Chapter 242
After the celebration ended, Josephine and Emma walked out arm in arm, with Cedric silently following behind them.
Even without speaking, his presence was overwhelming.
That crisp, pleasant scent on him drifted over with the night breeze. Josephine couldn't ignore it even if she tried. She linked arms with Emma and quickened her pace.
Several cars were parked by the roadside.
The other colleagues gradually got into their vehicles.
"Ms. Kennedy, Mr. Getty, goodbye."
"See you tomorrow."
Josephine said goodbye to everyone. Soon, only she, Emma, and Cedric remained by the road.
Cedric said, "I'll drive you both home."
He'd only come to join the celebration today and hadn't been drinking.
Josephine forced a dry laugh. "No need, Emma and I will just get a ride..."
Before she could finish, Emma cut her off. With her back to Cedric, Emma winked exaggeratedly at Josephine. "Josephine, my ride's here—a friend's picking me up. Have a safe trip with Mr. Getty!"
A car pulled up by the curb. Without giving Josephine a chance to object, Emma jumped in and shut the door.
The car drove away.
Josephine stood awkwardly in place, mentally cursing her friend.
Seriously...
"It's getting cold. Don't stand here. Get in the car."
Cedric acted as if he hadn't noticed Josephine's embarrassment. He opened the door of a Rolls-Royce parked nearby, his gaze deeper than the night sky.
Josephine steeled herself and got in.
The car drove smoothly through the night.
Josephine sat in the passenger seat, deliberately avoiding eye contact by gazing at the passing nightscape outside the window.
In the quiet cabin, only their breathing was clearly audible.
His presence felt especially intense.
Josephine didn't know if it was because she'd had too much to drink, but things she'd tried so hard to forget suddenly resurfaced.
It didn't make sense.
She clearly had no romantic feelings for Cedric. She only saw him as her boss—at most, a talent scout.
So why hadn't she resisted that kiss?
Her heartbeat in her chest felt especially strange, pounding continuously, much faster than when she was alone.
She closed her eyes, trying to escape the odd sensation.
Before she knew it, she'd fallen asleep.
When she woke again, the night was pitch black. She rubbed her eyes and realized she was still in Cedric's car.
Cedric had his left hand resting on the window frame, his right holding his phone, head lowered as he looked at it.
Only now did Josephine dare to openly study him.
This man...
He was actually quite good-looking.
Cedric looked up. "You're awake."
"...Why didn't you wake me? I'll get out now." Josephine hastily averted her gaze, unbuckled her seatbelt, took a deep breath, and prepared to open the door.
Her hand had just touched the handle when Cedric's voice came from beside her. "If you really don't want to go public, then forget it."
Josephine turned back and met his eyes.
His pupils reflected the car lights—they were beautiful.
"I..."
"You don't need to say anything. I understand." Cedric leaned against his seat, his left hand resting casually on the steering wheel, his ring finger bare. "If you don't want to go public, I'll respect that."
Josephine felt uncomfortable.
Why did it feel like...
She was a scumbag?
Enjoying his gentleness and indulgence while unwilling to even give him public acknowledgment.
Claiming they were equal partners while accepting his care without hesitation.
Josephine slowly withdrew her hand from the door and took a deep breath, deciding to be honest.
"It's not that I don't want to go public. The launch is right around the corner. I don't want people to think all my achievements, all my efforts, were only possible because of you."
Rumors were vicious.
She wasn't strong enough yet to face others' speculation and denial.
Cedric looked at her quietly, his gaze deeper than the night.
Josephine gathered her courage and said seriously, "I want people to see Josephine as a person."
She wanted people to see her and say first: "This is Josephine!"
Not: "Oh, Cedric's wife."
Maybe it was her imagination, but after she said this, Cedric's expression seemed to soften considerably.
"So that's the only reason?"
"Yes."
Cedric lowered his head. After a moment, a low laugh escaped his throat. "I promise. I'll leave the decision about going public to you. You can do it anytime or call it off anytime."
His voice was so gentle—so gentle it confused her.
Why was he so good to her?
So good that she almost asked the question that had been weighing on her heart, but the words stopped at her lips.
If the answer was no, this rare balance between them would shatter. If the answer was yes... how should she respond to such heavy emotions?
In the end, she asked nothing and only said, "Thank you."
The moment she pushed open the door, she heard Cedric's very soft voice behind her. "Get some rest. You'll be busy tomorrow too."
Her steps paused. Without turning back, she quickly walked into the villa.
The next morning, at the office.
When Emma pushed open the door, her eyes gleamed with obvious gossip, though she kept her voice down, pretending to be serious. "Josephine, the launch event proposal is ready. Please take a look."
Josephine looked up. Seeing her expression, she knew exactly what Emma wanted to say.
She ignored it and took the proposal to review.
A moment later, Josephine set down the document. "Good work. This launch is important for all of us. You did great. Oh, and make sure venue security is solid. I don't want any accidents."
If nothing went wrong, this would be her chance to truly make a name for herself and establish a firm foothold at Getty Group.
But her goals and future wouldn't stop there.
Her other identity...
Josephine lowered her gaze, ambition growing like wild grass.
Emma leaned against her desk, unable to suppress her smile any longer. "You and Mr. Getty... are together?"
Josephine came back to herself, glanced at Emma, and said nothing.
Emma grinned. "You're definitely together. Last night I saw you two..."
Before she could finish, Josephine covered her mouth.
"...You talk too much."
Seeing Josephine's playful annoyance, Emma was momentarily stunned. It wasn't the first time she'd realized Josephine was beautiful.
Gorgeous and elegant, yet never vulgar.
But every time she saw her, she was still struck by that beauty.
"Josephine, you're so beautiful."
Josephine didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What are you babbling about now?"
Emma's face turned serious. "Really! Actually, I'm not surprised at all that Mr. Getty likes you. You're not just beautiful—you're outstanding. Everyone can see your abilities!"
Josephine felt embarrassed by the praise. "Okay, okay, I get it."
Still worried, she instructed Emma, "Don't go spreading this around. I don't want people to know yet."
"When are you planning to go public?"
"After the launch."
Everything right now centered on the launch.
Seeing Josephine's intense career focus, Emma almost felt sorry for Cedric.
Their Mr. Getty had fallen for someone with such strong ambition and competitive drive. Who knew when he'd actually get to marry her.
"I told you Mr. Getty liked you. My instincts have never been wrong."
Josephine was curious. "How could you tell?"
"Once when we were working late, you fell asleep at your desk. I saw Mr. Getty come out of his office. He tiptoed over, put his coat over your shoulders, then just stood there watching you..."
Emma couldn't describe the look in Cedric's eyes at that moment.
She'd just been profoundly moved.
She knew one thing clearly: Cedric really liked Josephine. Liked her very, very much.
Because she'd never seen Cedric look at anyone else with such... gentle, focused eyes.
Josephine's heart trembled.
Just then, someone knocked on the office door.
Gideon stood in the doorway holding a large bouquet of white roses still wet with morning dew, his gaze moving past Emma to land on Josephine.
Seeing this, Emma frowned but said nothing.
"Josephine, I'll head out first."
She turned to leave. As she brushed past Cedric, she dropped a line.
"Late love is worth less than weeds."