Early the following morning, Roxanne saw the message Larry had sent last night as soon as she awakened. It read: Are you free tomorrow? How about a meal together?
She mulled over her work that day before texting back: At noon, then. We‘ll have lunch near the research institute. On the other end of the phone, Larry promptly agreed.
As soon as it was noon, Roxanne received a call from Larry.“Have you finished your work? I‘m waiting for you at the research institute gates.” Larry‘s voice rang out the instant she answered the call.
Roxanne happened to be discussing a recent project with Colby. When Colby saw her taking the call, he timely halted the conversation and waited at the side.
Hearing that Larry had already arrived, Roxanne reflexively glanced at Colby, who was standing across from her. Then, she murmured apologetically, “Please wait for a while, Larry. I‘ve got something to wrap up on my end. You can come in and wait.”
Larry declined with a chuckle. “It‘s okay. I‘ll just wait for you at the gates. Take your time.”
Roxanne murmured in acknowledgment. Subsequently, she hung up the phone and continued speaking to Colby about the project.
In the few days to come, she wanted to concentrate on preparing for the Damaris family‘s medical consultation. Furthermore, the work at the research institute had long since stabilized, and the issue with the medical herb suppliers had been resolved. Therefore, she planned to entrust the matters at the research institute to Colby.
After they talked for quite a bit, the handover of the work at the research institute finally came to an end.
Roxanne still wanted to remind Colby of a few other things, but the man commented with a chuckle, “I‘ve been with the research institute for a long time, and I‘ve also been handling things with you all this while. You don‘t have to worry. Just leave everything here to me. Someone is waiting for you, no? Hurry up and go!”
Upon hearing that, Roxanne hesitated for a second before she nodded smilingly.
Speaking of that, he has been working at the research institute even longer than I have. And ever since I came over, we‘ve been handling things together. Indeed, I don‘t have to worry.
“In that case, I‘ll stop rambling. You should be going to lunch as well. Let‘s go out together!”
She snagged her handbag and waited for Colby.
While there was a cafeteria in the research institute, few ate in the cafeteria. Instead, they mostly patronized restaurants outside. Colby was no exception.
Colby dithered for several seconds, knowing that he would inevitably see Larry if he went out with her.
Since Roxanne was waiting for him, he ultimately fell into step with her after a brief hesitation. The two of them exited the research institute together.
As Larry said, Roxanne caught sight of him waiting at the gates when she arrived at the entrance of the research institute.
It was as though he was afraid that she couldn‘t see him, for he deliberately waited outside the car. The moment he spotted her coming out, he waved at her, signaling her over to him.
Roxanne took her leave from Colby and strode over.
As Colby gazed at her retreating back, his eyes dimmed, but they reverted to their usual calmness in the next heartbeat, and he inclined his head at Larry courteously.
In turn, Larry flashed him a warm smile.
That was the two of them greeting each other.
When Roxanne reached him, Larry lifted his eyes and stared at Colby, who had turned around and gone a distance away. “Who‘s that?” he inquired, curious.
Smiling, Roxanne explained, “That‘s Colby Galloway. He‘s a colleague of mine at the research institute, and he‘s also an outstanding doctor. I‘ve collaborated with him abroad, but I don‘t know whether the two of you have ever met.”
Larry nodded in acknowledgment. “Get in the car.”
I‘m not sure whether I‘m imagining things, but the look in his eyes when he regarded her earlier was seemingly strange. But then, I can‘t pinpoint what exactly bothered me.
Roxanne knew absolutely nothing about the two men‘s thoughts.
During the drive to the restaurant, she smilingly asked Larry, “Why did you suddenly decide to ask me out for lunch today? And did you just return from Summerbank?”
Larry nodded nonchalantly. “I just returned last night. I only boarded the flight after secing Mr. Lynch off. It was already midnight by the time I landed.”
Recalling the time he sent her the message, Roxanne surmised that he had texted her mere moments after disembarking the plane.
I wonder what important matter he has to tell me.
“Mr. Lynch told me to convey his regards to you and asked whether the issue at the research institute has been resolved,” Larry stated.
The smile on Roxanne‘s face widened when she heard that Gerald remembered her. “It‘s all thanks to you and Mr. Lynch that night. Those medicinal herb suppliers were initially hesitant, but they respected Mr. Lynch, so they readily agreed after he said a few words.”
