Chapter 167
"Yes." Cedric nodded with apparent seriousness. "Looks like the alcohol didn't completely scramble your brain."
Josephine let out a huge sigh of relief, patting her chest as if she'd narrowly escaped disaster. "Thank goodness..."
Cedric raised an eyebrow at her and suddenly leaned forward, his handsome face drawing infinitely closer. "Are you that afraid? What kind of monster do you take me for?"
Josephine wanted to retreat, but the headboard was right behind her—there was nowhere to go. She simply stayed put, her gaze settling on his prominent nose bridge. "I'm afraid of causing you trouble."
"You're afraid of causing trouble for yourself." Cedric saw right through her, huffed a laugh, and stood up. He grabbed a new dress from the nightstand and tossed it onto her head.
Watching Josephine fumble to pull the dress down, amusement flickered in his eyes. "Hurry up and shower. You have ten minutes."
With that, he turned and headed downstairs.
Josephine had just pulled the dress down when the words “ten minutes” reached her ears. and felt an inexplicable urgency. She rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower, changed into the dress, and hurried downstairs.
Only after putting on the dress did she realize it fit her perfectly.
Downstairs in the dining room, the maid had already prepared a lavish breakfast spread. Seeing Josephine come down, she smiled warmly. "Ms. Kennedy, you're awake. That dress looks perfect on you."
"Did you pick it out for me?" Josephine asked.
"When I helped you change last night, I made note of your measurements. Ms. Kennedy, you have a beautiful figure."
Hearing such sincere admiration from another woman made Josephine feel a little embarrassed. She scratched her cheek and took a seat at the dining table.
It was Josephine’s first time seeing this maid. She wasn't particularly old—looked to be in her forties—and didn't seem constrained here at all. She spoke freely without restraint.
Josephine couldn't help glancing at Cedric.
Cedric looked up. "Is there gold on my face?"
Josephine shook her head, picking up her utensils. "I'm just a little surprised."
Cedric seemed to be in a good mood and actually asked, "What puzzling mystery needs my clarification now?"
"Not exactly a mystery..." Josephine took a sip of milk. She'd been to Getty Manor countless times and seen firsthand how the Getty family treated their servants and housekeepers.
The first time she'd witnessed it, Josephine had even wondered if they were descended from royalty—otherwise, why would there be so many rules?
The household staff rarely smiled, simply carrying out their duties mechanically. Chatting with others in front of the family? Absolutely unthinkable.
Such overstepping would never be tolerated by David.
"Not everyone enjoys that kind of life." Cedric's voice carried a hint of dismissiveness, and beneath it, a trace of mockery.
After hearing this, Josephine felt a complex mix of emotions.
It was genuinely surprising that the Getty family could produce someone like Cedric. The irony was striking—while Gideon had grown up with his mother in difficult circumstances and only returned to the Getty family a few short years ago, he'd already adapted to the Getty family's strict rules.
After breakfast, they both went to the office. Everyone knew they'd left together yesterday, so there was no point in arriving separately at the company entrance today.
That would just be self-deception.
But once inside the company, they parted ways. Cedric went to his office on the top floor.
Josephine headed to the research lab.
The moment she entered, she saw her colleagues busily at work. A few who'd attended yesterday's gathering were absent, but the rest had shown up.
Josephine handed Emma the coffee beans she'd bought on the way and scanned the room. "Didn't we agree today would be a day off?"
Emma accepted the coffee beans, her tone light. "A few who drank yesterday can't drag themselves out of bed—still sound asleep at home. As for the others..."
The company benefits were good, and most people who entered this field genuinely loved scientific research. Unless absolutely necessary, people rarely took time off.
Josephine appreciated their work ethic. "That's excellent."
It was one thing for a boss to offer time off, but employees willing to work was something any boss would be glad to see.
"Once we finish phase two, everyone gets a raise."
At those words, the room erupted in cheers.
Someone with loose tongue chimed in, "Why is Ms. Kennedy being so generous today? Is there good news coming? Are you rewarding us in advance?"
Josephine glanced at them. "What good news?"
"Last night Mr. Getty and Ms. Kennedy left together, and this morning you arrived together..." The person waggled their eyebrows suggestively. "Isn't that good news on the horizon?"
Josephine's brow furrowed slightly
The expression was fleeting—others hadn't even had time to catch it—but Kenneth, who'd just entered with data, noticed immediately.
He glanced at the gossiping colleague. "Ms. Kennedy had too much to drink last night, so Mr. Getty took her home. This morning they probably ran into each other on the way and shared a ride. Is there a problem with that?"
Though the person liked to joke around, they weren't completely tactless. They immediately picked up on Kenneth's displeasure and noticed Josephine's lack of amusement.
They shrank back. "Sorry, Ms. Kennedy. You know I can't keep my mouth shut—I was just talking nonsense! Please don't take it to heart or be angry with me. I won't say anything more. I'm going to get to work right now."
They quickly retreated to their workstation.
Unfortunately, Cedric overheard this exchange. He had been passing by the door with Noah and paused, though he didn't step inside.
He was waiting.
Josephine's clear voice came from within. "You all know what kind of person Mr. Getty is. He doesn't like mixing personal and professional matters. Work is work. Don't discuss irrelevant topics during work hours. Even more importantly, avoid gossip and baseless speculation—it only damages Mr. Getty's reputation. I won't shield you from his anger when the time comes."
She invoked Cedric's name, and the other colleagues quickly nodded in agreement.
"Won't say another word."
"Ms. Kennedy is right. We drank yesterday—our heads aren't clear today."
Now no one dared gossip anymore. They didn't even dare touch their phones, focusing intently on their computers instead.
Outside the door.
Noah carefully studied Cedric, expecting him to be angry since, from what Noah understood, Cedric particularly hated people using his name to intimidate others.
Cedric chuckled softly. "Using my authority for her own purposes."
With that, he walked away.
Not only wasn't he angry—he seemed to be in quite a good mood. Noah mentally elevated Josephine's importance even further, secretly resolving that he could offend anyone except Josephine.
That evening, Josephine didn't return to Clearwater Ridge but went back to her parents' house instead.
She was surprised to find Preston at home.
Josephine couldn't help asking him, "Didn't we arrange a hospital room for you to stay in temporarily? We've already contacted a doctor for you."
"They're all minor ailments, don't need treatment." Preston dismissed it casually. Afraid his daughter would keep nagging, he grabbed her bag and coat and tried to escape to his room, only to be dragged back out by his wife.
"Don't try that with me. I can't control you, but your daughter can."
Josephine sighed. "Dad, I spoke with the doctor just a few days ago. All your other health issues are easily treatable—as long as you follow the doctor's instructions and rest properly in the hospital for a few days..."
Preston's expression turned sour.
Here we go again.
His daughter was wonderful in every way—except she was overly concerned about his and his wife's health, talked about it constantly, and was extremely stubborn about it.
"Don't you want to paint again?" Josephine asked, playing her trump card.