Chapter 220
Josephine held the wine glass, her gaze falling on the thin layer of condensation on its surface. At Gideon's ambiguous teasing remark, she merely swirled the wine gently and gave him a cool glance. "Their good news has nothing to do with me. Or you."
Gideon's expression darkened instantly, but just as quickly he smiled again. "You seem a bit unhappy."
"What are you trying to say?"
"You couldn't be..." Gideon paused, his gaze fixed intently on Josephine's face. "Jealous, could you?"
"You're sick."
Josephine stared at him for a moment before delivering that line.
Then she turned and walked toward the other side of the banquet hall.
The crowd around them had mostly dispersed, leaving only a few guests with close ties to the Getty family still conversing in low voices. Josephine found a relatively quiet corner to sit.
She heard steady footsteps approaching.
The butler stopped before Josephine and bowed slightly, his manner respectful yet brooking no refusal. "Mr. David Getty would like a word with you."
Josephine looked up toward the other end of the hall. David was speaking with several elders. Seeing her look over, he nodded at her. That gaze was deep, carrying the scrutiny and assessment of someone in power.
Nothing good would come of this.
But Josephine had no choice. She stood and followed the butler.
David had everyone else leave temporarily, leaving only her standing with him before the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second-floor balcony.
Outside, the night was deep. In the distance, the city's lights twinkled like stars in the night sky.
A beautiful view, yet the atmosphere at this moment was heavy.
Josephine stood quietly behind David. She knew nothing good was coming, but if he didn't speak first, neither would she.
Finally, David asked her, "What do you think of Sloane?"
Josephine answered cautiously, "She seems nice."
"Too vague." David was forcing Josephine to give a more detailed answer.
Josephine was silent for a moment before responding, "Straightforward and warm."
But David still wasn't satisfied. "After meeting her just once, you're giving such high praise?"
Josephine lowered her eyes. "Just a first impression."
"Do you think she and Cedric are well-matched?"
Josephine thought: Finally getting to the point.
This was probably why David had called her to talk.
"I know his temperament is cold and he doesn't care much about these things. But I'm old, and the Getty family needs someone to carry on." David looked at Josephine, his gaze gentle yet hiding an edge. "You and Cedric aren't just ordinary superior and subordinate. I can see that. He'll at least listen to what you have to say."
Josephine shook her head. "You overestimate me. I'm just Mr. Getty's subordinate."
"Subordinate?" David smiled, that smile carrying a trace of barely perceptible sharpness. "Cedric isn't someone who mixes business with personal matters. For him to specifically bring you to an occasion like this means you carry considerable weight in his heart."
He turned to look at the night sky, his voice aged yet sharp. "Sloane comes from a respectable family, has a lively personality, and should get along well with Cedric. Tomorrow, you'll bring her to report to Getty Group. I'll arrange for her to join Cedric's assistant team so they can interact more."
Josephine looked up. "I—"
"Don't worry," David interrupted her, patting her shoulder. The gesture seemed affectionate but carried an oppressive force that allowed no refusal. "I know you've been worried about the old district development project. The board hasn't made a final decision yet, and you know I have veto power in the company."
As long as he disagreed, the matter couldn't proceed.
Josephine was silent for a moment. "I understand."
When Josephine emerged from the balcony, the banquet had completely ended. Guests were leaving in twos and threes, the air still carrying the mingled scents of alcohol and perfume.
She waited for her car at the entrance. The night breeze carried the coolness of early autumn.
A car stopped before her. The window lowered, revealing Gideon's handsome but brooding face.
"Let me give you a ride," he said.
Josephine's gaze turned to the distance. "No need."
"It's hard to get a cab here." Gideon pushed open the car door and got out, standing before her, blocking the wind. His gaze fell on her face. "Jojo, do you have to be so stubborn with me?"
"You're reading too much into it."
Being stubborn with him was a waste of emotion and time.
As they stood at an impasse, another car glided silently beside them.
The window lowered, revealing Cedric's sharply defined profile. He turned his head, looking at Josephine. "Get in."
Josephine didn't hesitate for a second. She opened the passenger door and got in. As she closed the door, she inadvertently looked up and saw in the rearview mirror Gideon standing in place, his figure particularly lonely in the night.
The car slowly pulled away.
The interior was quiet for a while. Josephine could smell the faint cedarwood scent on Cedric, mixed with the leather smell of the car, forming a unique, reassuring aroma.
"What did Grandpa say to you?" Cedric's voice echoed in the quiet cabin.
Josephine hesitated for a moment.
The relationship between Cedric and David—she didn't want to get involved. Actually, telling Cedric and letting him handle it himself would be best, but David had clearly made things difficult for her. Even if she avoided it this time, she couldn't avoid the next.
This was difficult.
Josephine shook her head. "Nothing much. Some work matters."
Her mind was too chaotic. She couldn't think clearly for now and needed to consider how to respond.
Early the next morning, when Josephine arrived at the company, the R&D department's morning meeting was about to start.
In the conference room, Kenneth sat on the left side of the long table, head down looking at documents in his hand. Emma sat beside him, saying something in a low voice. Aiden sat on the other side, focused on organizing materials on the table.
Josephine entered with a folder, Cedric following behind her.
Cedric wore a dark gray suit today, no tie, with one button of his shirt collar undone. He looked less rigid than usual, more casually relaxed. But as soon as he entered, the atmosphere in the conference room instantly became serious.
Josephine sat at the head of the table and opened her folder.
"Let's begin."
The meeting concerned the next phase of the NGRAS project's experimental plan. Josephine explained the adjusted data model in detail, Emma supplemented with several technical details, and Kenneth reported the latest progress.
Cedric listened quietly, fingers tapping lightly on the table. Occasionally he'd look up at Josephine, his gaze falling on her slightly moving lips as she spoke, or on her slightly curled hair ends as she lowered her head to review documents.
Halfway through the meeting, Josephine's phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID—Sloane.
She frowned, made an apologetic gesture to the others, stood up and walked outside the conference room to take the call.
"Ms. Kennedy," Sloane's voice came through the phone, crisp and cheerful, "I'm already downstairs at Getty Group. Mr. David Getty said I should report today, and that you'd arrange for me to join Cedric's assistant team. Where are you now? Should I come up to find you?"
Josephine closed her eyes. "I'm in a meeting. Wait in the lobby downstairs for a bit. I'll come down to get you when we're done."
Hanging up, Josephine took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, and walked back into the conference room.
"Sorry," she returned to her seat. "Continue."
When the meeting ended, Josephine closed her folder and instinctively glanced at Cedric.
How was she supposed to arrange Sloane...
David had specifically requested that Sloane join Cedric's assistant team, but Cedric hated anyone interfering with his work. She normally kept excellent boundaries in this regard, strictly maintaining her role as an employee.
She didn't know if David had told him...
The two left the conference room one after another. Josephine decided to test the waters. "Does Mr. Getty's assistant team need anyone lately?"
Cedric looked at her with a slight raised eyebrow. "You held it in through the entire meeting just to ask me this?"