Chapter 09: Great Taste
I hadn’t expected such an awkward misunderstanding.
Seeing the hint of grievance in Davina’s eyes, I quickly intervened, “Duke, this is Ms. Bates.”
Duke, being quick–witted, immediately turned around and handed the coffee to Davina.
She glanced at it briefly before softly saying, “I don’t drink black coffee.”
Black coffee was Fletcher’s preference.
I used to drink it to please him, and it had become a habit by now.
Duke smacked his forehead and apologized, “What’s wrong with my memory? Ms. Bates,
1/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+5 Points
please forgive me.”
Davina didn’t say anything, but after returning to her office, she didn’t come out for the rest of the afternoon.
She stayed in there until the workday ended.
One by one, everyone else trickled out, and in the end, the studio was empty except for the two of us.
I continued working as usual until the sound of a notification bell broke my focus.
I looked up, and to my surprise, it was Fletcher.
He looked worn out, as though he had just finished something.
When our eyes met, I couldn’t help but notice
2/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
the scab on his lip, and a flicker of irritation stirred in me.
“Where’s Davina?” he asked, his tone as if nothing had happened between us last night.
Like it had all been erased.
I calmly gave him a look and said, “She hasn’t left yet.”
Fletcher didn’t respond, just walked straight toward the tech department’s office.
Not a word more.
A moment later, Davina’s soft voice floated from inside. “Fletcher, why did you come all the way here?”
Her tone was sweet and a bit aggrieved.
3/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
“Duke said you weren’t looking well. Are you feeling okay?”
Her voice lowered a couple of notches. “Yeah… Fletcher, did you come here because you were worried about me?”
Fletcher must’ve said something in response, and Davina’s mood immediately shifted from frustration to joy.
The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.
But the next moment, the girl noticed something unusual on Fletcher’s lips. “Fletcher, what happened to your mouth?”
My hand froze on the mouse as I heard Fletcher calmly respond, “It’s nothing, just a little bump.”
4/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
5 Points
Davina, ever so obedient, didn’t press the matter any further.
The two of them left the office together, Davina heading to the restroom, while etcher patiently waited by the door.
4
When he saw me still typing away, he took a couple of steps forward and, for once, asked, “How’s the progress going?”
“Not bad,” I replied.
“You don’t have to rush so much. You’re not a machine,” he said, glancing at the calendar on my desk, which clearly displayed my work schedule.
I kept typing, not responding to his comment.
I had the feeling he wasn’t done talking.
5/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
5 Points
After a while, the sound of a flushing toilet came from the restroom, and then I heard Fletcher say, “Don’t tell Davina about last night.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I suddenly
realized what Fletcher had meant all along.
PEM
He hadn’t forgotten.
He just wanted to tell me it was an accident.
It wasn’t a surprise, but hearing him say it out loud still made my heart ache.
I calmed myself, met Fletcher’s gaze, and smiled as I asked, “What are you referring to, Mr. Lynton?”
There was a brief flicker of shock in his
brown eyes.
6/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
After a while, the sound of a flushing toilet came from the restroom, and then I heard Fletcher say, “Don’t tell Davina about last night.””
My heart skipped a beat, and I suddenly realized what Fletcher had meant all along.
He hadn’t forgotten.
He just wanted to tell me it was an accident.
It wasn’t a surprise, but hearing him say it out loud still made my heart ache.
I calmed myself, met Fletcher’s gaze, and smiled as I asked, “What are you referring to, Mr. Lynton?”
There was a brief flicker of shock in his
brown eyes.
6/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
Kaitlyn was referring to a public relations manager she had been trying to hire for our game’s promotion.
Half–joking, I replied, “If it doesn’t work out, just seduce him.”
“stop it,” Kaitlyn teased in reply, “But he
actually is pretty my type.”
So, was this a business trip or a romantic encounter?
Guess I’d better keep it a secret from the investors.
On the other end of the line, Kaitlyn laughed coquettishly before changing the subject. “How’s it going? I’ve been away for a few days–did you get dragged around a lot?”
