novelraw Chapter 428 - 429: Lunchtime, He’s Not There
Chapter 428 - 429: Lunchtime, He’s Not There
Chapter 428: Chapter 429: Lunchtime, He’s Not There
Eastminster Group.
During the noon break, just before the workday ended, Vivian Abbey habitually ordered lunch only for herself and Tessa Harrington. Consequently, when lunchtime arrived, Sienna Johnson found herself without a meal.
Clutching her lunch box, Tessa asked in confusion, "President Johnson, how come Sixth Master hasn’t brought you lunch yet?"
Since Sienna’s pregnancy, Adrian Desmond had doted on her. Whenever she came to the office, he would prepare her lunch. Today, however, Adrian seemed to have forgotten her. Despite her usual resilience, Sienna couldn’t help but feel a pang of injustice.
The memory of the perfume on Adrian last night, coupled with the kiss marks on his collarbone, made Sienna’s heart ache, yet she had to feign indifference on the surface.
"Oh, he’s busy today, so he didn’t come to bring me lunch," Sienna covered for Adrian, affecting a carefree demeanor.
Having already eaten a bit of her boxed lunch, Vivian couldn’t very well offer her own to Sienna, so she asked, "President Johnson, should I order another meal for you? What would you like to eat?"
"I don’t have much of an appetite. Just order me a random boxed lunch."
"I’ll call right away."
Just then, the landline phone suddenly rang. Sienna answered it. It was the receptionist, informing her that Pauline Briggs had arrived. It was only then that Sienna remembered: yesterday, to prevent Pauline Briggs from going to Phoenix Hill, she had asked Pauline to accompany her to the prenatal checkup. Pauline had also mentioned she would bring her lunch.
"Understood, let her come up," Sienna told the receptionist.
Tessa asked with gossipy excitement, "President Johnson, is it Sixth Master coming to bring you lunch? Wow, I’m so envious! What delicacies did Sixth Master prepare today? If you can’t finish it, give it to me! I don’t mind eating after you!"
Sienna laughed. "It’s not Sixth Master, it’s my..." She was about to say Madam Johnson, but remembering the principle of not airing dirty laundry in public, she changed her words. "My mom brought me lunch."
"Is it the former chairman’s wife?" Tessa’s eyes sparkled, her expression practically screaming her thirst for gossip.
Sienna sometimes found Tessa utterly exasperating. If not for her strong work capabilities, she would have transferred her to another department long ago.
"Yes."
"My cousin used to work at Eastminster Group. I came to visit her once and saw the Chairman and his wife. Wow! The Chairman’s wife was so beautiful... The Chairman and his wife looked so perfect together."
"..."
"President Johnson, is your mom still as beautiful now? Like a big movie star?"
Sienna chuckled. "She’ll be up in a moment. You can see for yourself."
"I’m so excited! It feels like I’m about to meet a huge star!"
"..."
"President Johnson, you know, you could clearly make a living with your looks, but you insist on relying on your talent. If you entered the entertainment industry, you’d definitely be a sensation across Agaia and go international."
Sienna shook her head gently. "Our family doesn’t have a son. If I joined the entertainment industry, what would happen to Eastminster Group?"
"That’s true."
Watching from the side, Vivian couldn’t help but chuckle. Tessa was like two completely different people: her professional self versus her off-duty self.
When Pauline Briggs finally appeared, meeting Tessa’s eager gaze, she indeed left Tessa stunned. Pauline was impeccably maintained, showing no signs of aging, and her taste in clothing and style could rival that of a top fashion master.
Today, Pauline wore a fashionable Dolce&Gabbana floral print silk coat. Made from Alennesse fabric, its classic pattern against the black background exuded an air of luxury. Beneath it, she wore a red knee-length skirt, her makeup, as always, exquisitely flawless.
"I got caught in traffic, so I’m late," Pauline explained.
"Greetings, Madam!" Vivian and Tessa stood and greeted her respectfully.
"Hello to you both." Pauline looked them over. "You must be new, right? I don’t believe I’ve seen you before."
"I came to Eastminster Group when President Johnson joined," Vivian said.
Tessa chimed in excitedly, "I joined the company right after graduating two years ago and was only transferred to President Johnson’s side in the first half of this year... Actually, Madam, I saw you four years ago! I was still in school then. My cousin worked at Eastminster Group, and when I came to find her, I happened to see you and the Chairman coming out of the elevator."
"..."
"Madam, you were so beautiful back then! I was completely starstruck..." Tessa chattered on. "But, Madam, you’re still so beautiful now, exactly like four years ago! It’s like you don’t age at all, do you?"
Pauline was amused by her. "How could I not age? I have gray hairs now."
Following Pauline were Auntie Ingrid and the driver, Mr. Henry, each carrying thermal food containers that clearly held a substantial amount of food.
While Tessa and Pauline were talking, Auntie Ingrid looked at Sienna with a warm smile and greeted her, "Good afternoon, Miss."
"Good afternoon."
Auntie Ingrid and Mr. Henry walked over to the office’s lounge area and placed three large thermal containers on the table. Mr. Henry exchanged a word with Pauline and then left.
Pauline surveyed the office, a wistful expression on her face. "You actually didn’t redecorate... This office is still exactly the same as when your father was here."
"The office is decorated quite well. I like it very much..."
Being in this office, with its lingering traces of Dexter Johnson’s life, made Sienna feel at ease. Whenever she encountered a difficult problem, it felt as if her father were still right there beside her.
"After your father passed away, I never dared to come here. I was afraid the familiar surroundings would stir up too many memories..."
Pauline’s gaze lingered on everything in the room. Her gaze fell upon her daughter, who now occupied the seat where Dexter Johnson had once sat. She had accompanied him countless times in this very office as he worked overtime; she could just look up and see Dexter Johnson, so gentle and refined.
The two shared a knowing smile, understanding each other’s feelings without needing many words.
Noticing the mother and daughter lost in reminiscence, Vivian tactfully said, "President Johnson, Secretary Harrington and I will step out for a moment."
Sienna called them back. "Didn’t Secretary Harrington want to try my mother’s cooking? Let’s eat together. I can’t finish it all anyway."
Sienna truly wasn’t used to being alone with Pauline. They had so little to say to each other, and the resulting lulls in conversation felt incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.
"Really?" Tessa asked, pleasantly surprised.
Vivian nudged her arm, silently warning her not to be an unwelcome pest. President Johnson was just being polite; did Tessa really take it seriously? How could she be so clueless?
Tessa pouted slightly, then found an excuse, saying, "I’ve already bought my lunch, so I won’t impose on you and Madam."
"Didn’t you just say that the boxed lunch you ordered was absolutely terrible, like pig feed?"
Tessa blinked, a look of complete bewilderment on her face. When had she ever said that?
Pauline also said, "Since Sienna invited you, let’s all eat together. I made a lot."