SWNOVELS Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Gentleman
Serena looked up at the window and saw her clothes from last night hanging on the balcony, as well as his clothes. The air was filled with the faint scent of laundry detergent. So, he had washed the clothes they had left in the bathroom last night?
This was too gentlemanly. If they were not just sleeping partners but a couple, she would have fallen in love with him. She had always liked men who were gentle and caring. What a pity.
Lost in thought, Serena did not notice that they were both still in their pajamas and it was early in the morning. Penn’s breath had become hot and heavy. He turned over and pressed down on her.
Serena was caught off guard and let out a cry, which was muffled by his lips. Last night and the first night, she could ask to turn off the lights and not look at each other’s faces because it was nighttime. But now it was early in the morning, the sun had just risen, and the curtains were not drawn. Serena felt embarrassed as she looked at him, and he looked at her. Their eyes were glued to each other, filled with unbearable tenderness.
Serena thought to herself that this would easily create an illusion that he deeply loved her. This man was so skilled, he must be a veteran in love affairs. Every action, every glance, made women felt loved and respected. It was not like a loveless sport. Who could resist that? After Penn was done, it was already bright outside. Serena did not have time to think and hurriedly got up, ignoring her sore body, and prepared to leave for work.
They took the elevator downstairs together, and he said, “I’ll walk you there.”
“No need, the subway station is right in front of the neighbourhood.” Serena immediately refused. Of course, it was more convenient to take the subway during the morning rush hour, and she did not want him to accompany her to work. She ran to the subway station, leaving him behind.
The subway during the morning rush hour was crowded, and it took her two trains before she could barely squeeze in. The train was packed with people, bodies pressed against each other, and she could only hold onto the handrail to avoid falling.
Although the subway had ventilation, it still had a bad smell due to the large number of people. She looked at the ads outside the window and aimlessly thought about when she could buy a car.
If Emma could successfully win the Penn technology project and take her with her, she would gain experience and be able to independently manage the project. Her income would slowly increase, right?
If her income increased, she would first take her mother to a better hospital and then save money to buy a car. In this city of New York, they were both ants, and they had to climb up slowly over one year, two years, or five years. Eventually, things would get better, right?
Lost in thought, when the subway arrived at the next stop and began to slow down, her body leaned to the left due to inertia. She held onto the handrail tightly, but the strap suddenly broke… it broke.
If she had not held on so tight, the inertia of the subway stopping would not have caused her to fall. But all her weight was on the handrail, and the strap broke suddenly. Her body inevitably fell to the left, and she might accidentally bump into the person next to her.
Just as she was desperate, a force gently supported her from behind. The familiar voice was in her car. “Be careful!” It was Penn? When did he get on the subway? At this moment, she turned her head to look at Penn behind her, still holding the broken pull ring in her hand while he lightly supported her waist with both hands.
She was embarrassed! She would rather have fallen and made headlines than to have Penn see her in such a ridiculous state. “What are you doing on the subway?” she asked. “To be environmentally friendly,” he replied calmly. Then he straightened her up and took the broken pull ring from her hand.
Because of the passengers getting on and off at each stop, the subway was crowded again. With high heels and no handrails to hold on to, she couldn’t stand steady and wobbled. But soon, Penn used his height advantage to place one hand on the overhead bar above her and stood behind her, shielding her from the crowd. For the next nine subway stops, she stood firmly in front of him.
The smell of the subway dissipated, leaving only his clean and pleasant scent. Oh, that’s right, she realised why the scent was familiar. He used her toiletries this morning, and his clothes were washed with her laundry detergent.
She exited the subway station, and Penn walked out with her. They walked one after the other. Serena couldn’t help but wonder if he
deliberately accompanied her on the subway? However, when she saw his driver and assistant at the subway exit, she suddenly realized that he was going to the adjacent Financial Street for business, and they coincidentally got off at the same subway station.
Because he had his driver and assistant with him, she didn’t even say hello and quickly walked towards the Justice Law Office.
As soon as she sat down at her desk without turning on her computer, Nina rushed in excitedly, saying, “Guess who I just saw at the subway exit?”
Several colleagues looked at Nina, except for Serena. Ever since the Boston food project, where Nina had blamed Serena for something, Serena had not actively interacted with Nina. Serena was willing to accept fair competition but would not accept malicious behaviour. Therefore, on a regular basis, she only dealt with Nina professionally and didn’t even bother with appearances.
Nina was good at creating an atmosphere with her conversations, and everyone’s curiosity was piqued, even Charlie looked up at her. Nina held up her phone in front of everyone and happily said, “Mr.
Humphery from Future Better Technology Company. He actually takes the subway.”
The office was in an uproar. Penn was a key client in their M&A department, and every move he made affected them.
“That’s impossible. Who is he? He takes the subway?”
Hapter zz; Gentleman
“Are you sure you didn’t mistake him for someone else?”
Everyone questioned Nina.
“It was definitely him. I even took a few pictures of him secretly. Look at them.”
“He’s so handsome.”
“Even his back is so handsome!”
Their focus instantly shifted, especially the little girls at the reception desk who were starry–eyed. The lawyers were more composed and didn’t join in the excitement.
Serena didn’t want to hear this useless gossip news at all, but when it came to Penn, the subway and other words, she felt anxious. For a moment, she was unsure if Nina saw Penn in the subway car or at the
exit.
She didn’t want anyone to know about her pure sleeping buddy relationship with Penn, not even Blair.
“Hey, isn’t that Serena up there?” The receptionist noticed that Penn was only a metre away from Serena at the subway exit.
Serena’s heart sank, thinking it was a photo taken in the subway car. Although she and Penn had no communication throughout the subway ride, Penn had been standing behind her the whole time. To outsiders,
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their relationship seemed intimate.
“Yes, Serena was just focused on walking and missed the big shot behind her. I called her twice, but she didn’t hear me. What a pity. Otherwise, Mr. Humphery might remember that you were high school classmates.” Nina said sarcastically.
Chapter 22: Gentleman