“It’ll take at least forty minutes for the groceries to be delivered. Are there flour and unsalted butter in the kitchen?” Rayna asked Larissa as she headed toward the kitchen, ignoring Curtis altogether.
“Yes. They’re all in the upper cabinet.” Larissa followed her into the kitchen and helped her retrieve the said items. Then, she added, “There’s also an oven and some molds for cookies. Do you need them as well, Ms. Garland?”
“Yes. Please take them out for me.”
“Sure.”
Kristie didn’t go into the kitchen but eyed Curtis beside her and inquired in curiosity, “What did you say was the purpose of your visit just now? You’re here for your laptop, right?”
Without waiting for Curtis to answer, she started rummaging everywhere in the living room.
In the end, she found the laptop beside the television. With all the excitement in the world, she brought it over to him. “Found it! Hurry up and leave, Curt, lest your work gets held up.”
Curtis was rendered speechless for a moment.
He massaged his temples. “I worry about you since there’s an outsider at home. I’ll leave later.”
“What outsider?” Kristie was lost at first before she followed his gaze to the kitchen and caught sight of Rayna. Immediately, chagrin swamped her. “Rayna isn’t an outsider! Don’t treat her like your enemy simply because you’ve broken up with her. She’s stunningly beautiful, and many men are interested in her even if you aren’t.”
Curtis’ eyes darkened a shade. “You’re now siding with outsiders, Kristie?”
“I was just speaking the truth.” Kristie curled her ruby lips. In the next instant, something seemingly occurred to her. She leaned close to the man and queried in a whisper, “Are you so adamant about staying because you want to eat Rayna’s cooking, Curt?”
“No.”
In response, Kristie harrumphed. “I think that’s the reason all right. It’s obvious that you want to stick around for a free meal, Curt.”
Pressing his hand against her head, Curtis forcibly turned her around in the direction of her room. “Go back to your bedroom and change out of your pajamas. If you continue talking back to me, I’ll dismiss Mdm. Lovett and leave you to fend for yourself.”
“How petty!” Kristie muttered. Slapping his hand away, she begrudgingly returned to her bedroom.
Curtis placed the laptop on the coffee table before striding to the bar area. He snagged a glass and got himself some soda.
When he straightened, he spotted Rayna bustling around in the open kitchen. Her black hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail that hung down her back, giving vague glimpses of her fair neck every so often. Dressed casually, she emanated sheer femininity.
He leaned against the edge of the bar with his ebony eyes fixated on her, watching as she moved about at times or took something from Larissa.
What kind of allure exactly does she have that I can’t forget her? And why is it that she has the ability to make a mess of my emotions?
Feeling somewhat irritable, he threw his head back and downed the entire glass of soda. That soothed him considerably.
In the kitchen, Larissa was helping Rayna when her phone rang out of the blue.
Excusing herself, she went to the side to answer the call.
About two minutes later, she hurried out to look for Curtis and implored frantically, “Mr. Faymon, my granddaughter is running a high fever. My son and daughter-in-law are on a business trip and can’t make it back. I’m afraid my granddaughter won’t be able to manage alone at home. Can I take a half-day leave to look in on her?”
“Okay, I’ll give you a half-day leave. Just come over on the dot tomorrow morning,” Curtis replied.
“Thank you, Mr. Faymon!” Larissa was grateful beyond words. Before leaving, she suggested, “Since you’ve got nothing to do here anyway, Mr. Faymon, you can go in and lend Ms. Garland a hand. It’s too much work for her alone.”
Even after she had left, Curtis remained leaning against the bar without budging an inch.
He cast a look at the kitchen, only to see that Rayna was managing perfectly well by herself.
She disdains me, no? In that case, why should I still go and help her? Besides, I’m not here to be her helper.
“Hey, where’s Mdm. Lovett? Why isn’t she helping Rayna?” Kristie questioned upon seeing that Rayna was alone in the kitchen, having changed into casual clothes.
“Her granddaughter is running a high fever, so I gave her a half-day leave,” Curtis answered concisely.
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