Chapter 139
Cedric looked up toward Josephine.
Their gazes collided. Neither spoke. The atmosphere seemed to grow somewhat still, yet somewhat ambiguous.
Daryl realized he'd said the wrong thing and didn't even dare breathe.
"Why aren't you coming in?" Finally, Cedric broke the silence.
Josephine walked in and sat down beside Cedric with a composed expression.
She was too calm.
This left Daryl unable to determine whether she'd heard. Throughout the latter half of the meal, he spoke with extreme caution. After eating, he immediately produced the contract.
Cedric had naturally come to this exhibition for the advanced technology in Daryl's hands. The two happily reached an agreement, and Cedric left with Josephine.
Daryl was truly troubled. While Cedric went to get the car, he stood by the roadside asking Josephine, "Did you hear just now?"
Josephine countered, "Hear what?"
That Cedric likes you!
But Josephine's question made Daryl afraid to ask directly. If she hadn't heard, his question would be tantamount to snitching.
If she had heard...
How could she remain so calm?
That was Cedric! A true golden child. They'd known each other for nearly ten years, and Daryl had never seen him treat any woman differently.
In Cedric's heart, gender seemed irrelevant. Even employees working under him—he only ever looked at ability.
Regardless of gender, if they made mistakes, he'd scold them.
Daryl held back for a long time, but couldn't get a sentence out. This made Josephine somewhat curious. "What exactly do you want to ask me? Is there something I can't hear?"
She really hadn't heard?
Daryl couldn't tell, feeling his head ache a bit. "Nothing, just talking randomly. Don't take it to heart."
Cedric's car pulled up. Daryl quickly stepped forward to open the door. "Drive safely. I won't see you off further."
Josephine gave him a look somewhere between a smile and not, then turned to get in the car. The vehicle gradually drove away.
But Daryl stood in place, his heart unsettled by that one glance.
After thinking for ages without reaching a conclusion, Daryl sighed deeply.
Josephine was truly worthy of being the woman Cedric liked—as inscrutable as Cedric himself.
The car stopped outside Clearwater Ridge.
Josephine unbuckled her seatbelt and glanced at Cedric. "Thank you for driving me back. I'll head in now."
"You..."
Josephine looked up, waiting for his question.
Cedric picked up the contract they'd just signed. Inside was also a technical document detailing all information about this technology.
He gave it to Josephine.
"I'm in charge?" Josephine naturally knew the importance and value of this technology, but he... was just giving it to her like this?
"You're the department head. If not you, then who?"
Just looking at Cedric's casual manner, if she hadn't witnessed it herself and known this technology's importance, Josephine would almost think the document wasn't important at all.
But Josephine had done her homework on how many people wanted this technology.
She took the document, pressed her lips together, and said, "I won't disappoint you."
Cedric nodded. "Go on."
Josephine looked at him, said nothing, and pushed open the car door to get out.
After entering the foyer, Josephine stood at the door without immediately going further. Instead, she looked back toward the gate.
That car had gradually driven away.
Josephine let out a soft sigh, suddenly regretting attending the exhibition with Cedric today.
The next day at the company, Josephine held a meeting with Aiden and others about this technology. After the meeting ended, Emma entered, bringing her a cup of coffee. "Try this—the company just got it in."
Josephine took a sip. The taste was rich. "These coffee beans are good."
Emma casually pulled over a chair to sit, propping her chin on her hands with a smile. "What's wrong? In a bad mood?"
Josephine set down the coffee and touched her face. "Is it that obvious?"
"Actually, not that obvious."
Just that Emma had been with Josephine too long. Their relationship, rather than boss and employee, was more like friends or sisters.
Others might not notice, but Emma could. "You have something on your mind."
Josephine sighed. "How would you turn someone down?"
Emma's eyes widened. "Someone confessed to you! Is it Kenneth?"
"...No."
How did she even connect it to Kenneth? Josephine never thought Kenneth liked her.
Emma scratched her cheek, thought for a moment, and her eyes lit up again. "Then could it be our..."
Josephine's eyelid twitched. Before she could say that heart-racing title, she quickly reached out to cover her mouth.
Emma blinked innocently.
Josephine said quietly, "If you can help me think of a solution, then think. If you can't, go busy yourself with your work."
Emma couldn't speak, only nodding repeatedly. Once Josephine released her, she exhaled and didn't dare mention that title again.
"If it's him, it won't be easy to refuse."
That was her boss after all! Refusing your boss meant offending your boss. How would they meet afterward? Even discussing work would feel awkward.
Emma looked at Josephine sympathetically, deeply realizing one thing. "Seems being too charming isn't always good."
Josephine was speechless. She grabbed a tissue, balled it up, and threw it at Emma. "I asked you to help me think of a solution, not add to my stress."
Emma raised her hands in surrender, switched approaches, and asked the most crucial question. "Why must you refuse?"
Josephine fell silent.
Emma asked again, "Mr. Getty is handsome, capable, has good judgment, and his conduct is admirable. Don't you have any feelings for Mr. Getty at all?"
"I'm not single right now."
But hearing Josephine's words, Emma shook her head slightly. "You didn't answer my question."
She'd asked whether there were feelings for Mr. Getty.
Josephine pressed her lips together.
Emma examined her carefully. "Actually, whether you're single isn't worth struggling over. You're not going to reconcile with Gideon, are you?"
"Impossible."
Emma sighed. Josephine's personality was stubborn and obstinate. Once she decided on something, it was hard to change.
Gideon had long been out of the picture.
"Since it's impossible, sooner or later you'll be single again. Having a suitable prospect to observe now is perfectly normal."
The more she spoke, the more feasible it seemed. Cedric's image surfaced in her mind. She liked good-looking people, and thinking of that handsome face, she nearly drooled. "Honestly, Mr. Getty is really handsome!"
Josephine was speechless, reaching out to poke Emma's forehead with one finger.
Was now the time to be infatuated?
Emma's head tilted back from the poke, then slowly moved forward again, still smiling. "Actually, I really think you should consider Mr. Getty. Or... perhaps you already have feelings for him?"
"Impossible." Josephine firmly denied it.
Just then, a voice came from outside the door. "Mr. Getty."
Josephine and Emma exchanged horrified looks. The next second, Cedric's voice came from outside, accompanied by two knocks.
"May I come in?"