Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
“I know…but I really don’t care.” Joey wanted nothing more than to be rid of his father right now. Their lunch was soon served.
“Let’s eat first, and don’t you worry about this. Just focus on your studies.”
“I will!” Joey nodded. Yes, he would focus on that from now on.
While they were eating, Danika kept spooning more food into Joey’s plate, telling him to eat more. The boy didn’t refuse either. In fact, he was feeling really grateful for her, silently vowing to repay her one day.
Later, after dropping Joey back at school, Danika headed to the office to discuss her business with Jade. When she was about to leave the office, she saw Felicity, whose face swiftly changed from surprise to indifference.
Danika didn’t pursue her cousin as she left, only quietly asking Jade, “Has she been performing well?” She hadn’t seen her after Felicity moved out, and neither did Jade update her, so she had no clue how her cousin had been all this while.
“Pretty well, yeah,” Jade answered straightforwardly. “She’s eager to learn though she’s not as skilled as the rest.”
It came as a surprise to Danika. Good for Felicity for turning over a new leaf.
“But she stays at her own place instead of at the dorms,” Jade added. Danika didn’t mind. Felicity was an adult now, and she was capable of making her own decisions.
“So long as she doesn’t slack off at work, everything’s fine with me,” Danika concluded.
Jade nodded in response. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn’t.” She didn’t have a connection to Felicity, unlike Danika. If Felicity messed up, Jade wouldn’t think twice before kicking her out.
Danika was then escorted downstairs back to her car. “Drive safe. I’ll see you soon.
“Alright. Thank you for taking care of the company in my stead,” Danika smiled. She hadn’t had to stress about the company much these days, only checking in once in a while.
Jade nodded. “You just focus on your design while I take care of things here.”
Danika spent a couple of days resting at home before finally going back to work. She had quickly gotten bored of staying inside.
“Are you sure your injury is healed, Danika? Don’t you want to rest some more?” Morgan asked when she came to work, all smiles. Danika had gotten injured to save her, after all. She had inquired about her recovery every single day, even now when Danika had returned to work.
Danika smiled and shook her head. “It was just a small wound. It’s healed up by now.”
If it weren’t for the several days of leave Morgan had gotten for her, she would’ve come to work days ago.
“Update me on our patients,” Danika instructed, not letting Morgan dwell on her worry. “Any new in- patients?”
Morgan took out her records with a nod and reported everything to Danika, and they soon busied themselves. Danika completed two surgeries in the afternoon without a moment’s rest. When the clock struck six, she prepared to get off work. Just then, Morgan came knocking on her door.
“Do you wanna get dinner together, Danika?” she asked cheerfully.
Danika grinned. “Sure.” Eustace had a busy night ahead anyway.
They left the hospital entrance, but the moment they did, a red sports car slid to a stop before them. Winston Murr stepped out of the car.
“Morgan,” he greeted. His eyes glowed with surprise when he saw Danika by Morgan’s side. “Ms. Zellweger? What a coincidence! You two must have dinner with me, my treat,” he said, grinning.
Danika frowned. She was about to refuse when Morgan said, “No, thank you. We already have a reservation. Maybe another time.”
“You’re not about to let me leave empty-handed, are you?” Winston’s grin never faded. His eyes centered on Danika.
Morgan stood in front of her protectively. “I’ll have dinner with you then. Let’s go.”
“Let’s go.” Winston held out a hand. Morgan was the one he wanted to marry anyway, though…he still didn’t want to give up on Danika. Well, he could always come looking for her after he got married. It’s not like he’d stop.
“I’m sorry about this. I didn’t know he’d come,” Morgan apologized to Danika.
“It’s alright. Enjoy your night.” Morgan had made her choice, Danika decided. Though Winston was still kind of creepy, she couldn’t stop them.
Morgan bid her farewell before getting in Winston’s car. Before she did, though, Danika went up to her and whispered, “Be careful. Call me if you need help.”
Morgan paused and glanced at Winston before nodding. “I will.”
