SWNOVELS Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Fitch wouldn’t dare ask Maxwell for help even if he had the chance. He was thinking women are soft–hearted, and that was why he dropped to his knees in front of Rosemary the moment he walked in, “Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton is mad because of you. If you don’t forgive me, even if I offer my life in front of Mr. Templeton as- an apology, he won’t let me off the hook!”
Rosemary was in a rush to get to work and didn’t have time to listen to his blabber, “I can’t help you with this.”
She sidestepped him and made for the door.
Seeing his last chance slipping away, Fitch panicked, instinctively reaching to grab Rosemary’s leg. But the moment his fingers brushed the hem of her pants, he had a lightbulb moment and forcefully withdrew his hand.
Looking up, he was right to see Maxwell’s gaze fixed on his outstretched hand – not terrifying, but so heavy it made him shiver to his core!
Maxwell frowned at Rosemary, “Mom has to undergo a thorough check–up at the hospital later, you should
come with me.”
“I have to work.” She was actually worried about Pearl’s condition too, but taking leave from the studio right after starting there would look bad, “Just let me know when the results are in.”
Maxwell watched her walk away, his tone icy, “So, your janitor job is more important than Mom’s health?” Without breaking stride or explaining the janitor situation, Rosemary quipped, “In a couple of days, I should start calling her ‘Mrs. Pearl Templeton“.”
What she said was a fact, yet in Maxwell’s ears, her words twisted to mean – they were getting a divorce, and his mother’s situation was no longer her concern.
Lately, whenever Rosemary saw him, “divorce” was the word she brought up the most. Now, Maxwell’s impatience was evident as he sneered, “Even if she had raised a dog for three years, it would stick by her side, wagging its tail.”
At that, Rosemary turned back, wondering where he got the nerve to accuse her of ingratitude. During Pearl’s health struggles over the last three years, she was the one signing hospital forms, bustling about taking care of everything. Compared to her, Maxwell, her own son, was the one acting like a stray dog, wasn’t he?
She coolly eyed Maxwell, “Yeah, you’re right, even a dog knows to wag its tail. I’ve catered to you for three years, and it’s not even as good as raising a dog.”
This woman was quite the master at turning the tables!
Rosemary pulled open the door and left the suite straight away. After exiting the club, she hailed a cab to Heritage Revive Studio.
On the way, she called Yolanda to check in, “How are your injuries?”
Fitch’s kicks last night were merciless, landing heavily on her, looking quite alarming.
On the other end, Yolanda took a breath and said through gritted teeth, “That bastard, the doctor said I have a fracture and need to heal for a while. I’m going to sue him, but the Night Club definitely won’t give me the surveillance footage: it’s going to be tough.”
Rosemary thought of Fitch’s pathetic state just earlier; whether she sued him or not, he was done for.
“First, get a medical report on your injuries; I’ll figure out the rest.”
Yolanda didn’t want Rosemary to get into trouble on her account, “Forget it, even if I do sue him, at most he’ll be detained for ten days to half a month. I’ll find another way to deal with him. Fitch that son of a gun must not have been the first time he’s forced himself on a woman; I’ll find more evidence.”
Rosemary, lacking energy, leaned against the car window, “Yolanda, I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”
“What are you talking about? I should thank you for giving me the chance to take out the trash.”
They chatted a bit more until the car stopped in front of Heritage Revive Studio, and Rosemary hung up.
The moment she stepped in, her colleague Beth grabbed her, nodding towards Oswald’s office with an excitement she could barely contain, “Guess who I just saw?”
“Who?”
“Victoria.”
Seeing Rosemary silent, Beth thought she didn’t know who Victoria was and enlightened her, “You know, the dancer who’s been acknowledged as the most talented in the past twenty years! I just watched her Greenwood tour live stream. My god, it was mind–blowing: those fluid movements, something ordinary folks could never learn in a lifetime!”
Implying that Victoria was not ordinary, but a deity?
Rosemary, uninterested, gave a noncommittal response. She wasn’t interested in listening to Beth sing praises, nor did she care why Victoria was here. Just as she was about to head to her desk, Oswald’s office door opened.
“Rose, can you come here for a sec?”
Hearing Oswald’s call, she paused, and then walked over, “Oswald.”
Oswald ushered her into the office, “Let me introduce you. This is Ms. Temple. She would like you to restore an old painting for her; you can name your price.”
Rosemary followed Oswald’s direction and saw Victoria sitting arrogantly on the sofa, sunglasses, fisherman’s hat, and a black face mask covering her.
When she heard the name Rose, she looked up, but her expression changed upon seeing Rosemary.
“Sorry, Oswald, you might have misunderstood. I’m not looking for her. I’m looking for the ‘Rose‘ known for her miraculous restoration skills in the circle.”
Oswald was taken aback, and so was Rosemary, taking a few seconds to process. Victoria was looking for Rose?
“My painting is severely damaged, not something an ordinary apprentice could restore. I had the fortune of seeing a painting restored by Rose before; it was simply divine! But she’s quite a mystery, I’ve been unable to track down her whereabouts or what she looks like. I thought you might know her identity; that’s why I came to ask for your help.”
Realization dawned on Oswald that Victoria had made a mistake; he kindly smiled and said, “She is the… “Oswald,” Rosemary chimed in, cutting him off, “restoring antiques is all about fate. Since Ms. Temple and I aren’t destined to be, I won’t force it.”
Oswald got the hint loud and clear. Rose was politely turning her down, and he could sense there was something off about the vibe between the two.
Victoria hadn’t quite figured out the meaning behind her words when she saw Rosemary turning to leave. She quickly stood up and hurried over to Rosemary, “Rosemary, did you know Martin is throwing a welcome–back bash at Rosewood Villa tonight?”
“I had no idea.”
“Seriously, about Martin, her purse “accidentally” dropped to the floor, and out conveniently slipped a black invitation with gold lettering. Victoria bent down to pick it up, all too deliberately, “Even after what you did back then, he shouldn’t be so heartless. After all, you guys go way back. Not giving you an invite? Isn’t that just asking for the gossip mill to make you the laughing stock?”
Chapter 21
Rosemary looked straight at her, unflinching, and smiled, “Ms. Temple, do you know what the ‘and family part
after the names on the invitation means?”
Chapter 22