SWNOVELS Chapter 22
Chapter 22
“Mrs… Ms. Jones, this is the cold brew Americano Mr. Peterson ordered for you.”
Ray handed over the coffee and then rubbed his hands before speaking. “Mr. Peterson will be done soon. Please have a seat and wait for a moment.”
“Or, I could just leave the report here, and you can contact me if there’s anything amiss.”
Saying this, Edith stood up.
Ray hurriedly said, “Ms. Jones, Mr. Peterson has specifically instructed that he wants to be thoroughly briefed on the situation, so…”
Edith pressed her lips, realizing it would be rude to refuse any further.
“Alright then, I’ll step out.”
Ray closed the door gently and heaved a sigh of relief, recalling the expression on Gideon’s face when he insisted that Edith must be kept waiting.
Ray even wondered what would happen if he failed the instructions today. He might even lose his job tomorrow…
In the office, Edith sat on the sofa with a few magazines on the table.
They were about medical topics.
Edith casually flipped through one and coincidentally saw a photo of Danika, who had published an academic paper.
He keeps records of even such a trivial matter,‘ Edith thought, lowering her gaze to hide the emotions in her eyes.
She told herself not to think about it, yet she couldn’t help recalling what Bonnie had told her about Gideon over the years.
He had neither remarried nor signed the divorce papers.
What did that mean?
Edith’s eyes briefly caught sight of the coffee on the table, frowning. It was once her favorite.
The time passed while she was lost in thought.
Just as Gideon entered the room, he saw Edith’s expressionless face.
“Mr. Peterson.”
Edith stood
- up. “I’ve finished the report. Please review it. I’ll head back to the lab,”
Gideon sat at his desk and browsed the report casually. “Why such a hurry?” he asked.
“There are many things to do in the lab, not just artifact restoration.”
Edith responded patiently. Gideon nodded, looking neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
“Join me for dinner tonight,” he said.
Hearing Gideon’s voice, Edith frowned and firmly declined, “Sorry, I don’t have time.”
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Even if she did, she wouldn’t go.
What did Gideon think of her?
How could he calmly ask her to accompany him to dinner as if things were the same as before?
Just as Edith was growing impatient, Gideon spoke again. “Don’t overthink it.
“Let’s just say it’s for work, something related to this project.
“I can’t just go and explain to them why the project suddenly stalled. From a professional standpoint, isn’t this part of your job?” Gideon added.
Knowing she couldn’t win the argument, Edith asked without hesitation, “When is the dinner?”
‘Alright then, let’s say it is for work, she thought.
Gideon glanced at the clock and pointed to the magazine on the table. “You can wait here. We’ll head out after I finish my work.”
‘Great, another wait,’ she thought.
Edith took a deep breath but chose not to argue, sitting quietly.
Gideon glanced at Edith on the sofa and dialed an extension. “Ray, come in.
“Bring some magazines.”
Edith sat still, her face turning dark as she watched Ray bringing in a stack of entertainment magazines.
She wondered, ‘Is Gideon implying that I could not appreciate academic material, so he switched to these entertainment magazines?‘
“It won’t take long, just half an hour.”
Gideon didn’t sense something was off on Edith, just talking to her.
Just like that, both of them were lost in their thoughts and spent one and a half hours in the office, far exceeding the time Gideon had mentioned.
“Let’s go.”
By the time Gideon finally stood up, Edith was almost dozing off.
She hadn’t touched the magazines, and her phone was out of battery. In the end, Edith felt as if she was almost hallucinating from the wait.
She used to be accustomed to it, even willing to wait for Gideon an entire afternoon.
But now, Edith had lost her patience. She had her own life and work, no longer eagerly waiting for someone who didn’t love her.
Edith’s face was cold, a fact she didn’t even realize herself.
It wasn’t until they got into the car that Gideon, staring at Edith in the passenger seat, suddenly remarked, “You seem to have a much shorter temper than before.”
“Really?”
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Chapter 22
Thanks to you,‘ she murmured in silence.
Edith didn’t respond and just closed her eyes, pretending to sleep to brush it off.
However, Gideon wasn’t about to let her off. “You have been abroad for so many years. Did you get used to the food?”
“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Peterson.”
‘What does it have to do with you?‘ she thought.
Edith pressed her lips, her face indifferent as she spoke the opposite of what was in her mind, but Gideon saw right through her.
“Is it so awkward being with me?”
Gideon couldn’t help but laugh. “You can call me as you used to or just by my first name. Is that not okay?”
Edith remained silent. She stared out the window at the receding scenery.
The past scenery couldn’t return. Could her past life be the same as before?
Gideon didn’t insist and drove steadily, finally stopping at the Rowen Dining.
This was an upscale restaurant with private dining rooms, popular among business professionals for conducting meetings.
Perhaps it was because of its quiet and private nature.
As she pondered, Gideon had already been walking ahead, with Edith quickly keeping a respectful distance.
“Ms. Jones?”
lowing,
A familiar voice came from behind. Edith turned to see Deborah, whom she had met at the last auction.
“So, you were the one Mr. Peterson was talking about…”
Deborah smiled with her eyes squinted, shaking her hand with Edith, “It’s been a while.”
Gideon came up beside Edith, raising an eyebrow. “You know each other?”
“We met once.”
Not wanting Gideon to know about her “side job“, Edith casually brushed it off without going into details.
Deborah was smart and didn’t press the matter further.
Only then did Edith realize Deborah’s identity. Deborah was the vice-president of the National Artifacts Association… No wonder Deborah had shown such interest in her last time.
It was not just about making money.
They entered the private room, which was already filled with people. Seeing Gideon enter, everyone stood up.
“Mr. Peterson, you’re late.”
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“We’ve been waiting quite a while!”
“And this is…”
They looked at Edith, who spoke calmly. “I’m Edith Jones, head of the artifact project team.”
Once they sat down, the group started joking around, insisting they drink a few more glasses.
Gideon readily obliged, downing three glasses without hesitation, instantly elevating the mood. Deborah followed suit.
Only Edith hadn’t drunk yet.
She intended to refuse but then unexpectedly heard Gideon say, “She doesn’t drink alcohol. I’ll take hers.”
Edith didn’t want to owe anyone favors, especially Gideon.
She boldly picked up the wine glass, mustering an unknown courage. “No need to bother Mr. Peterson. I’ll drink on my own.”
Edith admitted there was a bit of defiance in her action.
But seeing Gideon’s face turn sour instantly, Edith felt a satisfying thrill.
She thought, ‘Is it only he who is allowed to annoy me?
‘Such logic simply didn’t exist!‘
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