Bedmates Soulmates novel Chapter 162

When Kira called her and asked her to dinner, Giana said no at first. 

‘I don’t want to be the third wheel,‘ she said. 

‘But all your stuff’s still with me.” 

So Giana acquiesced. 

She met Kira and Austyn at The Courtyard, a fusion restaurant perched on the cavaedium of the Carlton Hotel. 

Since Austyn was picking up the tab, Kira went all out. 

She ordered chirashi don, maki platter, miso soup, smoked Norwegian salmon burrito, and Oriental prawn salad mini 

tartlet. 

She gave the wine list to Austyn. 

As Kira and Giana attacked the food with relish, he leaned back in his chair, sipped at his Quara Malbec, and admired his new watch. 

The Timex had a decidedly retro look to it. 

Its design was simple, aiming for functionality, not aesthetics. 

He did a bit of research on his phone just now. 

The first Marlin was produced in the 60s, more than half a century ago. 

Its advertising slogan made plain the watch design logic–‘It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin!” 

From a businessman’s perspective, the watch was good value for 

Kira had a good eye. 

money. 

A Beneficiary Of Nepotism 

Kira bit into her salmon burrito. 

The man had barely touched his food. 

What was so interesting about that watch? 

He was being a poor host, neglecting both his wife and his guest. 

Giana watched the couple with amusement. 

After dinner, Austyn offered to drive Giana home, but she thanked him and declined, 

‘See you.‘ She peeked Kira on the check and got into a taxi. 

Kira helped her load the small mountain of shopping bags into the back of the taxi, Text me when you reach home.” 

‘He seems to really like the gift,‘ Giana whispered to Kira. ‘Good job.” 

‘Come on,‘ Austyn started walking towards the carpark. 

Kira followed him two steps behind, luxuriating in the jasmine–scented night air and feeling a food coma coming on. ‘Mr McCarthy!” 

Kira turned back to check out the source of the voice. 

‘Shoot.” 

She whipped around immediately and tried to run. 

Austyn grabbed her elbow. What are you doing?” 

Let go!‘ she hissed. 

But it was too late. 

Paul had already caught up with them. 

‘Mr McCarthy, Miss Hewitt, what a surprise!‘ 

Kira turned around reluctantly to face her manager. 

“Evening.‘ Austyn nodded a greeting. 

“I was just leaving the restaurant. I thought I saw you, but I couldn’t be sure.‘ 

‘You’re here alone?” 

‘No, I was taking my wife and kids out for dinner. Are you guys here on a dinner date? 

Austyn made a sound in his throat. 

Paul didn’t know if that was a yes or no, but he sensed his boss didn’t seem to be in the mood for small talk, so he quickly took his leave. 

“I should get back to my family. Have a nice evening, Mr. McCarthy.” 

He nodded at Kira. 

‘Mr Flenderson, wait.‘ Kira stopped him. 

“Yes, Miss Hewitt?” 

‘Mr Flenderson, you didn’t seem surprised to see me with Mr McCarthy.” 

“Uh, that’s because, uh Paul faltered. 

273 

He looked to his boss for help. 

Austyn remained silent. 

Paul mopped away a bead of sweat from his forehead. 

When Mr McCarthy asked him to hire Miss Hewitt, the boss had explicitly told him not to tell the girl anything. 

To this day, Miss Hewitt didn’t know she got the job because of the president. 

Nor did she know Austyn had asked Paul to keep an eye on her in the office. 

No one else at the company, except for Kai maybe, knew Kira the intern was acquainted with McCarthy the president. What should he do? 

Paul darted his eyes around, looking for a way out. 

‘Mr Flenderson? Kira prompted. 

Paul shifted his weight from one foot to the other. ‘Uh, it’s because, um…” 

‘Paul, you can leave now.‘ Austyn finally spoke up. 

‘Okay! Good night, Mr McCarthy!” 

The manager took to his heels and fled. 

Kira turned around to face Austyn. ‘He knows I know you.” 

Austyn started walking away. 

Kira had to jog to keep up with him. ‘Did I get the job because of you?! 

Austyn took the stairs to the basement carpark 

‘Come on! Tell me.” 

He unlocked the Hummer and pulled open the front passenger side door. ‘Get in.‘ 

‘I won’t unless you tell me.” 

‘Do you want to walk home?” 

Kira crossed her arms. 

“The nearest bus stop is fifteen hundred metres away, and, if I recall, you didn’t bring your wallet.‘ 

Kira admitted defeat and climbed into the car. 

Austyn got behind the wheel. ‘If it weren’t for me, do you think you could have gotten into the M Group with your resume?! 

Kira slumped down in her seat, deflated by his words. 

She’d thought she got the internship on her own merits, but it turned out she was just a beneficiary of nepotism. 

It was not a good feeling. 

Kira looked out the window. 

Neither one of them spoke on the drive home. 

“Young Master, Young Madam, welcome back!‘ Elsie greeted them with her usual enthusiasm. 

Kira offered the housekeeper a strained smile. 

She changed her shoes and went upstairs. 

Austyn did the same. 

Elsie scratched her head. ‘Another fight?” 

The housekeeper shook her head. Tsk, tsk, these two are fighting more than Elizabeth and Darcy.‘ 

After a shower, Kira came out to an empty bedroom. 

Was he spending the night in the study again? 

She shrugged, then towel–dried her hair and changed into pyjamas. 

The bedroom door banged open. 

Austyn strode in, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. 

His hair was still wet. 

Drops of water glistened on his muscular chest. 

Kira caught herself staring at the man’s abs and hurriedly looked away. 

He headed straight for her. 

Kira, sitting on the edge of the bed, leaned back 

She took a furtive sniff of his scent. 

Lavender oil and rosemary. 

She wondered what shampoo the man used. 

With a finger under her chin, Austyn turned her head back to face him. 

Kira swallowed. 

‘First of all,‘ he said, ‘you were planning to ask for my help in getting into the M Group. Don’t bother denying it. Elsie told me everything. So when I asked Paul to hire you, I did what you wanted.” 

Kira opened her mouth to speak. 

Austyn put a finger to her lips. 

‘Secondly, you’re a third–year university student with the wrong major and zero experience. Without my help, your chances of getting into the M Group were slim to none.”