Thinking of what Summer and “Douglas” had just done, Vicky’s eyes were filled with jealousy. “Why are you still messing around with Douglas? Don’t you realize you’re married? No wonder Leonardo’s been so cold to you. You deserve it!”
Those words really got Summer. Her expression changed very subtly, and she gave as good as she got. “So what if he’s cold to me? I’m still Mrs. Emerson. What about you? If Jarrett Group goes belly up, what will you become?”
“Shut up!” Vicky shouted as she pointed at Summer, her face pale.
Vicky had been a spoiled child all along, but she knew that she could party as she pleased because of her family’s business. Although not a very large company, Jarrett Group had been in business for many years. It had its own wide network of customers as well as suppliers, and it enjoyed a decent reputation in the business.
Jarrett Sr., the founder of Jarrett Group was an honest and kind man with a wide network of contacts. Even after he had lived abroad for the past ten-odd years, his words still carried weight, especially among the people of business in Hoover City. Jarrett Group was still fundamentally strong, though it paled in comparison with the Emerson family’s business.
Since Vicky had been spending as though money grew on trees, what would happen to her if Jarrett Group failed?
“You should be finding a solution to help Jarrett Group instead of arguing with me here.” Summer knew that despite what Jarrett Group was facing, it would not go belly up. She was just trying to scare Vicky.
Having quarreled with Lynn earlier, Vicky was a bear with a sore head. She shouted, “Who are you to tell me what to do, bitch?!”
Unruffled, Summer smiled at her with her head tilted slightly. “My dear sister, we share the same blood in our veins. If I’m a bitch, so are you.”
“Summer!” Vicky yelled.
Aside from being an arrogant person, Vicky was only an abbreviated piece of nothing. She could not even win an argument with Summer, who started to pity Lynn for having a daughter like Vicky. As Summer turned to leave, Vicky grabbed her to stop her from leaving.
Vicky was wearing a low-cut dress with a not-so-cheap overcoat on top, pantyhose, and a pair of high heels. She looked a little sexy. Her overcoat fluttered in the wind, and the chilly temperature bit her chest. Summer could not help but shiver just by glancing at Vicky’s exposed chest. She pulled her own overcoat closer to herself. The only thing that she admired about Vicky now was her perseverance.
Not that she was a snowman, but she just could not look weak before Summer. Wearing a pair of eight-centimeter high heels, she stood just a little taller than Summer. With her chin up in the air, she commanded, “Give me Douglas’s mobile number.”
Frowning, Summer thought she had heard wrongly. “Excuse me! Whose mobile number did you ask for?” The woman had just called her a bitch, yet she had the nerve to order her to give up “Douglas’s” mobile number now.
“Of course, it’s Douglas’s!” Vicky repeated, her voice impatient. “Since you can’t get Leonardo to help, I’ll have to find my way!”
So “Douglas” was her way? Summer sneered, “Then you should ask him yourself.”
“How can you talk to me like that? Never mind that you refuse to help Jarrett Group. Now you’re not even willing to give me his contact number. Don’t forget you’re a Jarrett too!”
Vicky’s sense of entitlement was going through the roof. Not a hint of guilt was on her face. Meanwhile, Summer’s smile was growing more obvious, but it was sardonic. “Of course, I will never forget I am a Jarrett.” Her voice was cold.
It was the Jarretts who contributed to all of her misfortunes in the past, and that was because she was Jarrett.
“How can I forget my family name?” Summer’s voice softened. “My dear sister, I can’t tell you Douglas’s number, but I know that he always goes to the Golden Cauldron.”
As much as she hated “Douglas”, she respected his privacy. She would not reveal his telephone number, but she could tell Vicky his whereabouts. Vicky may not be able to see him there, and even if she did, the chances of her getting his interest were low. But Summer did not care. Either way, she just wanted to create some trouble for “Douglas” as revenge for his shameless behavior.
…
After work, “Douglas” did not come to pick her up, instead, it was Tim. It was a wet evening. The sky had turned dark, and it was raining.
Summer got into the car. “I thought I told you that you didn’t have to pick me up?”
“The young master’s cousin asked me to pick you up. He’s worried about the rain; it could be hard to get a cab in this weather.” Tim had been a little anxious lately. He was too nervous for fear that he would say something he should not in front of Mrs. Emerson, blowing his young master’s cover as a result.
“You mean Douglas?” Summer appeared suspicious. “Douglas” had told her earlier that he would give her a ride tonight; did he foresee that it was going to be a rainy night?
Tim was stunned for a while before he answered, “Yes.”
Summer turned soft-hearted. She felt a little guilty about telling Vicky his whereabouts. “So where is he now?”
“He’s gone to the Golden Cauldron and wants to let you know that he’s not coming home for dinner.” If the young master did not have something on, he would have fetched her.
Shit! Summer thought. “Would she bump into him on the off chance?” Tim saw Summer’s anxious expression in the rearview mirror, thinking that she was concerned about the young master.
“The young master has something to attend to, but it won’t take long.”
Summer nodded absentmindedly, unaware of how Tim just addressed “Douglas”. When Tim realized it, he broke out in a cold sweat.
Back at home, the mansion was empty. Summer stepped through the doorway, and her eyes darted around, unsure of what to look for. She was a little fidgety.
After she got changed upstairs, she returned down to the kitchen and started to prepare dinner. She ate alone without “Douglas” and Leonardo, who seemed to be an invisible man. She picked up her phone and called Karen. She did not know why she wanted to do that, probably just to find out if Vicky had gone to the Golden Cauldron.
“Mom, have you eaten?” Summer tried to hide the eagerness in her voice.
Karen sounded surprised. “No, not yet. I’m waiting for your dad and sister. They are in the study room discussing a few things.”
“Oh… I was just asking. Then, I’ll hang up here. See you.” After she hung up, Summer breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed odd that Summer had suddenly called her. Nonetheless, Karen still felt like walking on air. At least, Summer was concerned for her, she thought.
Just then, Lynn and Vicky came downstairs. She went up to them. “Come, the food’s getting cold.”
Vicky glanced at her. “I’m not eating. I have to go out.”
It was right then that Karen noticed Vicky had changed and put makeup on. “Where are you going at this hour?”
“It’s none of your business. I have some important things to do, of course.” Vicky shot her a look, then took out a mirror, admiring her own makeup and thinking, “Douglas” would not be able to resist a hot number like her.