Chapter 213
Back at the company, Josephine felt a weight lifted off her shoulders, clearly much more relaxed than before.
Almost as soon as she entered her office, she received a call from David.
She said, "I did what I promised you. I hope you'll keep your word too."
"Since you've kept yours, of course I won't go back on mine."
Josephine was about to hang up when David suddenly said, "Thank you."
Unfortunately, this "thank you" coming from his mouth only struck Josephine as deeply ironic. "I just hope this is a one-time thing, never to happen again. After all, being threatened doesn't feel good. Don't you agree?"
These words bordered on provocation, but at this moment, David was in a good mood and didn't take offense. "Don't worry. I'm not so petty as to repeatedly make things difficult for a young person."
"That's best." Josephine hung up directly.
This was the first time David had been hung up on. He stared at his phone with an inscrutable expression for a long moment. The butler beside him watched his unpredictable expression with trepidation.
This Josephine was a bit too bold.
The butler hesitated before saying, "Young people, experiencing something like this for the first time—it's normal to be upset. You're magnanimous. Please don't hold it against her."
Hearing this, David glanced at the butler, finding it rather curious. "First time you've spoken up for someone else."
The butler had followed him for many years, utterly loyal and respectful, obeying only his orders, never pleading on anyone else's behalf.
This time was particularly unusual.
The butler answered honestly, "Three years ago, I went to Majestic City on business for you and had a small accident on the road... Ms. Kennedy happened to pass by and helped me."
"Why didn't you call someone from the Getty family?"
The butler lowered his head. "It was a rear-end collision. My phone flew out and broke. At my age, I couldn't remember the family numbers."
David looked at the white hair at the butler's temples. He wasn't much younger than David—in fact, he'd aged faster because he handled so many matters for David, both mentally and physically taxing.
David slowly sat down in his chair. "You know gratitude, at least."
The butler bowed his head respectfully.
Unexpectedly, David wasn't angry. "Since the goal has been achieved, it's normal for a young person to harbor resentment. I won't hold it against her."
The butler secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
This was all he could do to help Ms. Kennedy. After all, if they were truly counting favors, David had given him a greater debt—saving him from a hail of bullets all those years ago.
Just then, the sound of an engine came from downstairs.
A car seemed to have stopped.
The butler walked to the window and looked down, then turned to report to David. "It's Ms. Hughes."
"Why is she here again?" David frowned, his aged voice carrying some annoyance. "If it's nothing important, send her away."
"Yes."
The butler slowly exited the study and came to the living room, just in time to see Briana had already entered. Just as he was about to speak, Briana beat him to it.
"I need to see Mr. David Getty. I have something important to say—it's about Cedric and Josephine."
Those two names that should never be mentioned together somehow made the butler's heart skip a beat.
"Come with me."
Josephine emerged from Cedric's office and returned to her own, but she was somewhat distracted. She'd just noticed that the office chair in Cedric's office had been replaced.
The white chair she'd given him seemed to have been relegated to storage.
But... the day after she'd given it, she'd still seen Cedric using it.
She took out her phone and found Sophia's number. Her best friend was an expert in matters of the heart.
Perhaps she should seek some advice.
As soon as the call connected, she explained the situation. After hearing it, Sophia sat in her office, unable to resist slapping her thigh with laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" Josephine asked.
Sophia laughed until tears came out. She pulled out a tissue to wipe her eyes before speaking. "My silly Jojo, using the chair the very next day means he really liked it. Replacing it later—there are only two possibilities. First, the chair was uncomfortable and he couldn't bear to sit in it. Second, he found out where the chair came from."
"It's probably the first..."
Before Josephine could finish her self-deceptive statement, Sophia decisively added, "I'm more inclined toward the second."
Josephine immediately fell silent.
Sophia suppressed her laughter. "Tell me, what were you thinking? Why would you give Cedric a chair that Gideon gave you?"
Josephine laid her head on the desk and said quietly, "I was just annoyed looking at that chair. It was such a big thing, I couldn't throw it away, and I'd already transferred money to Gideon! Actually, this chair was basically mine..."
She was still struggling desperately.
Sophia sighed. "You... I don't know what to say. Put yourself in his shoes. If Gideon bought you a chair from Lorelei, would you accept it?"
"Don't gross me out." Josephine seemed to vaguely understand Cedric's feelings now, but felt something wasn't quite right. Her relationship with Cedric was different from Gideon and Lorelei's.
This comparison felt somewhat forced.
Sophia suddenly felt a bit sorry for Cedric. Just from what they'd experienced lately and Cedric's attitude toward this chair, she could tell this man definitely had special feelings for her best friend.
Unfortunately, Josephine just couldn't see it.
Sophia probed, "Haven't you considered that maybe—and I mean maybe—this person likes you a little? Once emotions are involved, of course he'd care more..."
"Impossible." Josephine denied it too decisively. Sophia was puzzled. "How can you be so sure?"
"He has a first love." Josephine had never forgotten this. She used to think it was Luna, but that woman hadn't appeared in a long time.
Clearly, the first love was someone else.
Sophia was momentarily confused too. A man with a first love was trouble. She'd better not play matchmaker. "Then what are you worrying about now? What's done is done. Regretting it now won't help."
"I just feel really bad for him." Josephine counted on her fingers what she'd done—first regifting the chair from Gideon, whom Cedric despised most, then using him to put on a show with her.
Sophia understood. "Then buy him a gift or treat him to a meal. Make it up to him a little."
"Good idea. I know what to do now."
After hanging up, Josephine started searching for the most famous restaurants nearby and decided to go to the mall after work to buy Cedric a gift.
After all, he was her superior. Building a good relationship was necessary.
Otherwise, if they had any conflicts later, her boss might bring this up.
She quickly booked the restaurant. When evening came, Josephine sent Cedric a message. [Mr. Getty, can we have dinner together tonight?]
Cedric: [Sure.]
He replied very quickly. Josephine breathed a sigh of relief, feeling confident about repairing the relationship. Once this was resolved, she could devote herself wholeheartedly to scientific research. And of course, she couldn't forget about her father's illness.
Everything seemed to be moving in the best direction.