Larry inclined his head a fraction. “I‘m glad to hear that the matter has been resolved. I‘m just worried that Mrs. Farwell will make things difficult for you again in the future.”
Throughout it all, he had found things very much unfair on her behalf.
He could somewhat guess the reason Sonya was targeting Roxanne, reckoning that she resented the latter for leaving without a word back then and getting so familiar with Lucian at present.
In his opinion, however, Roxanne was the victim. Furthermore, she wasn‘t the one who wanted to have so much contact with the man right then.
Rather than wasting her time on Roxanne, he felt that Sonya would be better served to keep a closer eye on Lucian.
He really wanted to help Roxanne, but he wasn‘t the head of the Morrison family. Besides, the Morrison family was no match for the Farwell family, so his hands were tied even if he wanted to help.
Fortunately, the matter had been resolved.
At the mention of Sonya, Roxanne‘s heart felt heavy. “I don‘t know either, but I‘ve already done my utmost best to keep myself out of her line of sight. Hopefully, she‘ll forget all about me.”
It‘s particularly true at present when I‘ve got a rare chance to attend a medical consultation with the Damaris family. Later, I still want to compete for the opportunity to collaborate with them. If I were to lose the chance because of her interference, I really wouldn‘t know what I‘d do in retaliation.
When Larry glimpsed the worry on her face, a flash of regret flitted across his eyes. He felt remorseful for bringing up such a sore point.
The car plunged into a brief silence.
A while later, Roxanne composed herself and changed the subject nonchalantly. “Oh yes, Larry, is something the matter that you asked me out for lunch all of a sudden today?”
After all, the last time we dined together was when he invited me to Bellridge to attend the medical conference together back then. I wonder what it is this time.
Hearing that, Larry put away his wandering thoughts and went straight to business. “You‘ve been staying abroad all these years, so I don‘t know whether you‘ve heard of the Damaris family. It‘s considered the leading prestigious family in traditional medicine, but it has recently retreated behind the scenes and rarely made any appearances. On the whole, it‘s a very mysterious family.”
Hmm, it‘s the Damaris family again. This is the second time I‘ve heard someone speaking of ti Damaris family lately.
Roxanne was a touch puzzled. “I‘ve heard of it previously, and I‘ve always had much interest in the Damaris family‘s ancient medicine books. When I was abroad, I had hoped that I‘d be so fortunate to have the opportunity to visit them, but I never had that opportunity. But I heard that they‘ll be having a medical consultation soon.”
The instant her words rang out, Larry arched an eyebrow and glanced at her in surprise. I wonder where she got that news.
“This is precisely what I want to speak to you about today.”
As Larry and Roxanne conversed, the car arrived at the entrance of the restaurant, After Larry parked the car, the two of them entered the restaurant and sat down by the window.
Larry nad made a reservation long ago, so the food was served no sooner had they taken their seats. While eating, they talked about the Damaris family‘s medical consultation.
“News of the Damaris family‘s medical consultation is usually circulated within closed circles. How did you learn about it?” Larry couldn‘t resist querying.
Roxanne had nothing to hide, so she admitted, “I initially had no idea about it and was already planning to go abroad. But when I went to the Queen residence to thank them two days ago, Old Mr. Queen suddenly brought it up to me. That‘s why I decided to stay a bit longer in Chanaea.”
When Larry heard that, he frowned “Go abroad?”
In response, Roxanne chortled airily. “As you can see, the research institute is targeted by Farwell Group with me here. Rather than staying in Chanaea and dragging the research institute down with me, it‘s better that I go abroad. I can‘t afford to offend Farwell Group, but I can at least stay away.”
Larry sighed soundlessly, finding it all truly unfair for Roxanne.
“But now that I know about the Damaris family‘s medical consultation, I‘m not going to leave even if Mrs. Farwell wants to give me the boot.” Roxanne flashed him a casual smile.
Larry regarded her in exasperation, but all he saw on her face was anticipation for the medical consultation. Thus, he didn‘t mention Sonya again, lest he wreck her good mood.
Instead, he uttered gently, “That‘s also why I asked you out today. The Damaris family‘s medical consultations have always been done in collaboration with doctors in the field. Are you interested? If you are, we can contact Mr. Lynch right now. If he recommends you to the Damaris family, you‘ll be able to participate for sure. I‘ve got a spot for a member of the Morrison family, so we can attend together at that time.”
Roxanne‘s eyes lit up. “You‘re also going to attend, Larry?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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