chapter2232
Hearing that, Cecilia propped her chin on one hand and asked, "You won't even take a salary? Isn't that a raw deal for you?"
Nathaniel answered, "Just keep me company tonight. That's worth more than any paycheck."
The single remark painted her cheeks pink. "Shameless," she muttered.
He shrugged. "I only said stay with me tonight. What's shameless about that, Ceci? Where did your mind go?"
Her blush deepened. She flung a pen at him, which he caught easily. "We're an old married couple. Don't overthink it."
"You're the one overthinking."
Cecilia quit talking, lowered her head, and returned to the files.
Inside Jamieson, most of her work meant reviewing subordinates' proposals and making the final call.
The rest of the day vanished into client visits or meetings.
With Nathaniel pitching in, she suddenly had whole stretches of free time and could roam the office at will.
She grumbled, "Lucille and Madeline are still at XS. I'm stuck at Jamieson alone with no one to chat with. It's miserable."
Nathaniel looked up. "So I'm nobody?"
"Different category. You and I can't dish the same things. Shopping and gossiping with girlfriends is way more fun."
Realizing his help freed her schedule, she decided she really could move Madeline and Lucille to Jamieson.
She posted the idea in the Ladies' Chat.
Lucille jumped at it, but Madeline declined: "Ceci, I'm doing fine here. I'm not moving."
"All right."
Cecilia truly didn't mind.
She then asked, "Lucy, are you in?"
"Totally!" Lucille replied, adding a beaming sticker.
Lucille had never been a workaholic. Since Charlotte followed Cecilia to Jamieson, leaving her and Madeline behind, every day had dragged.
Madeline was the work-obsessed type, living on takeout and deadlines.
Lucille hadn't been shopping in ages; each invitation met the same excuse—work.
Half despairing, she texted, "Ceci, once I'm there, can we hit the stores more often?"
Cecilia promised, "Absolutely. After work we'll shop."
"Perfect. Love you!"
Lucille's grin all but quivered with excitement.
Nearby, Madeline shook her head. "You'll spend your whole life punching a clock."
"Punching a clock is fine. I'm not exactly broke," Lucille retorted.
She couldn't fathom why Madeline, married to a major boss, still chased paychecks.
Madeline's salary probably didn't equal one day of his company's turnover.
Madeline let the comment pass; everyone aimed for different things.
Lately Darren's mother kept showing up under the guise of visiting her
but really to pushc
another baby.
The Faust family wanted a son to carry the line.
As Darren's wife, Madeline hadn't conceived again for years.
There was only little Amelia between them.
Madeline knew that without Amy, Mrs. Faust might have thrown her out long ago.
These days the older woman not
only filled Amy's head with nonsense
but also repeated that Madelineet
ought to leave the Faust residence. .ne
What a joke; if Darren hadn't stopped her, Madeline would have walked out herself.
Blind to that, Mrs. Faust kept urging a second child, boasting miracle recipes guaranteed to produce a boy.
Madeline understood the woman's
boldness came from the Foster
family's lack of backing ster
and her ow
thin finances.
Once she landed the branch-manager seat, she would finally have the clout to
shield her daughter.