Chapter 38 Don’t Look Now
For a few seconds, my heart refused to function normally because I could literally feel the weight of their gazes piercing into my skin.
“Oh… I’m sorry if that came off wrong. I was talking to everyone,” he said smiling.
Everyone took their eyes off me and that was when I could finally breathe.
“Thank God,” I whispered under my breath.
ALEX HART’S POV
The moment Dave said she was talking to everyone, people relaxed and conversations started in murmurs.
Then everyone dispersed and went back to packing up their stuff.
Moments later, I saw Dave walking towards Joan.
Then I saw Joan smiling at him. My stomach tightened but I told myself not to worry.
After all, he was the project owner and Joan was the lead designer. Of course, he would like to say a few final words.
Still… I couldn’t take my eyes off them, not after the earring matter.
I stood where I was, pretending to scroll through my tablet while I watched them with the corner of my eye.
They exchanged a few words I couldn’t hear and they shook hands after.
The shake lingered longer than necessary and his hand wrapped around hers as if he was not ready to let go.
I felt that pull in my stomach again.
“Get a grip,” I told myself.
He eventually let go of her hand, said something that made her smile again, and turned to leave.
When he was finally out of sight, I let out a sharp breath… one that I didn’t know I was holding… and walked over to where Joan was standing.
She was still smiling as she packed her things when I got there.
The smile wasn’t wide but it annoyed me anyway.
“Why were you smiling at him like that?” I asked, trying to steady my expression.
She looked up, one corner of her mouth lifting briefly.
“At who?” she asked, looking around.
“Dave,” I replied.
“Oh,” she smiled again, slower this time.
“It was nothing. He was just reminding me to make sure I attend the opening ceremony,” she said casually.
“I see,” I nodded, forcing a smile.
“I thought you were close… outside business,” I said lightly, even though a storm of emotions was swirling inside me.
“Huh,” she muttered, her brows lifting slightly.
Then she shrugged.
“It was just work,” she continued.
She picked up her bag and gave me that familiar half-smile that always made it hard to tell what she was thinking.
“I need to stop at my office before going back home,” she added.
“Alright then… good night,” I said.
With that, she smiled and walked towards her car.
JOAN COLE’S POV
When I left the site, my mind drifted somewhere else entirely.
The thought that Lena would be overjoyed when I tell her about the opening ceremony made me smile.
“An opening ceremony hosted by Dave Wilton? She would definitely love it,” I muttered to myself.
By the time I got home, I was already imagining her reaction when I finally told her.
Sure enough, when I got home and walked into the living room, I met her on the couch, scrolling through her phone.
“I have good news,” I announced, unable to keep my smile.
She looked up immediately, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
“What good news?” she asked, dropping her phone and sitting up.
“I got invited to the opening ceremony of the project,” I said.
Lena jumped up from the chair and gasped.
“Are you for real?” she asked, pausing for confirmation.
“I’m serious,” I laughed.
“Oh my God… I’m coming with you,” she said, her eyes wide open.
“I figured you would want to,” I muttered and dropped my bag.
“Want to?” she scoffed.
“I’m definitely attending,” she added.
She started spinning around the living room and thinking out loud.
“I need a new cloth… no… a new gown actually and shoes… not just any shoe, shoes that will announce my presence. Do you know the kind of people that would be there?”
“You know you are acting like a baby, right?” I chuckled as I watched her display.
“I don’t care,” she said and rolled her eyes.
“I can’t repeat an outfit to a gathering like that. With the kind of person Dave Wilton is, there will be influential people, business moguls, media houses… just to mention a few, Joan,” she added, still displaying her childishness.
I laughed softly and I won’t deny the fact that watching her excitement warmed me.
The next day, I had barely settled in my seat when Lena started sending me messages.
“We are going shopping today.”
“Don’t forget.”
“Don’t worry, I will foot the bills.”
“I’m in my excitement mode.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her texts.
Time passed, and before closing time, Lena arrived at my workplace, dressed as if she were attending the ceremony that minute.
She opened my office door and leaned her back against it with her arms folded.
“What are you still doing?” she asked, her brows pulling lightly.
“Working… as you can see,” I replied, staring at her.
“One would think I’m here to arrest you with the way you are looking at me,” she said.
“You might as well arrest me,” I said, saving my work on my computer.
“You came too early,” I added.
“Early? We cannot look like background characters to that place so better get your ass up and let’s move,” she said.
I rolled my eyes, but shut down my computer anyway.
“Give me five minutes,” I said.
“I will give you two,” she countered.
I grabbed my bag before she could start nagging and we walked out together.
The drive to the shopping mall was filled with her nonstop fashion analysis, but I loved it anyway.
And when we parked in front of the shopping mall, she had already infected me with her excitement.
After getting out of the car, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me into one of the biggest clothing stores.
“Start looking,” she ordered, already scanning the shelves.
After searching through the racks for a few minutes, I pulled out a deep emerald dress.
“I like this one,” I said, holding it up.
Lena turned, squinted her eyes at it, and nodded slowly.
“It’s not bad… but let’s keep looking,” she said and turned back.
“Follow me,” she commanded.
I hung the cloth on my shoulder and followed, but we had barely taken a few more steps when she suddenly stopped walking.
“What is it?” I asked, almost bumping into her.
“Shhhh,” she hushed, moving back a bit and peeping through a shelf.
Then she slowly turned and leaned closer to me.
“Joan…” she whispered.
“What?” I said, already losing my patience.
“Don’t look now,” she added, her voice dropping even lower.
That made me want to look immediately but before I could peep, she finished her sentence.
“I just saw Alex’s mother.”