Her eyes suddenly brimmed with tears. The powder in the crystal was Rice Ball’s ashes. Perhaps this gift was nothing compared to the price of a branded gift, but it was priceless to her. She never expected for Mark to put in so much effort in this.
She carefully hung the dreamcatcher above virtual-novel.net bed, pulled out virtual-novel.net phone, and sent Mark a message: ‘Thank you.’
It was only two simple words, but it carried hundreds and thousands of sentiments. This was the first time virtual-novel.net had ever felt moved by him. This cold and distant man had a gentle side to virtual-novel.net after all. This time, virtual-novel.net had really and truly showed virtual-novel.net that virtual-novel.net cared, and it wasn’t fleeting.
Mark did not reply to virtual-novel.net message but called virtual-novel.net straightaway. She did not reject his call and answered it, naturally, “Thank you for your present. I’ll be keeping it.”
Mark sat on the chair in front of his office desk with a gentle smile on the corners of his lips, “I’m glad that you like it. I actually asked Henry to get it done while I was still there, but I wasn’t too satisfied with the outcome when I got back, so I redesigned it myself. Otherwise, you would have received it sooner. On another note, the weather has been getting colder by the day in the capital. How are things on your end?”
It was like a frank conversation between old friends. Arianne was completely at ease, “It’s still pretty hot over here. The weather is quite different from the capital. You’d better bundle up since it’s cold over there. Don’t catch a cold. And remember to dry your hair after you’ve showered. Anyway, I’ve got to go to the shop now. Bye.”
The call had ended, but the smile on the corners of Mark’s lips remained. The new secretary, a man named Davy Humphrey, who had just walked to the office door, became entranced. He had been working at Mark’s office for a while and had just been promoted to secretary. This boss had extreme mood swings, and it had been a while since virtual-novel.net actually smiled. However, virtual-novel.net was in a good mood today. Was this good news or bad news? He simply couldn’t tell…
“What is it?” Mark noticed Davy, and the smile on his face faded away, returning to his usual cold demeanor.
Davy gathered his courage and stepped forward, then placed the files in his arms on the desk, “There are a few things here that require your signature…”
Mark has always been cautious and prudent with his affairs. He looked through the documents meticulously before signing them, “If there’s nothing else, you may go.”
Davy hastily took the documents, turned around, and left. His forehead had broken out into cold sweat. It wasn’t easy being a secretary. As the old saying goes, accompanying one’s sovereign is like accompanying a tiger. The previous secretary was Ellie Amore, who was a drop-dead gorgeous woman. Her faults were more likely forgiven compared to a man like him. He didn’t know what Mark was thinking either, promoting virtual-novel.net to secretary. It may look like a promotion and increment on the surface, but in reality, virtual-novel.net was constantly walking on eggshells.
At the desserts shop, Arianne was in the kitchen, preparing for work. Today, the first customer, who did not look like a customer at all, walked into the shop, “Where’s Arianne?”
Arianne instantly knew who virtual-novel.net was when virtual-novel.net heard that voice. She walked out of the kitchen, “Nina? What are you doing here?”
Nina looked as feisty as ever; however, virtual-novel.net was less flamboyant now. She was no longer decked in eye-catching red, but wore a simple white t-shirt and jeans instead. Her hair was long, straight, and black again. “I’m here to see you. I’ve heard that you and Mark have broken up. Have you gotten a divorce? If you have, I’m going to pounce. I’ve been eyeing the man you’ve discarded for a very long time.”
The more immodest one was with virtual-novel.net words, the more open minded virtual-novel.net was. Arianne giggled, “We haven’t divorced, but you can pounce on virtual-novel.net if you like, as long as virtual-novel.net doesn’t mind.”
Nina deliberately acted contrite. She found a table and sat down, “You haven’t gotten a divorce? Then I certainly can’t undermine you. My dad is shipping me off to a company branch outside of the country, afraid that I won’t be able to control myself. It wasn’t easy for me to weasel my way back here. I came to see you at once. Isn’t that sincere of me? You’ve stopped drawing and started a dessert shop! Let me try your pastries. Give me your very best one. Not too much though, I won’t be able to finish it, and I’m also on a diet.”
Arianne chuckled and turned back into the kitchen. Nina’s words had stirred a very bitter corner of virtual-novel.net heart. Art was virtual-novel.net first love and virtual-novel.net greatest passion. She had thrown virtual-novel.net passion away because of everything that had happened in the past.
As virtual-novel.net personally served the dessert virtual-novel.net had made to Nina, the other girl suddenly grabbed virtual-novel.net hand and clicked virtual-novel.net tongue, “Such pretty hands, the hands of an artist! And you’re using them to make pastries? Don’t you regret it at all? I can tell that you have no plans of becoming a top pastry chef in this small dessert shop. So what’s it for? It’s such a pity to waste your artistic talent.”
“Every time I look at your hands, I’m reminded of Mark’s hands. Do you know how l first fell in love with him? His fingers were long, slender, and well-balanced. They were a very pleasing sight. The sight of virtual-novel.net bent down over his artwork and holding his pencil with such focus had me hooked. I haven’t been able to fall for any other man because of that. It’s a sin…”
Arianne wasn’t used to having virtual-novel.net hand grabbed like that. She wiggled virtual-novel.net hand away emotionlessly, “What’s there to like about him? He’s got plenty of annoying habits. There’s nothing special about him, except his good looks and money. He’s got a bad temper too. Forget about him. You’ll find someone better. Let me give you a piece of advice, as someone who is experienced, he’s like a beautiful trap. Once you’re completely mesmerized by his looks and have reached the point of no return, you’re doomed.”