Chapter 296
Although Gregory was all about dollars and cents, he booked me a room in the six–star hotel in Vista Town
I had plans to head back to RiverCity that very night, but Gregory, over the phone, said, “Till be heading to RiverCity tomorrow, I can give you a lift”
“Okay then.”
A ride in a Bentley wasn’t something you tum down.
The next day, I had hoped to sleep in but got rudely awakened by a call.
“Come down.” It was Gregory’s lax voice.
Woken up by him two days in a row, I couldn’t help but feel imitated. “Jesus, did you pull an all–nighter again?”
Gregory faked surprise. “Wow someone’s grumpy in the moming?”
I took a deep breath, forced it down, and smiled. “Not at all, just worried about you, Mr. Ford, what’s the early morning call for?”
Gregory yawned. “Ramona wants to see you”
“Huh?” Caught off guard and yawning myself, I crawled out of bed. “Now?”
He suddenly snapped, “What else? You think I have nothing better to do than to wait for you down here because I’ve been secretly in love with you for years?”
“Okay, fifteen minutes.” I quickly washed up, changed my clothes, grabbed my bag, and went downstairs.
There was the Ford family hunk’s car, boldly parked under the porte–cochere. He was leaning casually against it, head slightly dipped. playing with a lighter in his hand, giving off this vibe of defiance.
Ijogged over. “Let’s go.”
“Just in time.” He glanced at his watch casually. “Not a second less”
He was implying I was dawdling.
I mised an eyebrow and smiled. “Take that as a compliment on my punctuality.”
I was ready to hop into the back of the Bentley.
“Ms. Webster, mind playing chauffeur? He stopped the door with one hand and gestured toward the driver’s seat with a nod, tossing the car keys into my hands.
Then, he comfortably settled himself into the passenger seat
Beggars can’t be choosers. That was why he sent me the location to the Myers Mansion, making me his driver by default
Reluctantly, I walked around the car to the driver’s seat, about to complain about his lack of chivalry, when I saw him pull out a sleep mask from nowhere.
With a tilt of his head, he was out like a light
I thought, This guy must’ve been a sleep–deprived ghost in his past life!
Still, I eased up on the accelerator and brake, driving more gently than usual.
We smoothly arrived at the Myers Mansion, a grand estate nestled on a hillside, its serene gardens reminiscent of classic countryside estates. And the person in the passenger seat was still deep in slumber.
I reached over and tapped his shoulder “Mr. Ford?”
There was no response.
I kept calling out to him. “Gregory? Gregory??
“Just call me by my name. It sounds better? He suddenly yanked off his sleep mask, bleary–eyed and staring at me, “You
Ford‘ almost sounds like you’re teasing, not being real about it.”
I was speechless. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but as Gregory said, I always felt like a free–spirited hedgehog around him, ditching all caution and sensitivity. But that side of me felt more real.
Gregory snorted, “No comeback, huh? Seems I was right”
With that, he pushed open the door stretched his legs, and got off. He knew the Myers Mansion well, effortlessly guiding me to find Ramona.
Upon seeing me, Ramona quickly stood up, her shawl nearly slipping off. “Ms. Webster, you’re here.”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “Ramona, Gregory mentioned you wanted to see me?”
…Ramona paused and softly said, “I also wanted to show you my dressing room in case you design something I don’t like. We won’t have wasted your time.”