Megan woke up at high noon.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3OFkG8BZ6
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuifMRzE6S
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhXv15xA6r
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAhvDBMQg9
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSSAUljl2j
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx3KfgSrJ8
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftnGJmbt0c
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzYvgrB9gz
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QWhEF8ZFf
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckpGyWK3UZ
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZp3pOVBGb
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvDiuKufYX
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQghPnGS5xx
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr966bQDTjd
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5bS1GRI0u
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFgVb7AEIn
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NW3R1B6Tw
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn382CCasCS
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYordE9k7r1
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HVj1b6xOS
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9rH4OLbkV
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TtB7AcaxA
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyaX7MG7Tj
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtOO1jVqTB
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmlNNa2NdD
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvDAPVedbN
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIIVbSIGvJ
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeRsHePzoz
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbJ2XxMHh1
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8ZR4ZDwnS
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMz6GMXXm5
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pH2NofaEm
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsrIdpBSbU
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66BW4cu2gW
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF3vuCBaUR
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdLzJavNKT
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFAh4BbplD
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9szPRLyPR
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8lekvfos3
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VuFkZRFg9
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR6HBplqbv
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzVtHaeqUZ
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVHjQ03FbD
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4nTxSw818
apologize….”
The girl stared at her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkkquy2mmp
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM7t4MF2eq
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI940szD3D
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA6ylpfbtv
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMxUmdDgTD
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0DJLuINRg
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYsZk8gQhm
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFpgz942i5
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9zXdg3Oq7
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytaHcGiCTi
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bSxz4aNGZ
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQWJZoghSx
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpwVFaBA9O
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOZ2nWRs9F
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTJbZnUncK
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6MpqTaOfM
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJAuyq4e33
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2MNS1vosf
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbu7VtiSaW
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCU8c9h6isk
counter.
“Brisket hash with359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDebmq3rvzj
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUhaERdJTM
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5Iub8NTHZ
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UnR2bAXkr
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1yRQYxtAF
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MXJnYH6N3
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfznZHhRkLv
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhcorkWxc8
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTmx8jucAo
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA0kGw3KZX
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaxaJyskKN
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVyGXP18wy
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPgvGCRDe7
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigcdHjAzL6
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJh4FpOtjV
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbIqlL8faq
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3txD5nDRFj
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhpSsHNTD0
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFCU99n3xC
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqq5sIiAGo
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtdfl2tFtU
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEeX1pbiWu
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0VBYcSMBl
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dnsOTjG5X
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8Q2dCBWxA
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qqexIIy3F
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TXbdARFfD
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyCN88h8SL
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI5PACnzGV
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCARPboWh0
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC8lX5pQhu
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ4PGUuVrq
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGeCZ7TjRd
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfQcPKqzs3
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktvkabgr9l
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKdO4LYTNb
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbdjvheiat
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU60AI6EsI
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6gkN9Dg0l
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGOOesaWHH
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KOZIoamUu
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfn6311017
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMyF0ywxxi
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryWpIBHr7O
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPKR25JzlD
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjS6hFkVu1
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH4eSqqhHp
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuATvh42kFV
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm3CGR3XSn
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8SJD4yOOQ
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2jaCb6Vxz
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljz17KTdcT
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90nB6rwO5B
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTxJ2CVlZE
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy16mMotXa
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsU2yupEmr
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHnEBZvEX9
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte2bEtCTYZ
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbFRDZZQBS
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UIOOj5yN5
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1JiwzqVbB
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV48NREJY0
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw258OTz3YA
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9rTAKYrJh
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX7T6EKqWV
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfjKeKWzeh
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjbOQdSp0E
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnhZhSdqld
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWQgyzaen3
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xFx8i1Glc
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcetMQZuCxZ
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbT4U37iVT
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaicAPZWsm
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTJ142XkMT
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriVnHtXSuf
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUtrZDhDtw
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj5t0xxJRU
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlcWaPOwm8
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlxHVYNOPh
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubFF0ehUsn
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefJjrepvpF
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiziWa6X93
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DNaJHASVU
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeskJQ4vtK8
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAtPa8OcmQ
to her that way.
Standing there, her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRQWHvWQ0k
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax73FRfmY8
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfCH1kYjyx
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCDSdtHjFG
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lW0nV9p7V
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt2i7wgSyu
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0onmOk1GK
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCqD1fAdOO
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoC9xCVCH6
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxD8LelaSq
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjVO3a4mwr
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPUuO2M3ce
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksORYZZsKZ
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtRXsjB47O
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CauVE3OgX
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA26G1jHluo
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ollJ1ZnEp
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyTgaWPxqh
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDGRHCI07q
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BaJOtWX5F
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O2aJ523Ov
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oDeLqB4xh
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6vsjBhMqj
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEhjQpegGK
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9WFowj5oS
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8AYGMWJTY
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs6l6CGO4I
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fVrSFZugT
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpgLqdOgIu
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ikp1KhUWF
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWE89fZ114
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa20A9DVgD
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKyPVQLVxD
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9aZltmFKv
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3EZjGcvee
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IlmceP8Uf
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrG5LYEbz5g
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdBPQc7TVv
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlupEpG5G6P
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXQPoAmEPm
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsiCHCKJ11
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRxxrChiYw
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E9IyoOj8w
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXre2ZH7Vz
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1iAh9uSBz
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrHOeHIfFb
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLbsl3DvzC
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XuXquHeVi
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIGOeHX5bI
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtZeffSXV2
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21iFkPAva7
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLRYN5UShN
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFldXyiAZcE
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcWQw5YpKr
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg77QgYP2yd
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOQUn9rFqK
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmuMr72OlP
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1h6v27rct
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD1H8TrGC1
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xLIpHCd2z
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcMCej6hQO
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GPUlp7xc1
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wXvksmJwJ
dating,”
“---What is he waiting359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY8tPJSAyk
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQVRUxp5Ms
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWXjleIIrW
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZByg0xJgi
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5kiIuyWY0
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ79vevCHJ0
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0vLOS4ing
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZpFCvbr9D
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDW8wVSpqJ
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kT9NZXoQI
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkPmpSBjDl
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoBbNO5BQV
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt8qaEx80R
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSboycwi8I
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8AD4kQUpN
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.
