Megan woke up at high noon.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK9xIuOBwF
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNLsnKXUYl
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLww2TpsCvt
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1Rn5swaNb
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdfPOoj9zK
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBapZ5aci3
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvXmOjp5L0
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuefw5dq6YT
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePDKiukTd9
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ8oZwbxVA
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgnfIKyoAK
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiESFJMeoH
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIicQN6DDv
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmQfp7Pr9P
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUVmggw2o3
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbdcbtR3db
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiNS0Q7OsI
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjCE5rR4ez
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwYZwZnhNb
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ44iMZHmj6
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3QbY8VxaE
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs64eTbZfzL
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8sYE3z73K
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsxW7m08Bp
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd94nuqgbTK
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnqGrbt38F
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZLkZHfPIE
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQl69bgoXp
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlWmTG86ku
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2AAWfyOKz
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwEPgColAb
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3mpF1DXQC
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49sd4Bjv6T
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykiok88pvM
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpSFBjHKe9
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFuUNDEli6
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejy6jTxXzy
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqA7Hna2Xf
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1cbQ0eTkY
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhzz04svPv
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj8gNV26W1
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B1kC9Nfrf
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL4UWiYPNI
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIsZi8NlPI
apologize….”
The girl stared at her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQwXLa31sf
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4aCOxKisD
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6iybALoTJ
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNMfysbSNH
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPSi8pakrp
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe74rCuJI1m
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYU7tq9D3o
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7ULUs24zV
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV51RpujKEA
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhOlYwaQkO
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXFisW13zf
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGfLPgMqso
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvTN22X9oa
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGQzxwk4jy
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNypI92LOOl
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNKyDIMxAv
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8kzmSY29A
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUbtWzfj6R
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOH8d5ZB1N
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIxJ0oFr5h
counter.
“Brisket hash with378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQozO6kyWM
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacKD26B72S
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46ttspPceW
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI1qFYUj0g
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswn536oZIg
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMo524DLEQ
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0xCRZbs5v
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1Ah5PdvAu
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0aEnXv6LI
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVL6jx1Y4h
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVR6PETmSW
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXegdghjJQ
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3hb2Ab8xF
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ397wTFzIV8
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtLXjke60y
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jO3d8yYsY
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuNqSeDbU5
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lnleJMoxo
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpD3HHApTN
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV00pGL47dn
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nJxONqWVp
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKobipS1yS
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8bVzhT1WL
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3De5T6CKf
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB1RRKZIOK
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKkSYNyL9e
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPfh3remlq
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb8P8hJmsY
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMLfdz0FDV
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3owyxBtHzp
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBNSMarQPl
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAlB3LZnsn
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXq5d8fPj2
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYnwBw7Y85
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio59KYVuSo
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNBa8xHigq
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosUvwGndV2
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7glVnSktNd
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfom8bPe8W
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUZSI6QT6e
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDHsWemLgy
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtNDc7KySJ
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY3LqOWHQ6
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlpMNt2amh
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVldvjwtc6Y
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhH8Q6KT3PZ
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsqoXUJLYC
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4ABcApAA8
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuRTaR3MBh
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkLKbJLCb1
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Zb3P3BBFd
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UP7amBgvU
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3avsM5n59v
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV2bEF5X3E
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNU66RhNI1
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G0UlwcBwC
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6IiZmfcFG
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhkXcNkgCv
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz3hWyoY3C
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTBH9L7mgd
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgBM04w5tp
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrpTXBseg3
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKxyDcGC3T
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCbdaakKRv
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWKDiQ2MF7
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXALlah72x
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJzg1YubrG
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd0tMEoGHQ
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6xIL7kNLC
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2JWT7Zuyn
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIOgFOSKvc
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejTS0dmOEA
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw90NyvXlRo
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZB1Jbjkkw
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztFBuPYePn
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNi9vKkpvh
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sNinER5DA
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpJWcC43dR
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n2GhWDNaO
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmoF0755fp
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg2vxZLqWY
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66b0gxcStE
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXe74tlnKo
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai0K7DOxHa
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU0zefgBKc
to her that way.
Standing there, her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuiN3W1diH
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4th07bZpRs
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvP8eZcWyf
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS1o64sOyv
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrVEDk9BL2
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHFbWl8VDH
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcODeXL4iIP
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMuVBuThnW
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF155fctKI7
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqKRvycxVv
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkUv36ofDO
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ5bTzDgaL
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvAi75UFwm
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI1di5btFX
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAXQABWbs1
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBJd3RTzII
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyrN7CbGsQ
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tkixVzoBY
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2STrWuRP8
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTSLSwidH6
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknBBRLtIB8
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZccWrbhxTo
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxCBcLzWtr
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hReMDnBPN
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf5RrMaeqH
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z58emPHad
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeBmIb1Rzc
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGnzVfRArS
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEDh3hHbbr
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEWCzwrobc
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF9RCtoY2k
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW7FmkwzCS
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJmcmUO5Jp
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡforJBO8Ghk
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jTulErgD2
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsktJ35h0Yb
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9oUJLvqMY
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW9t2K3D7o
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmUekLIqlg
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X7mftkABj
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY4ZunMPLx
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiL1WhiBI3
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRd16zarTd
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo8jvgMEQB
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDruDJRBObw
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswfoxPTpjq
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2YnpRyYwN
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRz7VJSAZr
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyax7HxoGAb
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLqUjjP0WT
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZa7wrhZ0Z
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8jyg9Pjdh
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xgMiOW12U
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E20scFejg
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4qC9TCO01
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixxLHkPHzZ
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgvKfzQz7C
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuvA4gMZKQ
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKUPOpruBP
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2sL5M9Mdv
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj4LVjuxAf
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqLOR1sHdk
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9bzbj8gA2
dating,”
“---What is he waiting378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yN0yUQtb3
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvC10i2fW2
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjmV45IRbG
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w8BWPg3wd
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyLXzc67yY
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gq5ffiUt3
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKsyyCltHR
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtrQliM4Nx
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpdG399aWF
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmJyATA3oO
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0LiXdeTyA
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUA8d1pacy
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveyUN9pNQU
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPClxF5FNG
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder378Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAfreDq0V1
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.
