The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 119

Chapter 119 

“Sure, the guy messed up first by using some dodgy ingredients for a quick buck, but hey, no one got hurt, right? And the company made it up to them. Can’t you let him off the hook just this once?” 

Arabella asked in a slow, deliberate tone, “And how do I do that?” 

“Maybe just let bygones be bygones; ask him to provide free meals for the employees for half a year or a year. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a tight leash on the ingredient quality; he won’t be able to pull a fast one.” 

“So, this happened because you dropped the ball on your oversight?” Arabella’s gaze held him in place, a slight pressure in her eyes. “Mr. Oscar, don’t you think you bear some responsibility?” 

“Yes, I do bear some responsibility.” Oscar lowered his head. If there were any other ways, he wouldn’t have come to ask this lady for help. 

“If you don’t mind the employees eating food with additives, why don’t you do the same? Eat it for a year, and then we can talk.” 

“Ms. Bennett, are you pulling my leg?” Oscar tried to smile charmingly and say, “In a year, my relative will be eating prison food.” 

“Isn’t prison food better than food with additives? At least it’s healthier.” 

Oscar was completely at a loss for words. 

“As the vice president of the company, you didn’t reflect on your actions immediately after the incident, nor did you think about how to compensate the employees. Instead, you defended your relative. I really don’t know where you get the nerve to discuss this with me. If you’re hoping for me to deal with this privately, I’m sorry, but I can’t.” Hearing Arabella’s firm refusal, Oscar felt his heart sink. But considering that his relative’s problem might affect him, he had to plow ahead. 

“Ms. Bennett, our families are close. His mother is eighty–nine this year, and she was devastated to hear that he was arrested. She begged me to help him. His family also came to me. I was really at my wits‘ end, and that’s why I came to you, mainly because we couldn’t bear to see him suffer.” 

“And you can bear to see your employees suffer?” Arabella asked, lifting her eyes, 

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“There’s no room for negotiation on this, Mr. Oscar. You should consider your own position. Dave is your relative, and with what happened, the headquarters will definitely investigate thoroughly.” 

Upon hearing this, Oscar’s heart sank completely. His figure, previously firm, now slouched as he walked away in defeat. 

Arabella, nibbling on a dessert Romeo had bought, worked a little before knocking off. 

Night fell. 

Romeo took her out for a candlelit dinner. He seemed to have a lot on his mind, but in the end, he didn’t say a word and just ate quietly. 

“Do you have something you want to say to me?” Arabella asked, puzzled by his hesitation. 

“Do you not like the bracelet?” Romeo looked into Arabella’s beautiful eyes, seemingly disappointed. “Or do you not like me?” 

Arabella: “What?!” 

“Have I been bothering you too much lately? Is that why you’re annoyed?” Romeo picked up a hot towel and gently wiped away the sauce at the corner of her mouth, his eyes. warm and eager as he waited for her answer. 

Only then did Arabella realize she had forgotten to wear the bracelet on her wrist.