When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 188

Henrietta pursed her lips. “I see.” She found she rather liked the way he talked.

But a moment later, Yosef’s brow furrowed again. “What kind of person has my brother gotten involved with? She seems… beneath him. Comes across as petty, not suited for the big leagues. Is she one of your employees?”

“Yes,” Henrietta nodded. “She’s an artist signed to my company. I’m… currently promoting her.”

Yosef looked surprised, as if he couldn’t imagine why anyone would promote someone like her. But he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he said, “Henrietta, your attitude toward her is strange. If you’re building her career, why were you so unyielding today? I understand not drinking, even refusing the toast. But… from a professional standpoint, it seemed extreme. If you have a problem with her, why are you promoting her in the first place?”

Henrietta knew he would ask this. She felt a bit flustered, unsure where to begin explaining her complicated revenge plot, especially now that Jethro was in the picture. She couldn’t just stand by and let Artina deceive him. But if she told Jethro the truth, would her plan still work? When Artina’s true colors were finally revealed, it would inevitably embarrass Jethro, given their engagement. She was conflicted and hadn't decided on the best way to handle it.

Seeing her silence, Yosef didn’t push. “If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.”

She looked at him in surprise. His level of tolerance was almost unbelievable. He was perfect, impossibly so. But this lack of prying… did it also signal a kind of detachment, as if he didn’t want to get involved? Was that just her imagination? Probably. This was likely what he meant by mutual respect.

“Let me organize my thoughts,” Henrietta said. “Can I tell you in a couple of days?”

“Of course,” he nodded.

“By the way,” she asked, “when… when are you leaving?”

Yosef seemed to let out a quiet laugh. “Henrietta, I just got back, and you’re already asking when I’m leaving?”

She felt embarrassed. “That’s not what I meant.”

He took her hand. “I’m not leaving.”

She blinked. “What?”

“I’m leaving the international operations to Leslie and Marlin. I’ll fly out when necessary. The group’s focus is shifting back to this country.”

“Why?” Henrietta asked, surprised.

A faint smile played on his lips. He reached out and stroked her hair. “For you, of course, my girl.”

Henrietta’s face suddenly flushed red. She shyly turned away, trying to maintain her cool composure. “Oh. I see.”

“No!” she said immediately, trying to look wide awake.

He chuckled softly and patted her on the back. “Go take a shower.”

Henrietta froze, then felt another wave of nervousness. Oh, right. A shower! She blinked, then nodded. “Okay, right.”

She started walking unsteadily toward the bathroom. After a few steps, he called her name again. “Henrietta.”

She turned. “Yes?”

“Do you need me to call a maid to assist you?”

“Oh, no,” she shook her head. “I can manage.”

“Alright,” he nodded, and then started walking toward her. As he walked, he loosened his tie, then began unbuttoning his shirt.

Henrietta’s eyes widened slightly. Although the sight of him unbuttoning his shirt as he walked was devastatingly handsome, an overload of raw, masculine appeal… did this mean they were going to shower together?