Face With Subtitle

Noreen's POV

Is he really all right? Is he feeling better?

That question swirled around in my head.

I had just processed the design plans we discussed yesterday at Thiery's mansion, when he was sick, but my mind kept thinking about him.

Ah, damn!

"Mom, what's wrong with you?" Jonathan asked. His head tilted slightly to the left and his eyes focused on me. "You've been sighing all day."

I quickly regrouped. "I've had a little trouble with my work, and I'm feeling a little hungry."

Jonathan smiled, and I was stunned. Uh, why am I just now realizing how similar Jonathan and Thiery smile?

Oh no, this is bad.

"I have a delicious chocolate cake," Jonathan said, getting up from his chair. "A friend of mine is having a birthday at school yesterday and they're giving out cakes."

Jonathan returned from the kitchen with a small box. He opened the box and took out a round chocolate cake, the size of a mug. It looked tempting, dusted with powdered sugar like snow.

I pushed aside all the drawing materials scattered on the table and pulled the chocolate cake closer to me.

"Don't you want to try it? Just a little?" I asked, sniffing the cake. The aroma of dark chocolate and vanilla washed over me.

"No," Jonathan said. "You know I'm prone to stomach aches. Besides, I saved it for you."

"You're right. Mmm... This is delicious," I said, taking a bite of the cake.

Despite my sometimes excessive love for chocolate, Jonathan has a severe allergy to it.

He gets stomach aches from anything containing chocolate, and he's had this since he was a baby.

I had just finished the last bite when the phone rang. Beta Sander's name appeared on the screen.

"Hello, Beta Sander?" I greeted formally.

"Ms. Winchester, get ready. The boss is meeting with a client, Mrs. Lucia Wen, the owner of the Shaerin mansion. She wants some minor changes to the original design that were agreed upon," Beta Sander said seriously.  "I'll be at your apartment in twenty minutes."

Although I was grumbling internally about this sudden order, I told Beta Sander, "I'll be ready."

"Uh, baby Jo, I think I'll leave you with Mrs. Leily," I said, looking at Jonathan apologetically. "My boss is calling."

Jonathan nodded, still focused on his drawing. I immediately called Mrs. Leily, and in less than five minutes she was at my apartment, carrying her knitting basket and recipe book.

"Mrs. Leily, if I'm not home by ten, you can sleep in the guest room. Don't wait for me," I said before leaving.

"Don't worry about me, Ms. Wincehester. Jonathan and I are going to have some fun."

When I arrived at the apartment lobby, a black Maybach was waiting in the driveway, and Beta Sander was standing by the passenger door.

I got into the car and saw Thiery sitting there, staring at his iPad. He looked much fresher than yesterday.

"Good afternoon, Noreen," Thiery greeted formally. "Do you have Mrs. Wen's files?"

It was a formal opening, no-nonsense, and straight to work. The question that had been on the tip of my tongue, about his health, was swallowed back down.

I took the files he had requested from my bag and handed them to him. We discussed work all the way to the meeting location, until the car pulled into the courtyard of a large hotel on the outskirts of town.

"Oh, is this Green Hope by The Golden Moolight hotel, which won an award last month for its unique green concept?" I asked enthusiastically when I saw our destination.

"Hmm," Thiery replied quietly. He was still looking at his iPad.

"Amazing," I said in awe. "If it weren't for the high price, I'd definitely try sleeping in this hotel. I hear even the blankets are made from wood fiber?"

Thiery looked away from his iPad and stared at me for a moment, before nodding. "There's a special discount for employees who want to stay at a hotel, villa, or resort under the name The Golden Moonlight."

I smiled.  "I know, but I still feel it's expensive. I have more things to prioritize than staying in an expensive hotel."

I got out of the car, without waiting for Thiery's response, and took the time to admire the design of the "Green Hope" hotel building.

Beta Sander took Thiery and me to the sixth floor via a private elevator. A beautiful, long-haired woman was already sitting in the meeting room we were heading for, alone.

"Oh, Thiery, I thought you'd come alone," the woman said, clearly disappointed when she saw Beta Sander and me behind him.

"Hello, Mrs. Wen," Thiery greeted formally. "Have you been waiting long?"

Mrs. Lucia Wen walked over to Thiery and put her arm around him, unabashedly. She complained about Beta Sander and me, but didn't spare us a glance as she led him to his chair.

"Why are you still so formal with me, Thiery?" Mrs. Wen said in a spoiled tone.

I shuddered, hearing her voice and watching her rub her breasts against his arm.

"You're my father's cousin's wife," Thiery said flatly.

"I know, but your uncle passed away a long time ago, so you shouldn't be so polite," Mrs. Wen replied with a frown.

"I don't have much time right now," Thiery said. He turned to me. "I think we should start discussing what you want for our project."

"Come on, Thiery, I'm in no rush," Mrs. Wen said gently. "I want to talk to you and--"

"Mrs. Wen, this is my special staff, Noreen Winchester. She is new, but has excellent skills and expertise in the design field. Noreen, please get the files out," Thiery said bluntly, cutting off Mrs. Wen's words.

Thiery pulled out the chair next to him for me, and as I passed Mrs. Wen, she glanced at me scornfully.

Thiery was very effective.He is firm and focused, and although Mrs. Wen kept fidgeting with her hand, after almost two hours, all the changes to the initial design for Mrs. Wen's mansion renovation was successfully accommodated.

I felt drained of energy after Thiery declared that all the changes were agreed to. Mrs. Wen was very fussy and demanding. Not from work, but from nausea.

I was uncomfortable with the way Mrs. Wen attached herself like a leech to Thiery. Her hands seemed to have eyes.

She stroked the back of Thiery's nape, squeezed his thigh, wrapped around her arm, and even during the discussion of the living room design, I saw her lean in as if she were going to kiss him on the cheek.

My goodness, how could a woman be so bold and shameless?

Thiery didn't even react, as if his entire body was made of stone and couldn't feel anything.

"If that's all done, I'll take my leave," Thiery said, standing and buttoning his jacket. "I still have other things to do."

"Oh, Thiery, it's Saturday night, how could you have other things to do?" Mrs. Wen said, stroking the lapel of Thiery's jacket. "And it's almost dinner time. I've already booked a table for us at the restaurant."

I turned to Beta Sander, who was standing by the door. "Sir, I think you can continue with Mrs. Wen. I'll be back with Beta Sander," I said.

Thiery took my hand and held it tightly. "You stay with me. We have things to do."

Mrs. Wen looked at me with raised eyebrows and a look of disdain.  "But, Thiery—"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wen, but I can't accompany you," Thiery interrupted firmly. "I'll take Noreen to tour the hotel, as she hasn't learned much about the job as a special staff member. Next time, if you have any design-related needs, Beta Sander will connect you directly with Noreen."

Mrs. Wen was taken aback, and the look she gave me was clearly disapproving.

Thiery nodded to Mrs. Wen, then walked toward the exit, still holding my hand.

I shivered, feeling Mrs. Wen's sharp gaze stabbing into my back.

Oh dear, does this mean I have a new enemy?

"Don't worry," Thiery said calmly. "Lucia Wen does that to every woman close to me."

I turned around. "You can read my minds?"

Thiery smirked. "Has anyone ever told you that your face has subtitles?"

Behind us, Beta Sander chuckled.