Megan woke up at high noon.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMRkjf65FL
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7hc31LDQu
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fh4Bke7hJ
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3UNobrOIh
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKAEF9MpsE
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA4cBGDNlY
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOywMWYQBv
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbFtNSn3l0
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG39Us9Qws
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGRuWCGoM2
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaTXnRltFM
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpi8YgvZY1
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjpK0GXcxu
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaILsOFf7e
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi47i3h4tAz
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQNZnMMQdW
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc96EDt2eSu
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDRFAeMzkL
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaNVYqFcL2
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvlhklZhMg
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIUYkg38l5
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOmOkhdZKX
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPe0SVSQO4
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmoyWs3ZNV
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrel8MHVso
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrom752EZPR
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC8YXpiBV2
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWJM2AabDK
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9DTgEoLU1
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNVDRDghCz
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaq50yJceU
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWW1hj1y0e
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhxX9mz1rJ
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4PSS9R0p9
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuUxc8RtlB
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpcyfuDGjZ
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBwMsGNH9i
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldkPq67JKb
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvxtEfLkxL
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJGF5b7WzA
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCX1SWelTI
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHBwnBi3Qy
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnSmxCSNk5
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4smJk44oS
apologize….”
The girl stared at her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1jUJApUnY
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnyBhCYdou
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjzDDkuFWS
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0dy2QxOOe
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwAXOZ8fCR
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcCo0ZXjPZ
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XY4eMqEXk
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRTFwSVmKz
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhqTvXAKEj
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiDx4Kn0kL
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeFQghwbJB
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmqtsz4Uwx
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6AmtAKfuw
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U17qjk542
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWK6w3TKXL
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdlqgycsYS
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjulf2v12p
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ7Ss4ez8d
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMpUSO5vxS
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfruWA6Z5z4
counter.
“Brisket hash with309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dPD7NSjZb
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAzexPIX8E
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnFqUeebz9
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYPN1CyGWT
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIstQQ1xya
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT8KcbzilE
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx5sgc9qNf
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvusGAiGoz
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPEcWqNKaK
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5BCw5WQaM
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkFTvnSp4f
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wLtjsaX1Q
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcwIqkKOQX
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnLifv4kNP
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdYIDg7Jxb
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ472Udy2O4d
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRbwEHVprx
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLIx1QXcZ3
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUUydVX4NM
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IWA9cSm5O
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ015vsHN3CL
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKZhWRTqSx
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfw5e0pAUi
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF4umTpaPR
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWHxSDKGjY
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2kZJNv0bN
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuew0BFhwqD
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPQWm06NxB
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz22soza9I9
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BRoNZmKvI
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PS5fr9eXB
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXdRnilvhF
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXvRg4P42n
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn5Zvs8D18
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZCrG3eF3N
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQbB2fCQZC
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS4Yqr3nzc
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTCM9ms3mH
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7uylowRXy
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IJ40pFYTS
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzQlBZHa9a
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX3YDSFgbA
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNjyQTN2TE
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MSmabaevG
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ptiTsahV2
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Eo6zzIoL
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTI2I859iP
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj2AKa7BS3
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNtZ2PxGMl
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgQHWvCP4O
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TFmhc0HTg
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ShgwTeAkB
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLqJ7v09Di
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7zGmUL08k
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXAzITXeP9
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyR0hTGsK3
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxJRGdXm04
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aBaIXIIlV
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAQIHCmDHf
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3GMqyjSBC
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGjHSOlzYb
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aSB0fY7ly
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseduyV8XG0
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkpzunalPu
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQxN8eLlEd
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rxPS5qs3i
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKgioW2mar
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTscglry2oU
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtmxZKDJnp
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwEQ6U3fRU
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EJW1wDMkm
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsqva3Esg5
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLyVflC6H7
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtx1fU7pFZ
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVnH9YoecR
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs2M5dLYuI
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpVNfolWW2
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7M32vnCKV
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFH74JBvQ4
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCNjYk5kRp
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iM8wCtw69
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxkXFbueQ3
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eg9Gbw3gX
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOvXpk8FGx
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81m8bUa25l
to her that way.
Standing there, her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobCVWiSwSS
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkXLexVU3K
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzr9CJHp7P
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzmQvZYeMj
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XbhcU4TVx
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCM8fLf79c
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRTqzrKMI7
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c5pa8kVtx
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21UxXwCPLK
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkjQdZTxEm
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2InSuV34E
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjw71DcyVk
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PxXvJ1ra4
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dl64fKt9q
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjVSDC3FDI
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp216wil2CM
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kXeeiGLno
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXICEqMBvZK
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxoMKxYGvo
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32LBnGDOnG
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqlTC1taQy
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa0qTRyE2a
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd8Vlgglon
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKyK1GT5s8
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbF4EKh5q3
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnzPPn68aW
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyMnYxewI6
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE9CfToZbU
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcBWfqc8aP
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF4tnv02fM
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uWydtCHKZ
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU9FB8Oe5x
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiWu93x1Xl
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG7V6Ow13M
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fIiuAW4Ik
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyKGwP3fui
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaG35oHbFG
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptSvjYTszz
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbnXLEBaat
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZZkwqt5rG
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUNDrt8GaT
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJBJw1PNxm
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi8QYskq5N
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ruf82U0LP
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1LZJ2eOEe
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboRi8xR5um
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVhP7c6mMd
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwp50CHnZw
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdc6YvlB0Q
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4bpQFJBkT
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7eOSOOGH5
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLRwjo4rzR
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpQmDVW9xG
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z2ecuQJFQ
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd7u12vXUx
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql2QDarSc1
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQhoecehBD
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7cnLaD73T
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUJ9RBAemI
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3VdTroTet
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWshPRoDAR
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt1mnSSbgz
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwlKiJurxE
dating,”
“---What is he waiting309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTz1h23eOl
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGb3LcLeSL
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPXW3YlH51
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTlhmru5XH
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zjjminwdx
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AuxbO2A3J
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqRkQmVPhT
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUnDigVgHE
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D9uK1SYLL
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p22CHMRvT
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡray9PuKomd
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5D84pJLgb
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5KAWEFwEe
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aYNrmCh47
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO1Y8nFZkT
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.
