Megan woke up at high noon.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjjFNd4aFb
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I0jb5NY3v
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsib7jTb8g
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1xm9Ea4R7
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2z3UQiyNy
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCmHORFGPt
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvKikPK1C8
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBoY5T9C9k
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMsaXcGJeu
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4yRvhxwRq
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0awrdiqbv
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjtbONLE6y
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1evmIR7Vhb
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ7k2Wzx78
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZvvq48Uyb
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuEvNyLsum
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzITINttZZ
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f27pHuNye
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKSxebUVD3
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzpbWdzmsB
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z1z5H0smC
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9XffGFtOc
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyZRJn53H2
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1q1l8Rk0c
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLLHGGzaJs
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO5dItUupg
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCwOu6naN6
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BXh9hKWMx
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsuYP0jodt
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0R9HLOX6H
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV9RiKxB6Y
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD9KU91Lvf
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHoI2hpJP8
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8D48JmuT7
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyryPgdNMD
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuunXLFobPK
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiBZ1hTlHC
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIVPK2jE36
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA19iVtaz1
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8iCVDOQo5
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qZTnF8Sle
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6Xo7VOuXk
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnFUfsULaH
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjPgO39vuv
apologize….”
The girl stared at her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDcyvRV9qg
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutZDyMvwhJ
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDuWlUiLjm
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8lGjfwnwU
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxclUMPiIOF
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb95gkVLqjm
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq1e49a0U0
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkGgUGMncI
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hGUtsdZsa
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqb8oh78pvv
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ9iS7hl1D
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUH3jLL84f
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX34oFqAfqh
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gi8RwFf9V
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibLCF7KYug
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAcIxUCg4P
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBvNINdx85
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k4mXXJNo6
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjLIs1bSgl
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw49fg0SjM6
counter.
“Brisket hash with243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydxj7ExWrb
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEw4YkIz7q
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnYB5WRjDu
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDiuDP3eUs
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXaUMiJauu
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGukWqTvwK
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXQilf6Nlt
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVofQwULJW
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc6VLDbvBS
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wMZm5Iugl
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kSu4GEgmD
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeVUbzQ9hI
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrn6hIo61m
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWZka8NFN2
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOt4Hga6qF
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB8177FZyc
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pIFAq0gY4
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GUoBUHaQN
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk6GIeMvo2
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVGF0iKMmW
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgamRj18FQr
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlSwkuiZhf
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIGipc4hhv
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUe52yNigJ
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPLwPau5Uj
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b0fOwbc47
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dPWQwqr83
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3fPnfKZ0F
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LmJysL9Se
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLABDWpX0p
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH8kmNNeS5
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqVngSLJkr
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9LvNY54M1
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtryuN5C0rb
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqjGzXo9bh
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8MdYOe6lZ
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPseSzEV8I0
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax1NQ8TKOR
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKF7wh4h02
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwt820dNxj
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiJSNjPuox
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmSw1Ha4x1
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryoEe5Oj8i
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSFsXahvmB
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eD8kDf13S
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAPbwvGEJx
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lu3UCROmM
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlBRzq0l32
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVvi8sngtW
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMxXgpdvO3
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ3pIl7Cb9
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemGN4njHEI
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs0wcipUQ0
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIlWHOMNm9
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICARBmVvLq
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OU2ErAocJ
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqoc2bgfEi
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7owzqE2jMw
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1nycIG5Zt
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd94ToI3Fj
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY871StwDOu
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNS5HdJwjl
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5yfRJPzJK
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSOsqf9tQx
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQW3WK1H89
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiLesHYyGL
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEMkgFXrmh
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyArXoqIfHO
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTTwLFbI4x
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMvBZEVrgw
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1knCDsTWBg
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RqQTXI4lX
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRDc5ck5Vy
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlESZ01Udfr
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2ehFS3DS3
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFT1jGWlmz
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIMTvQzxCi
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFMLLTpm9G
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz1R8EEJHW
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItAsBwuJCK
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21CmGSOEcG
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFyP9WtGZC
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxUq36480q
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLEU2dEE2N
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9wjBP9fZj
to her that way.
Standing there, her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRhCVgUlUR
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrkH6hmqP1
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6mo53ThIx
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC0aaXeXP7
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9qHqkb7ug
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17cG4bMpal
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsfYa3Ubml
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6jQGBpu1b
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeVjxuPz7W
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3PFXBGgN3
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSexVlhDbL
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1CU7rg4qB
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv3Xktfwkr
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhpzl08Kq9
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS53mGblLU0
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPPE7gPTjT
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZi9FokTjo
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYyDXaLlMq
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFsI2CXkax
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PXNL79cq1
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hsELNx048
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp0aq5ks21
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQlVGr88yR
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWM1ct26KU
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkHT9TlGHM
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipqovh6SjF
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFs5IGB1iH
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uKXsZOEUr
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts6ysPaqC4
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde8KH31iqP
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE7O6Abbtv
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwevUWUzMRQ
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWcrStftjm
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl7XnUI1Tw
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv5bc7bORI
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTLJnZ0HsX
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqN958aA6V
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQXjCfqMRu
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNh34pgPjU
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K3Z31hMSe
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYgP0WPqrh
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAIeSH92l1
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiMbh5fRGQ
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji36ZioLKP
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX6BbMJIfo
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRKHHWjYjd
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XOkeIq580
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsvlV6cqVr
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiAEFw2LVs
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGh4WphPs7
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzLpVCpz9w
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI3gFZmmi6
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExJQE0F0Ny
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxUHtSJs5p
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SSy5hz24L
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbEiKXPXMx
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwqJmRxzPz
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErQE6cuwp5
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgeD6xBf4G
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl82HDzCWg
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B7yOZQ0Jo
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKzsqmyIj2
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8xjdNd2DJ
dating,”
“---What is he waiting243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5ks2JSFlb
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV7TFoY7Yg
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CpTGF3uiE
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsmODn1eSA
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgv1hZmdla
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2jLEzwQSf
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZFRtseS4D
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6peT1dlQO2
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVVUeBM78U
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoGtzauTvM
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFyw4dBsoD
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUllLSGmBhO
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCW1kwBN8v
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93eC0EkPme
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZK4gsnSY6
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.
