EuropeNovelChapter 10
A warm look glimmered in Karen's eyes. “The Mortons raised you well. You've had a rough twith us, haven't
you?”
Alessia shook her head but didn’t mention anything about her life with the Mortons. In truth, the Mortons were
either cold or downright crazy; if she’d turned out halfway normal, it was thanks to someone else's influence
entirely.
By the tthey got home, Karen was already bustling in the kitchen, getting lunch ready. Alessia sank into a
chair and started replying to her messages.
“Miss Morton, have you finally finished up your endless paperwork?” The message popped up at ten in the
morning-clearly the sender knew her schedule all too well.
“You mocking me?” Alessia’s fingers flew over the screen. She hit send at eleven-thirty, a good hour and a half
later, but the reply cback instantly.
“Wouldn't dare.” Cole Whitley sent a groveling animated sticker.
Alessia smirked and shot back a playful punch emoji.
“So, | guess you're living the good life? Otherwise, you wouldn't have tossed two suitcases at my place and then
ghosted me.”
She was used to Cole’s nonsense and responded with a random sticker, not bothering to engage.
“When are you coming by?” he texted again, quick as ever.
“I'll find a tin the next couple of days.”
“How about | get you a new place?”
She rolled her eyes and sent an exasperated emoji, ignoring Cole’s sudden burst of insanity. Pushing her phone
aside, she wandered into the kitchen, where Karen handed her a piece of roast beef as a little treat. Alessia’s
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtdelighted grin earned her an extra slice.
“Mom, you should open a restaurant. You'd put the five-star chefs out of business.”
“You sweet talker. Now, go set the table-it’s almost ready.” Karen ruffled her hair, clearly not taking her
daughter's comment seriously.
Alessia just arched an eyebrow and obediently grabbed the plates and silverware.
Meanwhile, in a sleek downtown office, a young man in a stiff, ill-fitting suit sat at his desk. He twirled a pen
absently in one hand, phone in the other, brow furrowed
1/3
15:36
in thought.
A knock sounded at the door. “Cin,” Cole said, barely glancing up, maintaining his pensive pose.
“Mr. Whitley, here's the latest bid proposal for your review.*
“Just leave it on the desk,” he replied, voice a touch deeper now, the awkwardness of adolescence behind him.
“If there's nothing else, I'll be heading out.” Larkin Yardley, all of twenty-five but with the stoic face of an aging
curmudgeon, stood stiffly by the door.
“Wait.” Cole stopped twirling the pen and crossed his legs, eyeing Larkin.
“Is there something else, sir?”
“Tellhow do | get that girl to actually live in the southside house? | gave her that place for her birthday, and
she’s only ever glanced at it once. If she doesn’t like it, she could just say so! The westside place is almost ready
too, but why would she want to live somewhere so cramped? None of those apartments are bigger than her old
bedroom. She's been pampered her whole life-why’s she acting like she’s used to roughing it?” Cole grumbled,
muttering more to himself than to Larkin.
Larkin, used to the absurd dilemmas of the wealthy, kept his composure. “Miss Morton is a very independent and
strong-willed person.”
Cole shot him an exasperated look. “You think | don’t know that? Can't you givea solution?”
“Sorry, that’s a bit outside my job description.”
Larkin’s tone was calm and professional. Cole clenched his jaw, lips twitching in frustration.
“Larkin, you're twenty-five and still
single. Maybe it's fads reflect(oh
Hife Gols Git, putting on his
best mock-sage expression. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
“You're single too, sir.” Larkin folded his hands in front of him, all respectful
patience.
“I'm too young to be dating. But you-if you wait any longer, you'll be late to the party.”
With that, Larkin fell silent. Cole, satisfied with himself, raised an eyebrow in triumph.
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15.26
“All right, I'll review the proposal this afternoon.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and from now on, call her Miss Morton.”
“Of course.” Larkin didn't ask
questions that weren't his business.
That wag themark df Chis
pFofessional—-and the best assistant
Cole could ask for. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
As Cole set his phone aside and
turned to work, Arye
The owned erware when
Bréndan walked in the door. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
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