Danika watched as the two left, feeling somewhat concerned. Her first impressions of people had always been spot on; right now, it was telling her that Winston Murr wasn’t a good man. She didn’t want Morgan to marry someone like him. However, it was still a gut feeling, not something backed with hard proof. She could only pray nothing would happen to Morgan.
Meanwhile, she couldn’t think of what to have for dinner. If she went home, she could only cook instant noodles-the only thing she knew how to cook. But…she couldn’t find anything appealing to eat outside.
She was in a pickle when Christopher drove his car to a stop before her. “Looks like I came just at the right time. Have you had dinner?”
Danika shook her head.
“C’mon, I know a good place. It’ll be my treat. I have a feeling you’re gonna like the food there.”
Danika really didn’t want to be involved with Christopher.
The man wasn’t as sleazy as before when he assured her, saying, “Don’t worry. It’s just dinner. Nothing else.”
“We can get dinner together, but you have to answer some questions I have.”
“Sure. I’ll tell you everything I know as long as it’s not too personal.” Christopher smirked, and Danika rolled her eyes at him. She got in his car, and they left for the restaurant.
“Can you update me on the families in Bardoff City? Who are they, and how big is their influence?”
Christopher was surprised by the question. It took him a second to come back to his senses. “Why the sudden question? Do you know something?”
Danika stared at him. “What do you think I should know?”
They reached the restaurant before Christopher could answer. Only when they were sitting at their private table did the man finally say, “I wouldn’t know.”
“If you didn’t know anything, why invite me to dinner still?” Danika swiftly responded.
Christopher shook his head with a smile. “I can’t exactly refuse when my old man explicitly tells me to come.”
Mr. Spade? Danika frowned. Even Eustace’s grandfather was acting strange. Danika wondered about their motives.
“Anyway, didn’t you wanna know about Bardoff’s families?” He didn’t know why she wanted to know about this, but it wouldn’t hurt for him to tell her.
Danika listened on. Her grandfather had told her to always stay informed of what went on with those families but never told her why. Even now, Danika suspected he had passed without revealing the many secrets he had kept in his lifetime.
Dinner was served just as Christopher finished telling Danika everything he knew.
“So your family is only second-class to the higher-class families in Bardoff, right? As well as the Bardoff City Elites?”
“Yes.” Christopher nodded, then quickly added, “But we’re still powerful in Parrington.”
He left out the part where Eustace Quincey was way more powerful than them. He also never mentioned the Wilkins family, making the doubt Danika had about her grandfather’s relations with the other families dissipate.
She clutched her forehead, sighing in confusion.
“Why don’t you ask my grandfather personally about what you want to know?” Christopher kindly offered.
Danika huffed. “I’m sure he’ll ask me to marry you first before he answers my questions.”
Christopher said nothing, only smiled in response. In truth, his grandfather might really say that.
“No need. I’ll know when the time’s right.” Danika concluded. She wouldn’t have wanted to find everything out if it weren’t for Christopher constantly showing up around her. “What time do you need to be back home tonight?” she continued, hoping he’d leave earlier so she could finally be left alone.
Christopher’s fork paused near his mouth, a piece of meat still on the prongs. “Do you not like me that much?”
“Yeah. I can’t exactly figure you out though I really want to. It irks me, so we might as well leave as early as possible.” Danika was upfront and unapologetic. Christopher’s opinion didn’t matter to her, after all.
“Grandpa said to not come back home until you’re my girlfriend.”
Danika looked at him in shock. “Shouldn’t you be occupied with other things?” she asked. Christopher should be just as busy as Eustace now that he had inherited his family name.
Christopher smiled. “Grandpa told me to just focus on you. He’ll take care of things at home.”
Danika scowled. How important could she be to have the heir of the Spade family drop everything and court her?
She set down her silverware and said sternly, “I don’t know what exactly you and your family have in mind but…I don’t think people should spend their lives chasing after money and power. They should have their personal dreams to accomplish. Don’t you think so?”
Christopher nodded, agreeing to her statement.
“So, shouldn’t you be going after your own dreams instead of wasting your time here with me?”