Hearing Noah Jefferson says "I will see you later" makes me scared.
"Why?"
Frances Louis sits aside and looks at me smilingly.
He definitely knows why! He asks me on purpose to make fun of me.
"No reason. I just want to go home. Since I am all right now I’d better go home."
"Home."
Frances Louis murmurs. He looks at me deeply and nods.
Soon, Frances Louis completes the discharge formalities for me.
Noah Jefferson doesn’t show up before I leave. I feel so relieved.
Frances Louis's mood is uncertain and difficult to guess, so I dare not challenge his patience.
When I get home and see the kitchen, I am still scared.
"From now on, no more entering the kitchen."
Frances Louis says lightly.
"Then what do I eat? Takeaway? Or you cook for me?"
I roll my eyes to Frances Louis.
It’s just an accident, not a big deal. He can’t be so extreme as to ban me from the kitchen!
He doesn't care because he can eat outside, but I'm in debt. If I don't save money, how can I be free
soon?
"You have two choices. Eat out with me or I ask Betty to come back to cook."
Betty? Is that housekeeper I met with on my first visit to his house?
Without thinking, I say to him, "I choose the second."
"Betty doesn't cook very well." He glances at me and says light.
I think Frances Louis may be out of mind.
He is rich. Why does he employ a servant who doesn’t cook well?
I don’t want to ask more questions about his life, so I purse my lips and say, "Although I'm not a noble
lady, I have a very selective mouth. If I were to eat out with you, every meal would be expensive and
delicious."
Frances Louis nods with satisfaction, waiting for me to continue.
"So, I choose latter." I say slyly.
"You don’t want to eat out with me?"
Frances Louis draws closer to me, frowning. His eyes are full of dangerous breath.
Did I say something wrong?
"You know who I am. The less people know, the better. Don't be too ostentatious. I am afraid your wife
would know."
I explain.
But my explanation seems not work for Frances Louis.
"Do you have a better excuse? Or you just don’t want to eat out with me?"
Frances Louis sees through my little thoughts, and I feel guilty.
I clear my throat and fawn on Frances Louis, "Of course not. Mr. Louis is so excellent. Lots of women
queuing up to have dinner with you, I shall not have the chance."
"But you are not them."
Frances Louis puts his arm around my waist and we fall down on the sofa, and I lean against his chest.
I have been in close contact with him many times. I should have been used to it. But why is my heart
beating so violently?
I could not even look Frances Louis in the eye.
"Jane, I have given the order that your brother is no longer held responsible for leaking trade secrets. I
was going to spare him, but he hurt you and he should pay for that."
Says Frances Louis, stroking my hair gently.
I am surprised, but it’s reasonable.
I know this day would come. For what Frank Noyes did, he should take responsibility.
I don’t blame Frances Louis for that.
In the beginning, I came to Frances Louis to plead for Frank Noyes. Now that the matter has been
settled, does that mean I can leave Frances Louis?
My feelings are suddenly mixed. It’s not as easy as I thought, but a little depressed.
These days seem like a hopeless dream to me. Fortunately, I can finally wake up now.
"In that case, Frances Louis," I say, rising from his arms and turning to stare at him, "let me go."
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