I said calmly, “It’s nothing. If Fletcher is
8/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
5 Points
willing to invest another five million, I’ll make sure even his beloved is well taken care of.”
After all, nothing was more important than money.
I was about to hang up when, by chance, I looked up and saw Fletcher and Davina standing not far away.
What a coincidence.
Davina blinked her big, beautiful eyes and, in a surprised tone, asked, “Charlene, you live here too?”
Fletcher and Davina were standing close, and I wasn’t sure if they’d heard my conversation with Kaitlyn.
There was a mix of awkwardness and a trace
of guilt.
9/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+5 Points
I worried Fletcher might see right through me. After all, no investor wanted someone constantly eyeing their money.
feign
I composure and replied, “I’ve been. living here for a few months.”
“Me too, Davina said with a melodic rise and fall in her voice, “But Charlene, I rarely run into you here.”
“I’m a night owl,” I answered nonchalantly.
Being a programmer was different from other jobs; working overtime was normal, and my sleep quality was terrible, so sometimes I was awake during the night and asleep during the day. If we happened to bump into each other, it must be fate–just like today.
10/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
Points
The three of us took the elevator together. I pressed the button for the ninth floor, and Davina pressed for the tenth.
When Davina saw me press my floor, she
used f
a second.
I thought, if I hadn’t lived here earlier than her, I might have given off a calculating vibe.
If anyone was to blame, it was Fletcher for not thinking things through. I had warned him.
Davina’s eyes kept darting over to me, and they finally landed on my hand.
“Is that the new design by David Wood, Charlene?” Davina asked, her eyes gleaming with envy. “It hasn’t even launched in the country yet. How did you get your hands on it?”
11/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
She was referring to the handbag Winston had given me. When I first received it, I didn’t think much of it, just that the quality was nice. I didn’t know much about the so–called David Wood.
But judging by the way Davina was looking at it, the designer seemed to be quite well–known.
I answered honestly, “A friend gave it to me.”
Davina blinked, teasing, “Your friend really put some thought into this. This bag is limited edition–only a hundred pieces worldwide. It’s got real collector’s value.”
I was at a loss for words.
I didn’t even know it was a limited edition.
12/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
Then, Fletcher’s dismissive scoff unexpectedly interrupted.
I heard him ask Davina, “It’s just a bag, do you really
ke it that much?”
“It’s not that,” Davina quickly hid her envy and explained, “I just think Charlene has great taste.”
When the elevator doors opened, I nodded slightly and exited quietly.
As I walked out, I vaguely heard Fletcher say, “Your taste could use some work.”
He was right.
Not only was I bad at picking bags, my taste in men was even worse.
I glanced at the logo hidden inside the bag
13/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
and, out of curiosity, searched its price online.
I was shocked when I saw the result.
For such a niche brand with a simple, unassuming design, the price was an eye–watering five–figure sum.
I suddenly felt like carrying it on the subway was an insult to the bag.
Thinking about the website I had built for Winston, even if we listed everything at full price, it still wouldn’t come close to this amount.
I felt a little guilty.
I pulled up Winston’s contact info, but after pondering for a while, I couldn’t find the right words to say.
14/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
Just as I was about to put my phone down, a friend request popped up on the screen.
I clicked on it, and my heart skipped a beat.
It was a picture of the sunset’s afterglow.
A photo Fletcher had taken at Raven University’s man–made lake, long ago.
That day was my 1,460th day of pursuing him. We sat together on the grass at the edge of the crowd. The sun was just right, a gentle breeze blew, he was reading a book, and I was watching him. We maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far until the sun set. Even then, we remained in that same space.
I felt a little discouraged as I packed up my books, and my right hand accidentally
15/16
Chapter 09: Great Taste
+ 5 Points
brushed against his fingertips. Just as I was about to pull back, he grasped my hand in return.
It was the first time Fletcher had ever taken the initiative to hold my hand, and before the Unset completely disappeared, he took this picture.
I never expected that, two years later, this deleted photo would show up again in my friend request.
16/16
