Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

From NôvelDrama.Org.

As expected, Lindey was calling to ask me to come back to the Johnston residence for dinner.

I knew the dinner invite was just a cover–she definitely had something else on her mind.

“I already had your gnocchi, but coming home right now isn’t really an option,” I said, trying to sound apologetic. “I’m working day and night to meet the deadline at the amusement park. I’ll come home once I get a break.”

Lindey sighed dramatically. “Ugh, Jace is really something. Why’s he pushing you so hard? It’s not like the world’s ending tomorrow. I’ll give him a piece of my mind later.”

“It’s not his fault, Lindey. This schedule was set ages ago,” I explained.

Business was business–Jace has never let our personal issues mess with work.

“Alright, alright, work’s important,” she said, though I could hear the disappointment in her voice before she hung up.

But what can I do? I really am drowning in work. And even if I weren’t, I can’t just drop by the Johnston residence whenever I feel like it anymore.

Maybe once her disappointment built up, she’d start to accept it.

Everyone would drift apart eventually–first my parents, then Jace, and now the Johnstons.

While Demi and I were having breakfast, Hayden was nowhere to be found.

“Hey, didn’t Mr. Hart say he’d come with us to the amusement park? Where’d he run off to?” Demi grumbled.

I kept quiet, but Demi nudged me with her shoulder. “Keira, Mr. Hart really cares about you, you know. Last night, he specifically told me to come back and look after you since you’d been drinking. Did you drink with him?”

“No!” I snapped.

“Then how did he know you were drinking?” Demi, full of curiosity, kept pressing.

“He saw me.”

“Oh, I see,” Demi said, staring at me like she was trying to figure something out.

“There’s nothing going on between Mr. Hart and me, so you don’t need to speculate,” I cut to the chase, shutting down the question she was too embarrassed to ask.

Demi laughed. “It’s fine if there was‘ something between you two! I do think Mr. Hart is handsome, but it’s just admiration, like how I feel about celebrities.”

She was surprisingly clear–headed.

“Then let’s j

just admire him together,” I said, wrapping up the conversation. We finished our breakfast quickly and headed to the amusement park.

When we got there, Hayden was already hard at work.

Demi greeted him, “Mr. Hart, you’re here so early! Why didn’t you wait to come with us?”

“It was more convenient this way,” Hayden replied, making Demi stick out her tongue playfully.

We threw ourselves into the work, and the progress was fast.

Before we knew it, noon snuck up on us. Just as Demi was about to order food, a sleek luxury car rolled up, catching my eye immediately.

It was Lindey’s.

She must really need to talk if she came all the way here, especially since I wasn’t about to go to her place.

“You guys go ahead and order,” I told Demi before heading over to Lindey.

She stepped out, and her chauffeur popped the trunk, revealing a bunch of food containers.

“Rea, I brought lunch for everyone,” Lindey said, totally catching me off guard.

“You didn’t have to go through all this trouble. It’s way too much,” I said, feeling a bit embard.

“You all eat takeout every day–it’s neither tasty nor nutritious. Go on, call them over to grab the food,” Lindey said, her eyes flicking toward Hayden and the others nearby.

Hayden was still busy working, and Demi was about to hit ‘order‘ on her phone.

I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but it felt like Lindey was checking out Hayden.

“Demi, Mrs. Johnston brought us lunch. No need for takeout,” I called out to Demi.

She looked surprised for a second, then sprinted over with a huge grin, practically bowing. “Thank you, Mrs. Johnston! This is amazing–getting to eat food made by our CEO’s mom!”

This girl always knew how to crack me up.

Lindey chuckled too. “If you like it, I’ll bring you food every day.”

“No, no, that’s not necessary,” Demi said quickly. “Just the occasional treat is more than enough.”

Lindey started walking toward Hayden, and I trailed after her. She glanced around, “So, this is what’s been keeping you all

so busy lately.”