Mr. CEO's Young Mistress novel Chapter 41

Glancing at the caller ID on the screen, Sharon paused for a moment before picking up. "Master Leonard..."

As soon as Melanie heard Sharon call out his name, she lifted her head to stare at Sharon, her bright eyes flashing with complex emotion. 

"Where are you?" The man asked in a deep voice. 

Sharon looked at Melanie, who was watching her, and whispered, "I'm with Melanie."

"Where?" Leonard asked calmly. 

"At the shopping mall in Star Square." Sharon answered honestly. 

"Are you shopping for clothes?"

"Mm-hmm." Sharon hummed.

"Did you bring enough money?" He pressed on. "Tell me if it's not enough, I'll have Tim send you some."

...

"All right."

A moment of silence passed between them. 

"Simon, shall we order a minestrone soup?" Alexandrina's sweet voice suddenly rang out. 

...

There were few patrons in the restaurant, so everyone heard Alexandrina's voice loud and clear. 

"Sharon, what do you think about minestrone soup?" Simon turned to Sharon and asked. 

...

Sharon said nothing, and Melanie immediately felt that something was amiss.

...

Abruptly, a beep came from Sharon's phone as the other person hung up. 

Sharon shuddered silently, her grip on the phone tightening. 

Melanie pressed her lips together when she saw Sharon's pale face as she lowered the phone. 

"Sharon? Sharon!" 

"Oh! Yes?" Sharon jerked with a start, still in a daze. She frowned subconsciously and looked at Simon blankly. 

"Are you all right?" Simon asked her worriedly, looking at her pale face. 

Sharon shook her head. Her voice was raspy as she replied, "I'm fine. What did you say just now?"

Simon peered at her warily. "Are you really all right?"

"Yes." Sharon nodded.

Simon stared at her for a moment before saying, "I was asking if you wanted minestrone soup." 

"Sure, I'm fine with anything." Sharon plastered a fake smile. 

Simon frowned and thought, "Sharon has been acting weird since she answered the phone. She seems... uneasy."

...

Alexandrina spared Sharon a look, but said nothing. Instead, she called a waiter over and gave him their orders. 

Melanie had been observing the changes in Sharon's expression and made a bold guess. 

"Perhaps she knows about Leonard's feelings for her..."

However, it was still only a hunch.  

......

Halfway through the meal, Sharon's cell phone rang again.

Melanie stopped eating and tilted her head to look at Sharon.

Simon and Alexandrina also paused to look at Sharon.

She looked at each of them and took her phone out of her bag. 

She peeked at the screen for a few seconds before answering. "Nick."

This time, the call was from Nick, the driver.

Hearing Nick's name, Melanie let out a breath of relief and returned her attention to her food. 

"Sir has asked me to pick you up." Nick stated. 

"But I'm not finished eating..." Sharon trailed off gloomily. 

Nick chuckled. "It's all right. Take your time. I'll be waiting for you at the car park in front of the mall. You can just come over once you're done." 

Sharon's heart sank. She counted to ten before replying. "I've already made appointments to shop with my friends later, so you can head back first. I'll call you when I'm done."

"Miss, my orders were to bring you back immediately." Nick responded. 

"But, I've already promised them..."

"Miss, please don't make things difficult for me."

At that, Sharon swallowed whatever she had been about to say and hung up the phone.

...

Sharon glanced at the food in front of her, her appetite gone. She turned to Melanie and asked, "Are you full yet?" 

Of course, she knew Melanie was not. 

However, Melanie merely blinked and lowered her fork. She nodded firmly and said, "Yeah." 

"Are you two on a diet?" Alexandrina looked at them and asked. "You've barely eaten anything." 

Sharon did not reply. Instead, she turned to Simon and said, "Could you please excuse us? Something happened at my home so we'll be taking our leave."

"Is the food here not to your liking? You ate so little." Simon frowned slightly at Sharon. 

"Not at all. The food's delicious. Maybe it's because I had a late breakfast, but I'm not very hungry right now. Well, you two can take your time. Now, if you'll excuse us."