SWNOVELS Chapter 21
Chapter 21
After Julian finished eating, he went upstairs to take care of business matters in his study.
Nobody else was at the table, so Alexandra went full out and ate happily for a long time.
She had free housing and food, a salary, and lived in a big mansion. This was seriously the best job in the world!
As Alexandra leaned back in her seat and patted her full tummy, she imagined a beautiful future.
After Julian helped Alexandra find Ace Fulton, Alexandra would have Ace help treat the eye problem that hadn’t been cured completely.
After the eye problem was cured, Alexandra would take the salary from Julian and the one million dollars from Peter to buy a house in a small county where nobody knew her. She would begin her comfortable and wealthy life there.
When Alexandra returned to her room and saw the bag of books on the nightstand, all of her dreams shattered. She was forced back to reality.
Her dreams were glamorous. In reality, she had had to get past all these obstacles.
Julian was sitting at his desk and working on his laptop when he heard knocks on the door…
Two knocks.
They were two very soft sounds like someone’s cat scratching the door with its paw pads.
Julian knew who it was without even having to guess.
Julian raised his voice slightly and said, “Enter.”
One second later, the door opened.
Julian looked over and saw Alexandra standing by the door, hugging the bag of books. Alexandra had already taken a shower and changed into pink pajamas with a cartoon strawberry pattern.
Alexandra padded over. “Um… Are you busy right now?” she asked as she got closer.
“Not really. What’s wrong?” Julian glanced at his computer screen. There was an important email that had just been sent from his company’s finance team, and he was in the middle of reviewing it.
Alexandra stood on the other side of the desk. She was hesitant to speak. She had not even looked at the books, but she knew that she would not be able to understand them at all.
Julian scanned Alexandra. The evening wind outside the window made the fragrance of her body wash and shampoo waft across the desk. For some reason, it made Julian’s heart race.
Julian looked away.
Alexandra gathered her courage. Pouting, she pleaded, “I can’t understand it. Can you help me outline the important parts or help me figure out what kind of questions Mr. McFadden would ask? If you really can’t, can you just steal the questions directly from Mr. McFadden? You’re all–powerful enough.”
“Alexandra, Julian interrupted her with a serious face. “What kind of person do you take Mr. McFadden to be? Steal the questions? How did you even think of that?”
Alexandra was upset by Julian’s remarks. “Then what am I supposed to do?” she whined. “There’s no way I can pass. You’re just making it hard for me. I know the University of Highclere is really prestigious and the students are either super rich or smart, but you know my level and you still…”
Chapter 21
Julian wanted to tell Alexandra that Mr. McFadden’s so–called test was just for show and nothing too serious.
Since Julian had decided to put Alexandra into the school, it was already set in stone.
But Julian did not tell Alexandra that right now because Julian was afraid that Alexandra would think she could get everything without putting in the effort.
Julian still wished for Alexandra to be more self–motivated.
Julian’s stare made Alexandra stop her complaining, but Alexandra was clearly still unhappy. Her bottom lip jutted out in a
pout.
It was as if Alexandra had just been greatly offended.
Seeing how wronged Alexandra looked, Julian felt some strange flutters in his stomach.
Julian couldn’t scold Alexandra, but he couldn’t comfort her either.
Julian did not want to keep spoiling Alexandra. That was not Julian’s responsibility.
“You have not even tried, so how do you know that you definitely won’t pass? Why do you think that I’m just making things hard for you? Would you rather I trap you at home to act like a proper lady instead of finding a place for you to spend your
time?”
“But why do you have to make me go to the University of Highclere? I don’t belong in that place at all.”
“Look at this!” Julian thought. He had spoiled Alexandra too much, so she was starting to talk back to him now.
Julian looked at Alexandra and was silent for a moment. “Alexandra, don’t forget that I did not force you to do anything. You volunteered to cooperate with me.”
Alexandra wanted to respond, but she suddenly did not know what to say.
Julian seemed to realize that his tone was a bit harsh, so he softened it a little and continued, “Just do what you should do. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Julian’s words clearly did not bring any comfort to Alexandra.
Alexandra did not feel hurt because Julian gave her this challenge. Alexandra knew that Julian sent her to study at the university so she could stay away from the Ranford family and avoid unnecessary problems.
But Julian did not understand Alexandra’s thoughts at all. If Alexandra failed the test, she would embarrass him instead of herself.
Julian did not know what Alexandra was worried about.
Julian thought that Alexandra was just trying to be lazy and irresponsible.
Alexandra turned and left without making a sound.
Julian had thought that she would say something else.
But Alexandra just walked away like a sad puppy.
Alexandra’s exit made Julian feel like there was a cotton ball stuck somewhere in his heart. He wanted to do something, but he did not know what to do.
In the end, Julian decided to stop worrying about Alexandra.
Julian continued with his work.
30
Chapter 21
Alexandra returned to her room and moped for a while.
Thinking of Julian’s hurtful tone, Alexandra crawled onto the sofa as if taking revenge on Julian. She started to waste her time instead of reading books.
Do practice questions? Study for the exam? What exam?
She could not pass the test and would embarrass people. That was that.
It was not a big deal.
What was wrong with watching TV shows? What was wrong with sleeping?
Thus, when Julian opened the door with guilty feelings lingering inside him, he saw Alexandra sprawled on the sofa. Alexandra was wrapped up in blankets and was having a great time watching a show on her phone.
Alexandra heard the noise and looked back. When she saw Julian, unhappiness flashed past Alexandra’s heart. She was holding a grudge, so she went back to her show instead of reacting to Julian.
Julian was speechless.
Was this still the girl who had tried bargaining with Julian because she had been worried she’d fail the test?
Julian did not want to stoop down to Alexandra’s level. Julian entered the bedroom and glanced at the big bed. “You’ll sleep in the bed in the future.”
Alexandra could no longer pretend that she could not see Julian. Alexandra cleared her throat and picked herself up as she pressed pause on her phone.”
Alexandra glanced at Julian, who was standing with one hand in his pocket. She clearly was not taking the carrot on the stick. “No need. Sleeping on the sofa is pretty nice. Mr. Ranford, I volunteered to cooperate with you, and you’re the one who pays my salary. I know my place.”
Julian Isked in his mind. Was Alexandra holding a grudge?
Julian had not dated before, and he did not have a younger sister in his family. He was used to the way he interacted with his grandma and stepmother.
When Alexandra started holding a grudge against him, Julian was a bit clueless as to what he should do.
Julian did not know how he should face Alexandra now.
Was he supposed to act like the boss and dock Alexandra’s pay or comfort her?
Julian did not know how to comfort girls.
Alexandra did not know what Julian was thinking about. She continued staring at him with her round eyes.
“Do what you want.” Julian said. “Since you’re willing to sleep on the sofa, then you’ll sleep on the sofa from now on. You only get this one chance to choose.”
Alexandra was flabbergasted.