Elisa liked him, but she tried to restrain herself from confessing her feelings. She had just witnessed the consequences of a confession; without absolute certainty, even friendship could be at risk. Today, following him had been a lesson for her, teaching her to control her emotions.
“What are you thinking about?” Andrew pulled his thoughts away from Agnes and glanced at the girl beside him while driving. She seemed distracted. “How’s work? Are you adjusting well?”
“It’s great. I adapt quickly and love challenges. That’s what youth is all about,” she replied, turning to look at him.
“Hmm, that’s one of your shining qualities.”
Elisa half-jokingly asked, “Can you see any other shining qualities?”
“Plenty,” Andrew replied casually. “Kindness, enthusiasm, attention to detail.”
“Those words seem generic; they could apply to any girl.”
“But I mean them sincerely,” he said, glancing at her again. “That’s the impression you’ve left on me.”
Elisa felt quite happy hearing this. In the car, they chatted as colleagues and friends, maintaining a pleasant atmosphere.
Night deepened.
The vast Fritz Manor was solemn and quiet. The lights inside the villa flickered, blending with the moonlight. Tom Fritz sat alone in his study. Freshly showered and wearing a white bathrobe, his dark hair was still damp.
A gentle breeze wafted through the window, carrying the scent of flowers. He sat quietly at his desk with an open laptop in front of him. Under the light, his calm and elegant demeanor was evident as he worked diligently, his long fingers occasionally tapping the keyboard, eyes fixed on the screen.
He was handling company affairs-an old project he had taken over. His father had discussed it with him earlier today, hoping he could draft a plan if he had time. As long as he wasn’t asked to take over the company entirely, he was willing to help with small tasks like this.
A thick stack of documents lay beside his mouse, untouched for at least three hours. The cover bore a photo of a young, beautiful girl with the name ‘Lisa’ prominently displayed. Tom Fritz had no interest in this girl his grandmother intended to bring back.
Half an hour later, he finished his work and shut down his computer. His deep gaze fell on the stack of documents. The girl was indeed pretty but didn’t impress him much.
Thinking about this matter always dampened Professor Fritz’s spirits. His grandmother had always been very fond of him since childhood, and he respected her deeply. He understood her stubborn nature; if he didn’t settle this marriage issue first, he wouldn’t be able to return to his lab.
But marrying this stranger was out of the question for him. Yet defying his grandmother’s wishes wasn’t something he wanted either. She was his only grandmother; he didn’t want to upset her.
As he felt a bit agitated, his phone rang beside him. He picked it up and answered in a deep, magnetic voice, “Hello, Professor Wilson.”
“Tom, how much longer until you come over?” His mentor’s patient tone carried a hint of urgency. “The experiment here won’t take long; the new lab in Arkpool City is almost ready.”
“I know, Professor,” Tom replied apologetically with a smile. “I’m waiting for my grandmother. She raised me since I was little and is returning home soon. I hope to see her before going back to the lab.”