Chapter 27: Family Member
Kaitlyn didn’t respond.
I glanced at the time and urged, “The party’s starting soon. Go ahead.”
Kaitlyn shot me a big eye–roll. “Do you think I’d ignore my friends just for some fun?”
On the way here, she’d briefed me on the selection standards for the waitstaff at Horton Manor, comparing them to the criteria for hiring male escorts at clubs.
I pouted playfully. “Come on, just go. Don’t forget to update the group chat. I want to see what it’s like.”
Kaitlyn, with a knowing look, didn’t press the issue any further.
1/13
At 7 PM, the workgroup chat began buzzing with party updates. I glanced through a few messages before setting my phone aside.
I was drifting in and out of sleep when I heard a knock at the door.
It was a staff member from the manor, bringing me food.
Three dishes and a soup, along with my favorite Chicken Marsala.
I was a little surprised and asked, “Who ordered this?”
The server politely replied, “Ms. Bates.”
I lowered my gaze, remaining silent.
My phone on the table buzzed incessantly.
2/13
I picked it up and saw over 200 new messages in the group chat. I casually scrolled through, and my eyes landed on one of the videos.
As I enlarged it.“?
saw my colleagues encouraging Davina to feed Fletcher alcohol using her mouth.
In the video, Davina shyly raised her glass, gazing at Fletcher with longing. “Fletcher, may I?” she asked.
Under the strange and colorful lighting, Fletcher’s face was hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
But in the next moment, he took Davina’s glass from her and leaned in to whisper something in her ear.
3/13
The video was noisy, and I couldn’t make out their words, but judging by Davina’s bashful expression, it was clear Fletcher had likely charmed her.
“Is the meal not to your liking?”
A cautious voice from the server interrupted my thoughts.
I glanced at the food before me, pausing for a moment before replying, “Could you bring me a bottle of red wine? The most expensive one.”
With the help of the Romanée–Conti, I slept soundly that night.
The next morning, I joined the group at the manor’s organic farm for a fruit–picking
event.
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Chapter 27: Family Member
+ 5 Points
There was a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and the owner was generous, offering everyone not only the freedom to eat as much as they wanted but also allowing each person to take two baskets home.
Kaitlyn pulled me into the strawberry patch.
I tasted one; it was fresh, juicy, and absolutely delicious.
I decided to pick a basket to give to Miles.
Kaitlyn leaned over and asked, “What about the other basket?”
I looked at her mischievous eyes and asked, “What do you have in mind this time?”
She patted my shoulder. “Professor Fleming has helped us a lot. Shouldn’t we take the
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Chapter 27: Familly Member
chance to bribe him?”
As soon as she finished speaking, my phone
rang.
It was Winston’s call.
What a coincidence.
“Hey, it cooled down in Azure Bay Resort last night, are you doing alright?” he asked as soon as the call connected.
I briefly explained the Horton Manor thing and heard him ask, “Was going to Horton Manor Letch’s idea?”
I nodded, glancing at Kaitlyn. Seeing her gesture toward the fruit baskets, I immediately caught on. “Oh, by the way, we’re in the strawberry patch right now. They’re really fresh. Would you like me to
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Chapter 27: Family Member
+5 Points
bring some for you and Adeline?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, followed by silence.
Thinking that Winston might not care much for the strawberries, I quickly changed my approach. “If you don’t like them…”
“I do,” Winston suddenly interrupted, “Thank you, Charlene.”
After hanging up, Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow. “Professor Fleming seems a bit excited, huh?”
“He’s got a good temper,” I replied.
“I don’t think it was just because of that,” Kaitlyn mused, pinching her chin and thinking for a moment. “At the last party, a girl tried to talk to him, but after just a few
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Chapter 27: Family Member
5 Points
words, he picked up his dessert and came straight to you.”
I hadn’t noticed. “You mean Winston?”
“Yeah,” Kaitlyn gave me a playful tap on the shoulder. “So, make sure to pick the best strawberries for Professor Fleming.”
I was about to retort when I spotted Fletcher and Davina standing a few steps away.
Davina smiled at me and said, “Charlene, are you picking strawberries to send to Professor Fleming?”
They all heard it.
Kaitlyn responded, “Davina, your hearing is excellent–you can hear everything from this far away!”
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Chapter 27: Family Member
5 Points
Davina wasn’t offended, replying, “Letch said the strawberries here are crisp and refreshing. He brought me to try them. We just happened to pass by!”
Kaitlyn smiled sweetly. “Why take it so seriously? It’s just a joke.”
Davina’s gaze lingered on the basket of strawberries in my hands, and she commented, “Charlene, you’re so thoughtful toward Professor Fleming, even thinking about him while out having fun. If he knew, he’d be so happy.”
I glanced down at the large strawberries I had just picked and replied calmly, “Exactly. I should’ve invited him along too.”
After all, it was free–why not enjoy it?
But Davina’s smile faltered at the corners of
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Chapter 27 Family Member
her mouth.
Kaitlyn quickly added, “That’s a great idea, Next time we have a team–building trip, we should allow family members to join.”
Family members? What does that have to do with anything?
By evening, we returned from Horton Manor with full baskets.
I went to find Miles with the strawberries.
Looking at the fresh and delicious fruit, Miles sighed. “If only Sabrina and Leila were here. She’s so good at making strawberry jam for Leila.”
I comforted him, “She’ll be here soon.”
He was heading to his evening shift, so
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+ 5 Patrits
I didn’t linger. Just before I entered the subway, he suddenly rushed over, handing me a bag of roasted chestnuts. “Eat them while they’re warm.”
I didn’t think much of it until I was on the train and noticed something extra in the bag.
When I opened it, I found a few neatly rolled bills–five hundred dollars in total.
There was also a note from Miles: Lena, I get a job now. Don’t forget to treat yourself to something nice.
My throat tightened, and I almost cried out loud.
Five hundred–it couldn’t even buy Fletcher’s signature pen.
See? Life was just unfair like that.
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5 Points
In a daze, I missed my stop and didn’t return to the neighborhood until late at night.
Unfortunately, as soon as I entered the building, I bumped into Fletcher, who was lighting a cigarette.
He was wearing a thin, round–neck knit shirt, the sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing a small patch of well–toned muscle.
When I looked over, he was leaning against the wall, blowing out a puff of smoke, his brow furrowed, and a hint of confusion in his brown eyes.
There was a sense of unspoken frustration about him.
I remembered that he used to not smoke.
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Chapter 27: Family Member
+ 5 Points
When he saw me, his brown gaze swept over me, and finally, his eyes landed on the basket of strawberries in my hands. He spoke in a low voice, “Did you send them already?”
13/13
