Chapter 25 She's Not Worth Keeping
The elevator reached the first floor.
Xandra turned to Raymond and said, "Ray, you go ahead and help Mr. Russell with his business. I'll chat with Lenora for a bit and then head back."
Frederick nodded slightly and left without saying much.
His aura and demeanor made him seem more like the boss than Philip!
"Xandra, let's catch up another day."
Philip greeted Xandra, then looked at Lenora with a raised eyebrow.
"Miss Slip-Tongue, see you around."
Lenora bit her lip and muttered angrily, "Playboy Peacock, how does he remember so well!"
Xandra, still watching Frederick's retreating figure, asked curiously, "Lenora, do you know Mr. Russell?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Why does he call you Miss Slip-Tongue?"
"It's a long story."
Lenora began recounting how she met Philip.
It was the summer after senior year, and she and some classmates had gathered at a club to celebrate their freedom from school. Coincidentally, their homeroom teacher was having a birthday party there.
The teacher's last name was Miller, and he had a round head and round ears, looking quite like Mickey Mouse. So the students privately called him Mickey.
Lenora had had a couple of drinks and was feeling tipsy. She intended to call the teacher Mr. Miller, but instead, she called him Mr. Mickey.
Philip, who was there and a favorite student of the teacher, found her slip hilarious.
Philip was so handsome that Lenora instantly remembered him. The embarrassment sobered her up, and she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
It was a major social disaster.
Xandra laughed, covering her mouth, imagining her friend's mortified expression.
"Then he started calling you Miss Slip-Tongue?"
"Not immediately. It was two years later, when I was a sophomore, that we met again at college."
Lenora fumed, "Philip is totally my nemesis."
Xandra's eyes sparkled with curiosity, waiting for more.
"My medical mentor also had the last name Miller. Honestly, I had a bit of a phobia about the name, so I usually just called him by his first name."
"But one time, Philip came to our school representing the Russell Group for an event, and my mentor asked me to greet him..."
Lenora paused, gritting her teeth.
"Of course, I messed up again. I wanted to call my mentor by his name, but it came out Mr. Mickey. Philip then dubbed me Miss Slip-Tongue!"
She vividly remembered Philip's amused face as he called her Miss Slip-Tongue.
Damn Philip, so handsome yet so rude, giving girls nicknames!
And those celebrities who flock to him, aren't they afraid of his sharp tongue?
Xandra couldn't stop laughing after hearing Lenora's story.
"You two are really meant to be."
"Damn fate." Lenora rolled her eyes dramatically, "Enough about him. Xandy, your husband is really handsome!"
"Isn't he? He's like a movie star."
"Yes, his looks and presence are even better than a star's."
Lenora said, "If you hadn't told me he was Philip's assistant, I would have thought he was the boss."
Xandra agreed, defending Raymond.
"Maybe it's because he's always around high-level people, so he's been influenced."
Lenora pondered, "I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
Xandra thought for a moment, then offered another explanation.
"He's Mr. Russell's right-hand man, and Mr. Russell is always in the news. Maybe Raymond showed up in some of those stories, so he looks familiar?"
Lenora nodded, "Yeah, that could be it."
She couldn't quite place it, so she let it go.
"By the way, Xandy, how's your mom doing?"
Xandra's smile faded a bit, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"She's the same. I've had top doctors from here and abroad take a look, and they all say without a miracle, my mom might never wake up."
Lenora squeezed her hand, offering silent support.
Thinking of her acupuncture skills, she said, "Xandy, let me see your mom."
"Okay."
They turned back, and Xandra filled Lenora in on the recent events.
Lenora was surprised.
"Playboy Peacock is that considerate?"
"Yeah, Mr. Russell said my husband is his valuable assistant, so he must help him handle family matters properly."
Lenora snorted, "He sure knows how to win people over."
Xandra smiled, feeling grateful for her quick marriage to Raymond.
Outside the hospital.
To avoid suspicion, Frederick was acting as the driver.
Philip sat in the back, putting on airs.
"Ray, I really gave you some face today, didn't I? Tonight, your wife will definitely be extra sweet to you! How are you gonna thank me?"
Frederick glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his gaze cool.
Philip shifted, "What's with the attitude? You've been giving me the cold shoulder since earlier. What did I do wrong?"
Frederick replied, "Stop showing off in front of my wife."
"Showing off? Me?" Philip pointed at himself, glaring at Frederick's back.
After a moment, he laughed wickedly, "I get it, you're jealous? Afraid your wife will fall for me because I helped her?"
Frederick said nothing, but his aura cooled further.
Philip snorted, "Who told you to pretend to be poor? Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to show off!"
Frederick's voice was icy, "If she falls for you just like that, then she's not worth keeping!"
Philip shrugged, "Fred, don't be jealous. People are realistic. I have money and looks; women liking me is normal! So testing people by pretending to be poor is flawed."
Frederick remained silent, speeding up.
Philip sensed his annoyance and quickly added, "Of course, there are exceptions. I can tell Xandra has clear eyes and doesn't seem shallow."
Frederick chuckled softly, not responding.
"What are you laughing at? If she were shallow and only cared about money, why would she marry you, a poor assistant?"
Philip said, "With her looks, even with three kids, she could find a rich man to take care of her if she wanted."
Frederick focused on the road, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"Asking for fifty thousand dollars as a bride price, you think she's not shallow?"
Philip paused, then said, "Think about her situation. Maybe she asked for the bride price not because she loves money, but for her kids and her hospitalized mom's medical bills."
Frederick's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.
Remembering something, his mood darkened slightly.
"That Lucius, find some work for him."
Lucius had broken off the engagement but still pursued Xandra. Such a despicable person shouldn't prosper in business!
"Getting angry for a woman, Fred, have you fallen for her?"
Frederick sneered, "I'm not as infatuated as you."
Philip smirked, "Don't deny it. I'll wait and see how you eat your words in the future!"