For the next half-day, Darnell spent his time in the training department, sharing his experiences with dozens of newcomers.
Not only were the newcomers filled with enthusiasm and determination, but Casey and the other two women also learned a lot. Seeing that it was about time, Darnell decided to leave, allowing Mr. Langston to continue with the new hires.
He then went to find Lillian. Unfortunately, Lillian was nowhere to be seen.
“Come in.”
Hearing Areli’s cold voice, Darnell smiled as he pushed open the door. “Miss Fanshaw, good afternoon.”
Sitting at her desk, Areli ignored Darnell, her hands tapping away at her computer with a serious expression on her pretty face.
Darnell didn’t disturb her. He made himself a cup of tea and sipped it while observing. It had been days since he last visited Areli’s office, and now there was a new bouquet of green bamboo in the room.
The green bamboo was lush and vibrant, exuding a sense of vitality.
Darnell examined the bamboo with interest, a faint teasing smile on his lips. Then he broke off a piece of bamboo and slowly poured some tea into it.
Soon, a slight cracking sound came from the bamboo.
At that moment, Areli suddenly called out, “Darnell, what are you doing?”
Darnell turned around with a smile. “Nothing. I’m just admiring this plant. It looks quite nice. I wanted to see if it’s real.”
Having finished her work, Areli leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed. “I bought it from a flower shop for three hundred dollars. Of course, it’s genuine bamboo.”
“Besides, if you want to check if it’s real, just touch it. Why pour tea? Are you trying to scald it to death?”
“Of course not!”
Darnell laughed as he returned to sit down but was met with a glare from Areli, so he had to move his leg off the table.
“Why would I drown a piece of bamboo? Besides, I like Miss Fanshaw so much. Naturally, I like the bamboo you bought.”
“Save it!”
Areli interrupted Darnell, “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Then she added indifferently, “I heard from Ms. Morris that you went to the training department this morning to give a speech to newcomers, sharing your experience.”
“That’s rare, Darnell. I thought you’d only spend your time flirting with women. I didn’t expect you’d prioritize work too.”
“Miss Fanshaw, I’ve always prioritized work,” Darnell replied earnestly. “Whether it’s flirting or being flirted with, I’m always thinking about the company’s interests.”
“So you’ve decided to use your charm and secure some deals?”
A hint of amusement appeared in Areli’s eyes. “Should I contact Abbigail for you?”
Darnell shivered and quickly waved his hand. “No need, no need, Miss Fanshaw. Abbigail and I don’t get along. It’s better if we meet less often.”
As Areli’s lips curled slightly upward, Darnell changed the subject. “Miss Fanshaw, it’s five o’clock now. Do you have any dinner plans?”
Areli replied coldly, “No!”
“What a shame. I was hoping you’d take me along if you did.”
Darnell looked disappointed but then smiled, “How about I treat you to dinner?”
“Considering your good performance today, especially keeping your distance from Abbigail, I’ll treat you instead,” Areli said briskly as she packed up her things. “Let’s go. Take me home.”
Darnell was slightly taken aback. “Home?”
Areli nodded. “Yes, home. I’m in a good mood today. I want to cook dinner…”
Could Areli cook? Darnell suddenly had a bad feeling.
Half an hour later, Darnell dropped Areli off at Bauhinias Residences. He initially wanted to find an excuse to slip away but ended up being dragged upstairs by Areli and pushed onto the sofa.
“I promised to treat you to dinner and won’t stand you up. Watch TV while I cook…”
With that said, Areli went into her room and changed into casual clothes before heading into the kitchen.
Darnell’s unease grew stronger as he got up and followed her into the kitchen. “Can you cook?”
“Of course!”
Areli confidently tied an apron around herself without missing a beat. “If I can make medicines, what’s so hard about cooking?”
Darnell was momentarily stunned. “Miss Fanshaw, you really don’t have to go through all this trouble cooking for me. We can just find a restaurant nearby.”
“My treat.”
Areli shot Darnell a glare. “I’m not going anywhere today. I’m cooking at home. Just sit tight and wait for dinner.”
“I’m preparing four dishes and one soup. It won’t disappoint you. Oh right, after eating you’ll have to give feedback so I can entertain important guests next time.”
What? Entertaining important guests next time?
Darnell’s eyes widened. So he was just a guinea pig?
“Get out of here. Don’t disturb me while I’m cooking.”
Areli shooed Darnell out of the kitchen before opening the refrigerator door with a clatter as ingredients spilled onto the floor.
Darnell helped pick them up and looked at all the food in the fridge with his mouth agape. “Why did you buy so many groceries?”
Areli responded sheepishly, “It’s called being well-prepared. I personally went grocery shopping this morning.”
In truth, she didn’t know what to buy at the supermarket so she bought a little bit of everything, but she wouldn’t tell Darnell the truth. It was so embarrassing.
Areli pushed Darnell out again.
Darnell glanced back at the kitchen several times, feeling inexplicably uneasy. Could the food this woman cooked actually be safe to eat?
He turned on the TV, where the news was broadcasting.
A series of hot topics flashed across the screen-the recent arrangements for women and children in the warehouse, city-wide crackdowns on human traffickers, a retrospective on the shooting at Whiteville Hospital, the conflict between the Axe and the Apex, Zane’s upcoming bail, and the transfer of suspects in the jewelry store robbery.
Each report struck Darnell like a punch to the gut.
It dawned on him that despite his best efforts to stay out of trouble, he had unwittingly become entangled in the chaos. Nearly every headline seemed to be connected to him.
His attention was drawn to the last piece of news. Tomorrow, the suspects in the jewelry store robbery would be transferred from the hospital to the courthouse for their first trial.
“Ah-”
Just as Darnell was focusing on the broadcast, a sudden scream from the kitchen made his ears perk up. Areli let out a startled scream.
The sound was small but filled with fear.
Darnell’s eyelids twitched, and concern for Areli’s safety propelled him to drop the remote and rush toward the kitchen.
He pulled open the door and saw Areli swaying wildly, flailing her arms as if possessed.
“What’s going on?” Darnell shouted.
“Shrimp! Shrimp!” Areli twisted her upper body, panic etched on her face. “A shrimp jumped on my chest…”
Darnell glanced over and saw a basin of live shrimp on the cutting board, the protective netting thrown aside, with several shrimp energetically leaping around.
He noticed that something was indeed bobbing in the middle of Areli’s loose-fitting loungewear.
“Ah! It hurts!”
Areli held the protective net in one hand and a pot lid in the other, leaving no hands free to retrieve the shrimp from her chest. In her panic, she had forgotten to drop what she was holding.
Just then, the shrimp jumped again, its antennae and tail stinging Areli painfully, causing her to gasp. She shouted at Darnell, “What are you standing there for? Help me get it out!”
“Oh right!”
Darnell snapped out of it, rushing forward clumsily. He reached down with his right hand, inadvertently touching a soft spot on Areli’s body.
As he tried to grab the shrimp, it slid down a couple of inches, causing Areli to yelp in pain again.
Darnell quickly adjusted, feeling around until he finally grasped the wriggling shrimp, inadvertently making contact with her soft chest.
“Phew-”
“Finally caught it…”
Suddenly, another shrimp leaped out of the basin, landing with a thud on the floor, only to bounce back up and dart into Areli’s skirt…