Chapter 26: As If Being Conned
Chapter 26: As If Being Conned
Cooper Scott looked at Florence confusedly after hearing her words.
Florence paused for a second and continued, "Do you still remember the entrance exam of University A five years ago? I had an accident and I was late and not permitted to take the exam. It was you that helped me out."
If it wasn't for Cooper, Florence would have missed her chance to enroll in University A.
Cooper was not surprised and smiled.
"I thought you have forgotten me."
Cooper had recognized Florence at first sight.
Back then, Florence had an accident, and there were injuries on her body. Yet, she showed up outside the exam hall without any bandaging.
Until now, the persistence and enthusiasm of hers were still fresh in Cooper's mind.
Cooper's words were an affirmation.
Florence was over the moon, "I wanted to thank you after the exam but I couldn't find you at all…"
"After that, I had gone to Europe as an exchange student."
Cooper's gaze darkened, and he seemed not wanting to talk about it anymore.
He smiled and said, "You can still make it up to me now. How about treating me to dinner after work?"
"Sure."
Florence agreed without hesitating. Even if Cooper didn't request it, she would offer him too.
Elise Bennett was holding her phone, walking into the company with a smile on her face.
She was in a good mood today. She had finally found the right opportunity to release her anger after suppressing it for some time.
"Ms. Bennett, what makes you so happy?"
A colleague greeted Elise warmly when seeing her.
Elise Bennett was a senior designer with a high position in the company, so a group of women always surrounded her.
She raised her phone, "A tittle-tattle. Follow me to the lounge. I'll tell you."
As she said, Elise had a hostile stare at Florence's spot. But she was stunned when she saw that handsome man.
She was puzzled and asked, "Who's he?"
"He's a new colleague. A pity that, he is Florence's assistant!"
The woman said with a hint of envy in her voice.
A new assistant?
Elise narrowed her eyes, looking at the two of them. They didn't seem to have just met from the way they chit-chat.
With them having good feelings for each other, they would have chemistry easier by working together day and night.
Elise had a better idea suddenly.
Florence and Cooper were chatting when Madison Steward, the director, came over.
"Florence, the president wants you to go to his office. He wants to check on your design progress."
Madison was looking at Florence with a puzzled look.
According to the procedure, Florence's design should only be handed over to Madison to check on and then passed on to the superior. And the president would only look at the outline and the final product.
But the president specified to check on the design progress and wanted the designer to hand it over personally. This was the first time ever.
Ernest Hawkins was always known to be swamped with work.
Florence didn't think much of it. It was the first time she completed her work independently, and she was still not familiar with the Design Department's rules.
She sorted out the data hastily and went to the president's office.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Florence walked to the office and knocked on the door politely.
A man's low voice rumbled from inside, "Come in."
Florence then gently pushed open the door. Unexpectedly, she saw that Ernest was not dealing with business at his desk but sitting on the parlor sofa.
The table in front of him had a cup of coffee, a glass of milk, and some delicious-looking desserts.
The life of the president was indeed enjoyable.
Florence sighed secretly but still standing by the side as she handed the documents to Ernest.
"Mr. Hawkins, this is the preliminary design that I did over the past two days."
Ernest casually took it and pointed to the seat on the sofa beside him incidentally.
"Sit."
The glass of milk was just right in front of that spot.
Florence was puzzled. Was it prepared for her?
She was just here to report on her progress. It wouldn't be pleasant for her to sit here and to eat too.
So, Florence remained standing still, "No thanks. I'll just stand."
Florence was trying not to mix business with pleasure, but Ernest didn't let her the chance.
Ernest glanced at Florence with an intention, "I will have a look at it for quite some time. You standing here might affect my mood."
"…" Why did Ernest have such kind of quirk?
She was speechless and just sat down.
Ernest then flipped open her folder and said in a natural tone, "If you're bored, you can have something to eat." Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
So he was actually worried about her feeling bored? Florence then understood Ernest's intention.
He spent a lot of time just looking at her design graph, not to say other documents. It was reasonable for him to prepare some desserts for those who came to report and felt bored.
Florence felt at ease at once. She picked up a small spoon and began devouring that plate of delicious desserts.
It was toothsome and her favorite too.
Florence was satisfied eating it while Ernest also finished looking at the documents.
He was holding the design sketch, pondering.
"Were you feeling restrained when designing?"
Florence looked at Ernest in a strange look.
She thought that Ernest would point out the problems of her sketching. But in fact, he could tell the condition of her when designing it.
Florence indeed felt restrained, or maybe even constricted, when designing it.
As this clothing was specially designed for Ernest, he was way too perfect for his appearance and body. He was gorgeous that no dress could match him.
Ernest unfolded the file and put it right in front of Florence.
He said sternly, "One would feel other being mysterious and out of his league just because he is unfamiliar to him. Florence, I don't mind you getting to know me."
When one encountered a bottleneck while designing customized clothing, the best solution was to get to know the customer well.
Florence was swayed, "Really?"
"Sure. You can keep following me until the design is done."
Ernest granted Florence a special privilege.
It was an excellent idea for her to follow and observe Ernest at any time. But Florence felt something fishy about it as if she had fallen into a trap.
She still couldn't figure it out and saw Ernest making a call.
"Timothy, get a new desks set into the office. Yes, it's for Florence."
Florence was caught unawares and asked, "Preparing a desk for me here, what for?"
She wasn't a secretary, and not necessary to be working here too.
"It's for you to know me better." Ernest mentioned it as a matter of course.
"But…"
"Don't you want this opportunity? Are you lack of enthusiasm and attentiveness to this design?"
Florence quieted down as she looked at the man's questioning gaze.
If she rejected again, that would mean her admitting herself was not dedicated to her work. How could she still keep her job then?
But thinking of her working in Ernest's office, Florence kept feeling something fishy.