“Rest assured, I’ve already had some people deal with the article. I know you must be pretty upset right now, but I promise I’m not going to make you feel wronged ever again, alright?” Henson said firmly.
Wendy frowned at that. “But… how are you planning on dealing with this? I can’t believe they even mentioned General Burke in the article. If anyone had actually verified the article with General Burke himself, or if he stayed quiet about it since he owes the Nicholson’s a favour, then won’t your going to fix things be equivalent to slapping him in the face?” she asked.
“Rest assured, the editor of the Morning Star hasn’t verified the article yet, so this makes the article another piece of fake news. And I’m sure she’s aware of the consequences that come with spreading misinformation,” he said sinisterly.
“But if no one steps forward to verify the news, then the mother daughter duo from the Nicholson’s would just get away with spouting nonsense to the reporters, and I’m scared that General Burke would get led by the nose as a result. He told that to you in confidence, after all,” she argued.
This made him laugh. “She has always been one to consider other people’s feelings first,” he thought.
“No need to worry about him, by the way. It’s not like I can’t extinguish the flames they’ve fanned. So, have more faith in me, there’s no problem in this world that’s too big for me to solve, alright?” he teased.
She fell silent for a few moments before nodding her head. “Alright,” she muttered.
“Also, no need to worry about the events on campus. Just leave everything to me,” he said.
“Everything on campus is fine, so this should be the least of your worries. I was just ranting to you just now, I’m already used to the treatment I get on campus. I just let them be,” she replied.
“Just give me half an hour,” he said after a brief pause and
immediately hung up after.
She then stared at her phone in bewilderment for a few moments. ‘Half an hour’?
What could anyone even accomplish in half an hour’s time?
She decided to leave him alone after that. The man’s sure got a lot of tricks up his sleeves.
When eleven thirty came, Ian was the first to return to the office.
The moment he finished his water at his desk, he saw Linda and Carmen brisk walking towards the office.
When the door swung open, Carmen started panting like crazy. “Oh my God! Miss Evans!” she gasped.
Wendy immediately turned her head to look at her. “What’s up, Carmen? You look exhausted,” she remarked
then shifted her gaze to Linda afterwards. “What’s with the anxious look too, Linda?” she asked.
“We both saw Master Henson downstairs just now,” Linda gasped.
This managed to startle Wendy. Henson’s on campus now?!
What was he doing here at this time?
Carmen then started making circles in the air with her hands as she said, “He was carrying a large bouquet of gorgeous blue roses too,”
Wendy frowned at that. She then got out of her seat to take a peek outside the office.
There was no sign of Henson yet, but since it was almost the end of the work day, the halls were bustling with curious onlookers.
Just as she was about to head downstairs to take a look, she saw Henson emerge from the top of the stairs
with a bouquet of blue roses in hand. He kept marching on steadily towards her while he ignored the gazes of everyone around him.
She could only stand by the door and stare at his face as he slowly approached her.
He then held out the bouquet to her and said in a voice that was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, “Did the fake article today give you a fright? Well, this is a gift from me to soothe your frightened little heart. No need to let those reporters push your buttons. Just remember that this kind of thing happens to me all the time, so better start getting used to it. Please don’t take it to heart, alright?”
She blinked in disbelief. How was his arrival appropriate in the slightest?!
Regardless, her heart was pounding like mad at the moment.
“I didn’t,” she mumbled as she took the bouquet from his hands.
“Great! Let’s go and have lunch together then,” he said excitedly.
He then brought her out of campus to a restaurant for lunch. He took their orders shortly after.
“Tell me, how was your arrival on campus today even remotely appropriate?” she suddenly asked as they were eating.
“What’s so inappropriate about it?” he asked back.
“Well, if you can’t resolve the root of the issue between you and Julia in the end, then won’t your grandiose gesture today be in vain?” she probed.
“I told you, this isn’t anything too big for me to handle. Her involvement in this means nothing to me,” he smirked.
She pouted at his answer. It wasn’t like he was wrong in saying that. He WAS the most influential person in the city, after all.
The thought of it was enough to make her gasp. Since when did she started looking up to such a man?
When she was younger, the only good men in her world were the men in the Lowry household,
but as she grew and started getting to know more and more cold-blooded people, she started losing her faith in men.
To her, men weren’t to be trusted at all costs.
So it was strange when she realised that her views had changed.
It’d really been a long time since she’d actually admired someone.
“I like the flowers you got me today very much,” she commented.
While he stared at her, a smile slowly crept up on his face. “Well, what if I told you those flowers came from someone else? Would you still like them?” he asked.
“I’m not sure,” she scoffed as she lowered her gaze.
“I didn’t expect that answer at all,” he sulked.
“Then, just take it as if I won’t,” she giggled amusedly.
“Can’t you just humour me for once, woman?” he teased.
“Why should I when you scared me half to death today?” she huffed,
her mind obviously feeling the opposite of her words.
He looked at her with a doting smile plastered across his face in reply. He was completely powerless against this woman.
“Anyways, the next time you feel upset or wronged, just let me know, alright? It’s not good to keep it welled up inside, you know. The good thing about having someone by your side is that you can share your joys and woes with them, no?” he said.
She gave him a smile through pursed lips and nodded in reply.
When they’ve finished their lunch, Henson drove her back to campus.
He thought of walking her to her office, but she kept declining his offer as
his mere presence has already caused quite a stir on campus today.
She was already glad that he’d managed to stop everyone from gossiping about her behind her back.
When she got out of his car and started walking back to her office from the campus gates,
her phone suddenly started ringing.
Initially, she thought that Henson had called, but when she fished out her phone, she saw Ross’ name on the caller ID.
She picked up the call and greeted him in an upbeat tone, “Big Bro Ross!”
He replied in a somber tone instead, “Can I trouble you to come see me at the campus gates for a bit, Wendy?”
“Now?” she gasped.
“Yeah, I’m at your university’s campus gates now,” he replied.
“Sure,” she answered then hung up, brisk walking back to the gates in the process.
When he saw her approaching him, he lowered the car windows and greeted her with his head lowered.
She got into his car and plopped herself in the passenger’s seat.
“You’re here fast,” he remarked.
“It’s because you came in time. I just came back from lunch so I didn’t manage to walk too far yet. Anyways, what are you doing here at this hour, Big Bro Ross?” she quizzed.
“My mom saw the article, commented to me that she was worried about you, and wanted me to see how you were doing. You sure you’re doing fine?” he asked, concerned.
“I’m fine, Big Bro Ross. It’s fake news, after all,” she said with her lips pursed.
“Are you sure about that?” he asked, confused.
“I’m absolutely certain,” she said as she nodded and gave him a faint smile.
Behind a few bushes in the distance, a camera shutter’s went off, capturing the moment of the two of them in the car.