As if under a petrifying spell, Gary's eyes widened, and he stood frozen in place, completely motionless. He couldn't quite describe his current state of mind—there was embarrassment, anxiety, and a hint of joy and anticipation.
Finally, he managed to compose himself, even though his smile still appeared somewhat rigid.
"You can think of me as your father," he said, his intense gaze fixed on Larissa.
She disliked this kind of probing—either he acknowledged her or he didn't. These covert hints made her feel repulsed. As a result, her previous favorable impression of him had also dwindled.
"No need." She averted her gaze, giving him a casual smile. "But thank you for your advice."
He felt a bit disappointed at being rejected so bluntly, but he couldn't show it too obviously, so he simply laughed it off. "I have to leave. I have a conference call later." He intentionally checked his wristwatch.
She licked her lips and stood up with him. "I'll walk you out."
"It's fine." He stopped her. As he was just about to leave her office, he turned and said, "Don't forget about dinner."
Larissa's resolve wavered. She didn't want to face Gary alone, wearing a deceitful mask, and engaging in superficial conversation. So, she called her assistant. "Do I have any important engagements tonight?"
His answer left her disappointed. "No, Ms. Seymour."
"Are there any tasks that can be moved up to tonight?" She wasn't ready to give up.
The assistant flipped through the notebook and confidently stated, "No."
She hung up the phone in frustration.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Sweet Subterfuge novel by Trina Duo