Chapter 33: The Eye–Catching
Plant
After Davina left, Kaitlyn immediately leaned in, saying, “What an angelic bitch, pretending to be so innocent.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, remaining silent.
“What did you give her? She seemed pretty pleased about it,” Kaitlyn continued.
“What did you give her? She seemed pretty happy.“”
I truthfully told her that I had given Davina the document detailing Daphne’s preferences.
Kaitlyn raised her thumb, teasing, “You really
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saved her. Charlene, you certainly know how to handle things. But what if she decides to back out?”
Davina wasn’t stupid. With that guide in hand, it was only a matter of time before she and Daphne would become inseparable. The First Lady of Lynton Group and a small project–how could Davina not know which was more important?
“Aren’t you happy?” Kaitlyn asked.
How could I not be happy? With Davina’s attitude, Lynton Group would most likely keep their investment. But the thought of giving away such a valuable document made me feel a twinge of regret. I had originally hoped to use it to make a lot of money.
“Let’s just wait for news” I reassured Kaitlyn. “We might finally get a good night’s sleep
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tonight.”
That night, as I returned to the neighborhood, I spotted Fletcher approaching from the
other side just as I reached the bottom of the stairs.
The man wore a double–breasted navy wool suit, his figure tall and upright, standing in the pale moonlight with the quiet, dignified air of a gentleman.
I paused for a moment, then decided to break the silence. “Came to see Davina?”
I was testing whether the two had met.
Fletcher gave a slight nod and walked alongside me into the building. After a while, he asked, “The guide–did you give it to her?”
So, they had met.
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I answered truthfully, “Mr. Lynton, you had paid the deposit, and I had to show some sincerity.”
“You’ve thought this through,” he said flatly, his tone unreadable.
I didn’t shy away, smiling as I said, “I always keep my word. In time, Mr. Lynton will understand.”
I still wanted to steer the conversation back to the topic of cooperation, but Fletcher didn’t take the bait. He just stood there quietly.
There was no sign of him loosening up.
The elevator doors opened, and we entered one after the other. I couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged, and I absentmindedly
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ran my fingers over the wristband on my left wrist.
“Who gave it to you?”
I looked at Fletcher in confusion. Following his gaze, I realized he was referring to the wristband.
He added, “You can’t seem to take it off. Could it be a family heirloom?”
I didn’t know how he could tell that I was so attached to it, but suddenly, my wrist felt hot, uncomfortably so.
Then, I heard Fletcher said with a hint of mockery, “Is Winston this stingy?”
It seemed he misunderstood the wristband as a gift from Winston.
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I looked down at my toes, pulling my sleeve to cover the wristband, not responding to his words.
But inside, it felt as though something had been torn apart, a pain in my chest that left me breathless.
“Ms. Grande, you’re quite a strategist, so why bother having Davina plead on your behalf?”
Hearing the crux of his question, I suppressed the discomfort in my chest, lifting my head to meet Fletcher’s gaze. “Mr. Lynton, we both understand the uniqueness of this project. Why let something so small damage our relationship?”
“Something so small?” Fletcher suddenly emphasized, a flicker of grievance flashing in his cold, piercing eyes.
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Had I misread him?
“I apologize for my choice of words,” I quickly corrected myself. “What I meant to say is, once the game is launched, Mr. Lynton, your efforts will certainly be rewarded.”
Spending time with Kaitlyn had taught me how to paint a rosy picture.
Fletcher let out a cold scoff, replying, “Will that day ever come?”
My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I froze. After a few seconds, I met his deep, unreadable eyes, trying to decipher his thoughts.
But, alas, I found nothing.
My voice was barely a whisper. “It will.”
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He sneered. “The goal is reached.”
I tightened my fist in my palm, forcing myself to stay calm. But when I looked at Fletcher, I realized he was referring to my floor arriving.
I exhaled a silent sigh of relief, managing a business smile. “Mr. Lynton, good night.”
Fletcher didn’t respond, but the edge had left his features.
I leaned against the wall, gathering myself for a while before immediately calling Kaitlyn.
“Really, no withdrawal?” Kaitlyn exclaimed. “These past few days, I’ve learned what it means to experience extreme highs and lows.”
I rubbed my temples, replying, “Davina’s
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words are definitely more useful than ours”
Kaitlyn sighed on the other end of the phone.
I understood the meaning–Davina’s favor wasn’t something to be easily won.
Sure enough, three days later, after the crisis had passed, Davina took the initiative to reach out.
She came across as sweet and concerned, finally getting to the point after some time. “Charlene, these past few days, I’ve studied Daphne’s preferences in detail. Do your think I could find a chance to put them into practice?”
So, she was asking me to create an opportunity for her and Daphne.
I recalled Daphne’s previous invitation to
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dinner and suggested, “How about this? We’ll stop by the supermarket, you can pick up some gifts, and then we’ll head to the villa in the hills after work.”
Davina blinked in surprise. “Is that okay, Charlene? Won’t it be too sudden?”
Davina suggested I call Daphne in advance.
Rather than a suggestion, it seemed more like she wanted me to test the waters.
After thinking it over, I knew I had to return the favor, so I followed through.
On the other end of the line, Daphne sounded pleased at first, but as soon as I mentioned Davina, her tone shifted immediately. “No, she’ll be in the way.“”
I went into full persuasion mode. “Daphne,
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you know how important family is, and you have to think about Mr. Lynton. Besides, Davina really cares about you–her devotion is hard to come by.”
Only then did Daphne relent.
So, after work, Davina and I arrived at the villa in the hills.
When we saw elegant detached villa, Davina was just as stunned as I was. She stood there, mouth agape, taking in the sight.
When Daphne greeted us, Davina was still staring at the pine tree by the door, lost in thought.
I quickly called her attention. “Davina.”
She snapped out of it, managing a polite smile and coming forward to greet, “Daphne,
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it’s my first time meeting you. I brought a gift, please accept it.”
Daphne looked at the gift Davina was holding, and her expression softened slightly.
But after we entered the house, it wasn’t long before Daphne posed a tricky question. “The maid who usually cooks has suddenly had to leave for something, so it seems we won’t be having dinner tonight.”
The implication was clear: there would be no one to cook.
I took a sip of juice, discreetly giving Davina a signal, and she immediately understood. Stepping forward, she volunteered, “Daphne, I usually cook for myself. If you don’t mind, I can prepare dinner tonight.”
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Daphne gave her a meaningful look. “You can cook?”
Davina glanced at me and nodded. “I can make a few home–style dishes.”
With her characteristic authoritative air, Daphne lazily replied, “Then I’ll leave it to you, Ms. Bates.”
Davina gracefully headed to the kitchen.
Daphne didn’t just sit back; she led me to the backyard to admire the bougainvillea.
It wasn’t just one plant, but an entire patch, lush and thriving, even more robust than the ones I’d see in stores.
Clearly, it had been meticulously cared for.
Among the sea of vibrant red flowers, a
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solitary white bougainvillea stood out, stark against the bright colors.
It resembled the one I had once kept in my apartment.
That one, in Fletcher’s eyes, was just a waste of time–a couple’s plant.
“Are you referring to the one in the center, the silver–edged white bougainvillea?” Daphne asked with a smile. “Who knows? The gardener said Letch had it brought in from somewhere, maybe it looks more aesthetically pleasing this way”
Brought it in from somewhere? That probably wasn’t the one I had kept.
I remembered clearly that the landlord had told me all the decorations in the apartment had been cleared, including that plant.
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It was probably just a coincidence.
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