Adams paused, then frankly said, “We met once before.”
“She’s Summer.” Leonardo’s voice sounded unfriendly.
“I know. She’s your new wife, Summer,” Adams said in a somewhat remote tone of voice.
Leonardo’s brows were knitted together. He hesitated before he hung up.
…
The next morning, Summer made breakfast. Seeing “Douglas” come down the stairs, she could not help but think of what happened yesterday. As she came out of the kitchen with breakfast, she secretly looked at him. Leonardo was looking down at his phone and sipping on a glass of water.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Summer cocked an eyebrow and provocatively said, “You look pale. Do you need some cow cod soup?”
Leonardo paused what he was doing and looked up with a mysterious smile. “You’re the only woman in the house. Why are you making cow cod soup for me?”
Summer glared at him and went back to the kitchen. Summer was rarely his match when it came to eloquence, and they ended up not talking to each other at all.
As usual, it was Tim who sent Summer to work. In the car, she could not help but ask, “Tim, has the young master always been like that, very withdrawn?”
The thought of Leonardo running around every day came to mind, and Tim pocketed his conscience. “Yes, Mrs. Emerson.”
“Has he seen a doctor?” Realizing that this could cause a misunderstanding, she quickly explained, “I mean he can’t live like this forever. He needs to live a normal life.”
Leonardo, whom Summer said needed a normal life, called Tim at that very moment.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Emerson, allow me to take this call.” He then answered the call.
Leonardo sounded a little grave when he said, “Keep an eye on Summer.”
“Understood.” It was a puzzling order, but Tim did not ask questions.
…
As soon as Summer arrived in front of the office, she bumped into Vicky.
Vicky took a glimpse of the car, which Summer was in, feeling envious. Had she been the one who married into the Emerson Family, she would have been the one riding in that car. All smiles, Summer tucked her hair behind her ear and went up to Vicky, who only stood at her height in a pair of high heels.
“Good morning, Ms. Jarrett,” Summer greeted.
Vicky sneered and ignored her.
Back in the office and just like yesterday, Summer picked up where she left off and continued to make photocopies of the documents. It was apparent that Vicky wanted to make her life harder. Everyone in the Project Department knew it. No one dared to say a word, but that did not prevent them from discussing it in private, and eventually, the news drifted into Lynn’s ear.
At lunch break, Lynn summoned Vicky to his office.
“Even if you don’t like Summer, don’t make it so obvious! People will talk about it!”
“I’m the daughter of the president and the Project Manager. Who dares say a single word?” Vicky was adamant.
“If you need to tame her, do it cleverly.” Lynn was disappointed with her. Vicky had been smarter than that in the past. Why was she being so stupid this time?
“Fine, fine, fine! I’ll bring her to a project negotiation in the afternoon.” Tired of hearing Lynn’s lecture, Vicky turned around and walked out the door.
Summer had been working in the photocopy room for the past two days. When someone came around, she would smile and say hello. Who did not like such a pretty and good-natured lady, especially when she was related to the president? So, her colleagues began to like her.
A good-hearted colleague came up to her and said, “You don’t have to photocopy every single one of them. These are just useless documents.”
“Huh? These… They’re useless?” Summer gave a surprised look, appearing to be in disbelief.
Just then, Vicky’s secretary came. “Summer, the manager’s asking for you.”
“I have to go.” Summer stopped what she was doing and went into Vicky’s office.
As soon as she stepped in, Vicky threw her a file. “This is what we’ll discuss with the client today. Read it and go with me later.”
Summer picked it up, taking a gander. She could understand none of it; it was full of technical jargon. After all, it was not in her field of expertise. She could not help it since she had joined the Project Department with her own agenda.
By the same token, she knew Vicky had to be up to no good by when she decided to bring her to the business meeting. She figured that she needed to get as much information about the client’s company as possible, but there was none she could find.
Jessica could not help for sure. Jerome could be of help, but there was no way she would ask him for help. That left her with only one choice: “Douglas”.
While “Douglas” did nothing all day, but at least, he was one of the Moos, a business family. He would surely know a thing or two.
During her lunch break, Summer called “Douglas” up, worried that he would not pick up the phone. However, she was surprised when he answered after a couple of rings. With the thought of how she jabbed him that morning still fresh in her mind, Summer felt a little awkward.
“Douglas, are you busy right now?”
“Anything?” His reply was still as concise as ever.
“I just want to buy you lunch…” Summer was a little diffident.
“Please get straight to the point.”
Could the man read her mind? Summer knew there was no turning back and told him frankly, “I need your help!”
“I’ll pick you up at your office.”
Strangely enough, “Douglas” did not jeer at her this time. Summer answered with an “Oh”. After she hung up, she found things amiss; should she not be the one going to him when she was asking for a favor? Instead, he was coming for her?
It did not take long before “Douglas” arrived. Summer did not wait for him in front of Jarrett Group but at the corner of a street a block away.
When Leonardo found her, his face darkened. “Get in!” Was he that unpresentable in her eyes?
Summer knew what was on his mind and apologized, “I’m sorry, but people in Jarrett Group recognize you. I didn’t want us to get photographed and people to misunderstand our relationship.”
Leonardo did not say a word and just smiled coldly. The feeling of having to hide constantly was getting on his nerves. He should have gone all the way with her when she got drunk that night, he thought to himself.
His expression, which made him look like he wanted to eat her alive sent a chill up her spine. Summer knew the score and did not say a word again.
“Douglas” brought her to a restaurant that was relatively less crowded. After they sat down and ordered their food, “Douglas” eyed the envelope in her hand.
“Take it out.”
“How did you know it was about this?” Summer looked at him in surprise. As she slowly took out the documents from the envelope, “Douglas” threw her a glance as if to say that she was an idiot.