Chapter 65: A phone call from his grandfather

Words : 1259 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 65: A phone call from his grandfather Alone in his office, Augustine picked up his phone and sent Anne a message: ’Have you had lunch?’ After a while, her response arrived: ’Not yet. I’ve been browsing job portals and applying to various companies. I hope I’ll get a reply from them soon.’ Reading her message, Augustine’s expression turned thoughtful. After a moment of deliberation, he quickly typed back: ’Why don’t you have lunch with me? I need to talk to you about something.’ He pressed send and waited anxiously, his fingers drumming against the desk. His mind raced with uncertainty. "Will she agree?" he murmured, feeling a wave of restlessness settle over him. Moments later, his phone chimed. He checked the screen instantly. "Okay." Her brief response brought a smile of relief to his face. ’I’ll send Gustave to pick you up. See you soon.’ He typed back quickly. Augustine had already prepared a special surprise for her, hoping it would lift her spirits. He stared at Anne’s picture on his phone, his smile lingering on his lips. "I hope you’ll love what I’ve planned for you," he mused aloud, anticipation growing in his chest. Knock-Knock... The sound of knocking pulled Augustine from his thoughts. Setting his phone aside, he picked up a file and called out, "Come in." The door pushed open, and Lorie entered, a bright smile on her face. Augustine glanced up briefly before turning his attention back to the file in front of him. "Sir, I came to inform you about today’s schedule," Lorie announced. He remained silent, flipping through the pages as if she wasn’t there. Lorie’s confidence wavered under his cold indifference, but she quickly composed herself and began outlining the day’s schedule. Augustine raised a hand, cutting her off. "Go and arrange a bouquet of red roses. I’m having lunch with my wife." "Wife?" Lorie blurted out, her body stiffening in shock. "You are... married?" Leaning back in his chair, Augustine fixed a piercing gaze on her. He had mentioned his wife on purpose—to gauge her reaction. The disappointment flickering across her face confirmed his suspicions. She had clearly set her sights on him, but his revelation had shattered any fantasies she might have entertained. "Why does that surprise you?" he asked coolly, rolling his wedding ring between his fingers. "Do you have an issue carrying out my order?" Lorie snapped out of her daze. "No, not at all," she replied hastily, forcing a smile to mask her disappointment. "I’ll take care of it right away." Turning on her heel, she hurried out of the office. As soon as she stepped outside, her expression darkened. "He is married!" she muttered in disbelief. The image of his wedding ring burned in her mind. "I thought he was single... that I’d have a chance to get close to him. But he already has a wife." His request for a bouquet made it clear—he wasn’t just married, he adored his wife. Lorie’s stomach churned with resentment and jealousy. She had gone to great lengths to secure this position, and now, her plans seemed to be crumbling. But then, a sly voice whispered in her mind, ’So what if he is married? You can still win him over.’ A smirk curved her lips as fresh determination took hold. "People get divorced all the time," she mused. "As his secretary, I’ll have plenty of chances to turn his attention toward me." With renewed confidence, she vowed not to give up so easily. After some time, Lorie returned, carrying a bouquet of vibrant red roses. She unfastened the top two buttons of her blouse, pushing up her breasts a little to accentuate her cleavage. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked on the door. "Come in." At the sound of Augustine’s voice, she composed herself with a smile and stepped inside. Augustine stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his back turned to the door, hands tucked into his pockets. His commanding presence and flawless physique captivated Lorie, drawing her in. ’A man like him is too perfect,’ she mused. ’He should be mine.’ She stood there, marveling at his alluring figure. Augustine turned his head slightly, casting a glance over his shoulder. Lorie eagerly stepped closer, excitement and anticipation brimming in her heart. "Here is the bouquet you requested," she said, holding it out toward him. "Please check if it meets your expectations." Without shifting his gaze from the window, Augustine replied indifferently, "Put it on the table." Lorie’s face stiffened. She had hoped he would notice her sexy appearance, but he barely spared her a glance. Her excitement deflated into disappointment. "Alright," she murmured, setting the bouquet down. "Let me know if you need anything else." She looked at him, waiting for him to turn toward her, but he didn’t. Instead, he simply lifted a hand in a dismissive wave, signaling her to leave. Irritation and embarrassment twisted inside her as she lowered her head and stormed out. "Why is he so cold?" she grumbled, settling back at her desk. "I wonder how his wife puts up with him." Inside the office... As the door clicked shut behind Lorie, Augustine finally turned around, his gaze falling on the red roses. He strode toward the table, picking up the bouquet with a flicker of anticipation in his heart. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and dialed Gustave. "Bring Anne to the restaurant," he instructed, already making his way out of the office. Lorie, seated at her desk, noticed him emerging and instinctively craned her neck for a better look. What she saw left her stunned—Augustine was smiling as he glanced down at the bouquet. Her jaw nearly hit the floor. "Oh, my God! He can smile," she mumbled in disbelief. But her heart quickly soured as resentment coiled in her gut. That smile wasn’t meant for her—it was for his wife. "I wonder what kind of woman managed to capture his attention," she muttered, a mix of frustration and curiosity brewing inside her. Augustine drove to the restaurant, his mind racing with how he would convince Anne to join his company. He wondered what her reaction would be. Would she be excited about the surprise he had planned for her? He was thrilled and nervous at the same time. When he arrived at the restaurant, he went straight to the private booth he had reserved. Placing the bouquet on the table, he sat down. He checked his wrist watch and then glanced at the door, anticipating her to walk in. Ring-Ring-Ring... The silence inside the room was broken by the sharp ringing of his phone. It was from his grandfather. Augustine’s posture became rigid. After a moment of hesitation, he answered the call. "Augustine," Dimitri’s voice came through, cold and deep. "I am back to town. Why don’t you come to the mansion?" "I will," Augustine replied, keeping his voice low. "Maybe on the next weekend." "Alright. I’m looking forward to seeing you. After so many years, we are finally meeting." Augustine smiled bitterly. Over the past ten years, his grandfather hadn’t asked him once to come back. He had treated him as an outsider. And now he wanted to see him – it sounded ridiculous. "You are saying like you missed me," he scoffed. Dimitri let out a deep sigh. "I know you are upset with me for my decision back then. But trust me – I did that for your own good."

Chapter 65: A phone call from his grandfather

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