Megan woke up at high noon.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1eAjRZ3iF
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzDTa5Ianq
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKfCCJINTU
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KiSdjlQUK
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjCEvyh2VF
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcEeSdjxFr
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQy9kwRDHz
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1oxdVPko9
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4K80eyLQ0
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg6EaqjHzL
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ52EGsiVYP
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJMXiDyqyt
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF5OEN08xw
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI22mgrr4J
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkniHLzUA1
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpCiuC9HEn
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMDP3kG4I1
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBP6NLOqav
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXkl2iQSme
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexLAxbaTbf
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7iTrOWi2q
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG6o6fYGYN
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPINUAKotZ
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4F9kaJYGh
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzh3TT8OMT
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAPLpLRsG0
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z8RyzmNaK
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWBvbPz8gl
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaehHBADBYY
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPyMWvl78I
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G7qzAMhaS
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWZ1DXjAPt
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO6XPtuEgF
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9FbenK4lM
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqElQH8qYm
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0T1xgmVTW
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDM7u3NxiG
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt8LjU1r6x
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz6pHt1vS8
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVQqY0UHFA
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9m3EZ41Xz
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRrumaoZVD
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhJcG84VWI
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNypwXmqFc
apologize….”
The girl stared at her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppW6xwH6m5
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRjfWFE8hY
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODE0F0sMEG
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYttTqgfZh
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdd1rte0YW
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pOduBZqm1
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjaGV7or8d
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJM8BJSzNO
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtx02vn2Nq
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4YHJiZVOM
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuYtVU3uMh
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc7FsgWQ4K
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxietl7h2Nh
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8BYbj8wzt
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlto2R67FZ8
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb3FeW244f
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgnhNKcdDX
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIpgeuqFga
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuny6Cs352y
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHLEzMx9Qy
counter.
“Brisket hash with398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7GRHVG4Zm
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJOWLVnOoF
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jZQgNAMW4
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgy3QOeqO8
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT9vblByrJ
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOBn3bXGMI
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EUiGwpIOj
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdboPoK5lWz
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKADHwpbeZ
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRg6JabvOK
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7bAfsGDK8
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWcVRAXH7w
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRCAc43el4
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96AfCvORHx
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU699mTES0E
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbCaG1pF0Z
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3daKzDBFJn
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVGuWacjp9
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEertpa361
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYoauNaVBG
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZaPwVKgeq
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5MnRY0eDv
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylLRnA2F04
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcghyhEDHIo
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2MmGjG4Hw
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5hMoQnXyr
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpyYkVRobp
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIVymjiv5A
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiV55ewhht
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL27QUv7cv
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS20ZvkjAPU
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvjnXd8AWn
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl9pEv7yLU
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UfxEWODXN
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7ngYQzuMj
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccpnNbjLPy
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC3VHu9Tpb
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPpbEezCQC
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9Ye5z668H
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OPUxGstCu
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAucZaQVmr
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeNrxt0r5j
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2SbyhqZs7
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJRdg3pLMJ
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUkplzqnbk
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIGAqdJXd1
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4v3Wqaois
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2BdHLnxsA
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmKpr3NWKd
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8bbokgoKz
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuPY0XaxdU
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0G1p8ZcY0
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCkZqCRXQp
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKwnotLVZe
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRf8ldFa4F
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBMsyiokO9
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXfsViOJMl
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX4xT3HmmA
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcduL2sgGfZ
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CzMkrvOuI
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhxHALqblr
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4GhQImoy7
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHROm6WL53
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmSKyBrhuN
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCuP3w1see
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESZZR9AVLA
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjwazIUEev
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZufZkrXrOf
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3VodolTHO
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjxTso9fZ5
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvVXXg2HRE
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGosSblnWVd
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUPmeUxft4
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUMR2SoHVa
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBF2QmTa56
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWUqWVNQ5h
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf1BOXFrDA
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dHg0M6lZa
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHMDDZLkGH
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhaEWrWDbn
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2xFagy1UU
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj7U3fiF5v
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeio00WzZe
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09srL5vDxr
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtrdVP6U3W
to her that way.
Standing there, her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKGTZcLr9g
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob0rVvNkrX
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIebOmdEtWY
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtIAKdejj1
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsssLldhPQV
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiAkIc64fq
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOezUUNbI1
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf40Zae6nP
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGWb1nVTSi
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwZH2alklM
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSctWsX5KuT
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR9VYl9AZE
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfwkYvo27T
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeOW3rDl42
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcugDXClE5W
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ7HXF1F1o
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLvHoGsWOz
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOk2t64322
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkYwyOpbPx
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKO3IDxtZS
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqRg7JYyRv
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ501dfKd75A
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzJic7fGmE
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaF6Qp0WUD
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Msjzo8Ux
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApbtoj7ePj
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz14P7zfsHk
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIKmqkghJY
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH5c06MWuu
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNaufMQipQ
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YW7EPrkzx
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XVU1LxEvk
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HmZrESeg4
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0uoK6zlFn
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKa9EMZ6wQ
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsdF4aALf8
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UskLeS40s
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBArNt48xj
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShHeTyjWiV
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPsmSOWkZo
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKsAe2HCAp
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypmubFqAmx
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VzELavM4b
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDJ6Bv9Pt8
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzToWE9A3s
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OMD8xV4vD
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uCuPY8nlk
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHLnum8vqU
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSzalpZutN
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XOUyHc61Q
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W70kOsBwD
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtrkUJW95I
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DELXmDtLa
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY4AiOsKfq
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63clsnQdpA
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sY3rz9I9v
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEndI9OCVHv
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdRBQw86nM
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SFHjZzmyo
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lT14eLLtZ
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgsE7Uh21w
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwBsc7NG73
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3Y6CCatbf
dating,”
“---What is he waiting398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0asZ412eFI
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuV9kY6tgP
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrv30QhGpu
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsfjcrzJ3W
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwK7WnmD1q
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSBvrdNtaB
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMOimzGqRa
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSeCk37kRN
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr9p52nEZo
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPRoQhVZee
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDPCbTxZcm
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6baXzOyeoS
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApZELGbQe3
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdEmZRcbXD
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL2DrwuxBh
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.
