Chapter 47: Let’s Talk About It
The business that Austin had started was very promising. But his new company was short-staffed, so all the employees were very busy.
As Selene brought him food every day, the staff at the company began to joke that they were in a relationship. Finally, on the third day, when Selene came and met several of Austin’s workmates, they teased him loudly, “Hey, Austin. Your girlfriend’s here!”
Austin walked out of his office and grinned. “She will be my girlfriend.”
Selene felt a little embarrassed but did not pay too much attention. Instead, she followed Austin into his office.
“I’m having a meeting now. I’ll eat it when I finish it. You don’t need to wait up.”
“It’s lunchtime. Why are you having a meeting now?”
“The company who is financing us is assessing, and they will decide whether it will continue investing in our company. It’s very important.”
Selene knew little about the investment, and she shook her head. “That’s okay. I’ll just wait here until you finish your meeting. I won’t leave until you eat your lunch. I’m not busy with my store.”
“Okay then. Go ahead.”
Sitting there, Selene felt bored and thirsty, so she decided to go to the canteen to get some water to drink. Several girls from the company were having lunch there.
They greeted Selene and then continued with their chatter. “Last time, I saw Clint Denovan, the president of SSGB, in the meeting room. He’s more handsome than you could ever imagine. He looks young and gorgeous.”
Selene frowned.
They continued their gossip. “But he looks very distant.”
She had just managed to stop thinking about Clint, as he hadn’t contacted her in a long time. But now that she heard his name being mentioned, her heart suddenly beat faster.
When Selene returned to Austin’s office from the canteen, Austin was still in the meeting. She thought for a while, then wrote him a note to remind him to eat his lunch. She then left.
She got into the lift and pressed the button for the ground floor. The doors closed, and she felt the familiar movement of the machine. However, the lift stopped on the first floor, and the doors opened. A group of men entered, and Selene recognized two of them. They were Clint Denovan and Nick, Austin’s good friend who was also a partner of the new company.
Selene and Clint looked at each other without any expression.
Nick gave Selene a slightly confused look. “Selene, why are you leaving? Austin is in the office now.”
Selene smiled embarrassingly. “Something just came up, and I need to go. I left him a message.”
“Austin is a lucky guy. I wish I had a girl who’d take care of me like you take care of him.”
Hearing this, Clint turned back and looked at Selene coldly. A few seconds later, the doors to the lift opened, so he turned around and left.
Nick said goodbye to Selene and caught up with Clint. “Mr. Denovan. When will you inform us about your decision?”
“It depends. We need some time to decide.”
Selene walked to the street and was about to stop a taxi when Austin’s voice came; “Selene!”
Selene turned back and saw Austin.
“Why are you here?” She asked.
“You told me that you wouldn’t leave until I finish my lunch.”
“I ran out of patience. You took too long with your meeting.”
“I’ll eat right now. How about you come back and sit with me? These past days have been tough for me.”
Selene noticed that he looked thinner than before. She felt guilty for leaving. “How’s your stomach?”
“You’ve been taking care of me, and I feel better now.”
“Really? Is that true?”
“Of course. You’ve been cooking me healthy meals every day, so my diet has been much better than before, and I really appreciate that. In fact, I’ve been craving junk food lately.” He laughed.
“No way. I’m not going to let you touch that stuff!”
Austin smiled and gave Selene a piece of potato.
Selene took it in her mouth and started chewing.
“Are you really in love with me? Like in the movies?”
“I wasn’t sure before, so I stayed away from you for many years. Whenever you went on dates with Joseph, I tried to start relationships with other girls, but that never ended well.”
“Love is complicated, and people get hurt. I would rather that we stay friends and take care of each other.”
“Yes, we could. I won’t push my emotions onto you. We can stay friends and be happy.”
They were too engrossed in their candid conversation to notice that Clint’s car drove by them. Clint sat in the car, his face as expressionless as ever.
He turned to his assistant. “Deck.” We’ll need to postpone our decision about the investment, as there’s something wrong with the program. Don’t tell them about it, as they should deal with it themselves.”
“The program is good. Even though there is something that needs fixing, we could help them and make an early investment in it. It would be better for all of us.”
“Do as I said.”
“Okay, Mr. Denovan.”
****
Austin couldn’t afford to take the afternoon off and was soon busy with work again.
It was tough for Selene to meet him after that and have a talk.
One week passed by, and Selene was bored spending the weekend by herself at home. So she went to Austin’s door and knocked, but nobody answered. She then called him and found that he was down at his workplace, busy managing his company.
Austin is so busy with his company! Selene thought.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
She then decided to cook something for Austin and take the food to him at his company.
When she entered his office, Austin was in the middle of taking his medicine, and his face looked very pale.
“Does your stomach still hurt?” Selene frowned.
“Just a little.” Austin smiled embarrassedly.
“You don’t look well. What’s going on?” Her voice was full of concern.
“I don’t know. My diet has been great recently.” He said, trying to suppress his pain.