Chapter 165
Josephine's mouth completely betrayed her brain. By the time she realized what was happening, she'd already read the question out loud.
The private room instantly erupted like a pot boiling over!
"Now that's a good question!"
Who wouldn't want the inside scoop on the boss's love life? They were all the most professional, most thoughtful, most loyal employees, after all.
Josephine couldn't help glaring at them—a bunch of gossips whose curiosity outweighed their career ambitions.
Seeing that Cedric still hadn't responded, Josephine said, "If you don't want to answer such a personal question, you can just take the penalty drink."
The crowd immediately started egging him on.
"Is Ms. Kennedy looking out for Mr. Getty?" someone who'd had too much to drink wiggled their eyebrows suggestively. "Ms. Kennedy really knows how to be considerate."
Josephine grabbed a strawberry from the table and chucked it at them. "Go cool off somewhere."
The person just grinned, catching the strawberry between their teeth and retreating to the side to eat it, all while shooting knowing looks at Cedric and Josephine.
Josephine couldn't help rolling her eyes. Cedric's lips curved into a subtle smile as he leaned toward her ear, his gaze darkening as he studied her delicate earlobe.
"Looks like..." The moment he spoke, his warm breath fanned across Josephine's ear, sending tingles radiating from the spot. It tickled.
Josephine's body went rigid. Moving away felt wrong, but staying put felt equally awkward.
"I have to answer the question." After finishing his sentence, Cedric pulled away from Josephine and set the slip of paper on the coffee table. His answer to the question was decisive and unequivocal. "Yes."
Everyone's eyes widened in shock, curiosity practically killing them. Someone who could make Cedric like them, and who was close to him...
Who could it be?
They all looked at each other, examining one another. But looking around, nobody seemed to fit, yet somehow everyone seemed possible.
For a moment, the female colleagues' hearts collectively fluttered with hope.
After all, Cedric himself was outstanding, with a distinguished identity and status. It was perfectly normal for female employees to have crushes on him.
"Mr. Getty, can I ask... is this person in this room?"
Cedric glanced at the speaker, and the girl's face flushed crimson.
Cedric coolly withdrew his gaze. "That wasn't the question on the slip. I refuse to answer."
The girl choked on her words, pouting in disappointment.
Josephine was still rubbing her earlobe, feeling as if that warm breath still lingered on her skin. Only after she'd completely rubbed away the sensation did she finally drop her hand.
Cedric's phone rang. He stepped out to take the call, walking right past Josephine's knees. The hem of his jacket brushed her hand, making her fingers twitch.
A female colleague scooted closer. "Ms. Kennedy, do you know who Mr. Getty likes?"
"No idea."
"How could you not know? You two come and go from the office together every day. It feels like Mr. Getty spends most of his time with you."
Josephine froze. "Really?"
"Yes! We never used to see any women around Mr. Getty. But ever since you joined the company, wherever you are, there's Mr. Getty."
A jolt of shock ran through Josephine.
She had never realized it until now, but the thought struck her—had they truly become this close?
Soon after, Cedric returned. The female colleague hadn't managed to extract any useful information, and didn't dare ask in his presence, so she reluctantly gave up.
Cedric settled back down beside Josephine, a faint scent of cedar drifting around them. Seeing Josephine cradling a glass of wine and apparently lost in thought, he asked, "I thought you didn't like drinking?"
"A little bit now and then is fine." The main thing was that this restaurant's wine was actually pretty good. Josephine swirled the glass, watching the liquid inside. "I think I can handle one more glass..."
She really needed a drink to settle her nerves. She had this feeling that something she'd overlooked, like truth hidden beneath fog, was gradually becoming clearer.
But just as this layer of mist was about to dissipate, new fog seemed to roll back in.
Josephine shook her head.
She felt... a bit fuzzy.
Cedric took her wine glass and pushed a glass of freshly squeezed juice into her hand. "No more drinking."
"Why not? I haven't had enough."
"Aren't you going home tonight to work?" Cedric asked the most important question.
At the mention of work, Josephine immediately abandoned the wine before her, her expression turning serious. "You're right, I still have to work overtime tonight."
The overhead light fell across her, her long lashes casting faint shadows on her face.
Cedric set down the wine glass and turned to look at her. "I'm not forcing you to work overtime."
"Of course not. It's completely voluntary." Josephine said earnestly. "Right now I don't want to think about anything except throwing myself into my career."
She spoke with such passion that she didn't even notice the juice spilling onto the back of her hand.
Cedric raised an eyebrow slightly, leaning forward to pull a tissue from the coffee table and hand it to her.
Josephine acted as if she hadn't seen it, continuing her her impassioned speech. "I absolutely cannot disappoint my superior's expectations, or my parents' expectations. And there's Aiden, Emma, Kenneth... my professor..."
She counted them off one by one, and by the end still hadn't mentioned Cedric's name.
Cedric leaned back lazily against the sofa, watching her.
He finally confirmed it—she was drunk.
Emma, finding it boring to sing alone, came over to drag Josephine to sing with her. But the moment she saw Josephine, she was stunned.
Josephine's face was flushed, her eyes misty and unfocused. Though she wore no lipstick, her lips were bright and vivid. When Emma met her gaze directly, Josephine's eyes moved sluggishly, lacking their usual sharpness.
"Is Josephine... drunk?"
Cedric made a sound of acknowledgment.
Emma waved her hand in front of Josephine's face. "Josephine, do you still recognize me?"
Josephine blinked slowly. "I do."
Emma couldn't help covering her face. This slightly dulled but still earnest Josephine was absolutely adorable!
She wanted to hug her.
But she glanced at Cedric and thought better of it. "Josephine, let me take you home."
"Okay."
Drunk Josephine was incredibly obedient.
Emma covered her face, screaming silently inside.
Cedric stood up, taking his jacket from beside the sofa and draping it over Josephine's shoulders.
"We're heading out first," he said coolly.
"What?" Emma sensed something was off.
Where was he going? Wait—where were the two of them going together?
Emma couldn't hide her thoughts—everything was written all over her face. Cedric glanced at her, his eyes growing cold. "You think I'd take advantage of someone?"
"Of course not..." Emma would never admit that, just for a moment, that worry had crossed her mind.
Cedric said coolly, "Don't worry, I don't do that sort of thing."
Emma swallowed hard, feeling thoroughly ashamed of her dirty thoughts. "I'm sorry. I'm guilty."
How could she suspect Cedric?
He'd kept his distance from women for years. Even if he maybe, possibly, probably had some feelings for Josephine, he wouldn't take advantage of her—especially given Josephine's temperament...
If something actually happened, she'd tear the whole place down the next day.
"So..." Emma hesitated.
Cedric had already turned to pull Josephine to her feet. His jacket was long and oversized, draped over Josephine like a mid-length trench coat.
Throughout all this, Josephine remained perfectly quiet, watching silently as he buttoned it up. Her lashes fluttered slightly, though who knew what she was thinking.
When Cedric grasped her wrist through the sleeve, she didn't resist at all—like a child being led by a parent, following along step by step.
Cedric looked at Emma. "The bill's already been paid."
Emma breathed a sigh of relief. "Safe travels, Mr. Getty, Ms. Kennedy. Remember to call and let me know you got home safely."
Cedric initially had no intention of responding, but then he glanced at Josephine. She really liked Emma—in the lab, they spent the most time together.
He gave a brief acknowledgment.
Only after the two had left did everyone else belatedly realize what had happened. Kenneth suddenly stood up. "Josephine left with Mr. Getty?"