“It’s my first time meeting them, so I should bring them some presents. What would they like?” Jack asked.
Roxanne turned him down politely, “That won’t be necessary. Archie and Benny don’t really care about this sort of thing. Besides, they already have everything they need.”
Jack frowned. “Why are you so against me giving them some presents? Since we’re partners, I’ll be seeing them fairly often in the future anyway. I wouldn’t want them to hate me for not giving them presents.”
Unsure of how to counter that statement, Roxanne could only reply with a smile, “If you insist, then I shall gladly accept your offer. If you’re going to give them something, then…”
That was when Roxanne realized she couldn’t think of a suitable present for them.
The kids have never asked me for anything. They usually just buy whatever they need with the money from Archie’s piggy bank. As for presents, they liked anything I bought them, so I don’t really know what they actually like. Hmm… If I recall, they seemed to like the presents that Lucian got them very much.
With that in mind, Roxanne continued a little uncertainly, “I think you should give them stuff like Lego sets or scale models of aircraft.”
Jack arched his eyebrow slightly and said, “All right, I’ll be sure to prepare the presents. Make sure to keep this a secret, okay?”
Roxanne chuckled as she nodded at him in response.
Jack excused himself to answer a phone call in the middle of the meal. He returned with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, my grandpa summoned me back but didn’t explain why.”
Roxanne smiled considerately. “You should hurry up and return since Old Mr. Damaris is looking for you. I’ll go home by myself.” He apologized again before rising to leave.
She finished her meal alone before glancing at the time. It was already one in the afternoon. She got a little worried thinking about the kids at home and got up to pay the bill.
“The gentleman who left has already paid the bill,” the staff said, smiling. Roxanne was surprised to hear that. Didn’t we agree that I will treat him to this meal as a thank-you gesture? Yet he settled the bill…
“Oh, this is a gift from that gentleman.” The staff handed her a bouquet, a look of envy plain on her face. “You’re so lucky.” Roxanne was caught off guard when her relationship with Jack was once again misconstrued.
Her gaze strayed to the flowers when she was about to explain herself. Although Jack’s intentions were unclear, his actions could give the wrong impression.
She was afraid of muddling up the situation by over-explaining. At that thought, she smiled ruefully and accepted the bouquet without saying anything before turning to leave the restaurant.
Roxanne managed to hail a cab after waiting at an intersection for a while. She hugged the bouquet to herself and slid into the car, her phone pinging with a text from Jack: I’m home.
Just as she was about to reply to his text and ask about the bouquet, another message came: Did you receive the flowers?
She frowned as she flicked her gaze to the flowers, her fingers flying across the screen: I received it, but I’m not sure why you gave those to me.
Logically, Jack shouldn’t regard her as anything other than a coworker, but with the flowers and what he told her, she couldn’t help but misinterpret.
Jack read her response and arched his brow, pursing his lips as he replied: Shouldn’t I have given you flowers to express my gratitude after you treated me to a meal?
Roxanne was bewildered by the text. She replied: But didn’t you pay for the meal?
Besides, his reasoning was so absurd that she began to suspect that he had ulterior motives.
Humor sparked in his eyes as he typed: A Damaris would never let a woman pay the bill. Your company at lunch was more than enough.
Roxanne’s expression hardened.
She then received another text from Jack: I was only kidding. I gave you the flowers on Jamie’s behalf as a token of gratitude. After all, the orphanage is the Damaris family’s responsibility, and you have been an enormous help to us.
As though afraid she wouldn’t believe him, he added: There are many lilies, and they symbolize gratitude, so it wouldn’t cause a misunderstanding when the kids see it.
Only then did she realize how many lilies were in the arrangement, with a few accent flowers that she couldn’t name nestled among them.
Chagrin flashed deep in Roxanne’s eyes at his words.
Even Archie and Benny would not have misinterpreted the situation, yet she did.
What is going on with me lately?
Roxanne snapped out of it and typed out a reply: Thank you, but it’s what I should have done. We will be working together in the future, so you shouldn’t be so courteous every time.
Jack smiled guardedly and replied: Indeed, it won’t happen again. A rustling sound came from upstairs as soon as he sent the text.
He pocketed the phone, and his gaze shot up to see a middle-aged man guiding Hector down the stairs in slow, measured steps, both of them engrossed in a conversation.
The man’s presence made Jack frown, but he was a product of his upbringing, so he greeted politely, “Grandpa, Mr. Hightower.” That man was Stephen Hightower, Jessica’s father.
One could only imagine why he would want Grandpa to summon me back home. The only possibility is to plead in favor of Jessica after the mess she made.
Irritation surged in him when he remembered that night’s events. Hector and Stephen turned to look in his direction when he spoke. “You’re home so soon?” Hector glanced at him with a smile, clearly enjoying his conversation with Stephen.
A frown drew Jack’s brows together, and he nodded at Hector. “Why did you call me back?”
Hector glanced at Stephen. “I hope we didn’t interrupt you by summoning you back abruptly.” Stephen’s words of concern conveyed his apology. With Hector present, Jack decided not to escalate the situation and only replied flatly, “No.”
Stephen heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s good. I had your grandpa call you home after Jessica told me things between both of you are tense. I’d like to apologize on her behalf.”
“You and Jessica grew up together. What could possibly put a strain on your relationship? Both of you can talk it out, whatever it is,” Hector advised.
Now that Hector had spoken up, Jack could only say, “She was drunk that night. Tell her it doesn’t matter and that she shouldn’t take it personally.”
Then, he arched his brow as he thought of something.
Wait. Jessica should be apologizing to someone else. The commotion she caused that night was nothing but a mere annoyance to me, but Roxanne suffered the most. She should be apologizing to the right person.
Stephen seemed to read his thoughts and continued, “Jessica mentioned that there was another lady involved, and she said she hopes to meet the lady to formally apologize.”
Jack’s eyes mirrored doubt as he wondered when did Jessica become so mature.
“You should know the lady if both of you were together that night. Why don’t you make arrangements so that Jessica could apologize to that lady?” Stephen proposed.
Jack’s doubt amplified when he heard that.
As far as I know, Jessica is domineering and will never admit to her fault when she makes a mistake. Why will she voluntarily apologize, especially to Roxanne, whom she detests?
Hector’s voice rang out again when he was about to probe the reason. “You should do Mr. Hightower a favor since he asked. I’m guessing that the other lady is Dr. Jarvis. Although we had only met once, I know she isn’t someone who will harbor grudges.”
Jack frowned. “It’s not that simple, Grandpa.”
“I think I have Dr. Jarvis’ contact too. If you can’t do it, I can,” Hector said faintly.
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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