktohisuniqueaesthetic,refusingtobowtomarkettrends.


    Naturallypanieshesitatedtogambleonanunprovendesigner,makingitincreasinglydifficultforJefftofindwork.But hisportfoliocaughtmyeyeoneday.Itwasagamble,butoneworthtaking,inmyopinion.


    Raisingmyss,Iresponded,“Youdeservetheopportunity.Everyonehereearnedtheirspot.Janedreamisluckytohaveyou.”


    “Exactly,”Christinesaid,clinking herssagainstmine,“Now,sit.Let’sallenjoythenighttothefullest.”


    Herwordswereourcuetocutloose,andprettysoon,everyonewasraisingtheirssestotoastus.


    Afterafewdrinks,sittingbymyside,Markofferedgently,“Ms.Webstercan’tholdherliquor.I’lltakeoverfromhere.”


    Theroomeruptedincheers,ledbyChristine.


    Mollyppedexcitedly.“Mr.Larson,you’resuchagentleman!”


    Itriedtoprotest,butMark wasfirm.“Youknowyourlimits!Plus,you’vebeenbusy.Howwillyouworktomorrowifyou’rehungover?”


    “Okay,”Igavein,movedbyhowthoughtfulhewas,“Justtakeiteasyyourself.Don’toverdoit.”


    Hiseyessparkledashereassuredme,“Don’t worry.Iknowmylimits.”


    Theatmosphere waselectric,withMarkshieldingmefromfurtherdrinksandhiseasygoingnature makinghimafavorite.Christine shotmeaknowinglook,whispering,“Becareful.YoumighthavetotakeMarkhometonight.”


    Herquickwitmademugh.“Ifiestothat,sobeit.”


    Markwasalwayssensible.Therewasnothingtoworryabout,eveninasituationthatcouldleadtomisunderstandings.


    ButmyphonerangbeforeMarkcouldyhisroleasmy knightin shiningarmor.ItwasThomas.


    Steppingoutside,Ianswered,“Thomas,what’sup?”