Chapter 5 Their Betrothal Relationship

Norman and Celia walked into Hughes Inc., and the filming went off without a hitch.

He didn't like the clothes, but he stopped complaining when she said he looked good. He continued to nitpick, but one look from her silenced him. Norman was just that timid; after all, he was afraid Celia would beat him to a pulp.

Norman's cooperation allowed the estimated five-hour shoot to be completed in only two hours. After that, he immediately approached Celia. "Celia, Celia, come on, I'll treat you to lunch!" he begged.

"No thanks, I haven't gotten off work yet!" Celia declined his offer coldly.

There were some other employees nearby, and there was a lot of discussion and speculation going on at the time.

"Woah! Mr. Lorimer got turned down when he invited Celia out for lunch!"

"Oh my goodness! Who is this Celia? How does she manage to be not only attractive but also this badass despite being from the countryside?"

"If Mr. Lorimer invited me, I'd have ditched work just to share a meal with him! Ahhh!"

The rejected Norman racked his brain. "B-but Celia, don't you like living in the manor and traveling around the world? Why did you join Hughes Inc.? Is the Stanton family about to declare bankruptcy? I can support you!"

Celia rolled her eyes. "Being an adult is complicated, kiddo. You'd never understand!" Then, she returned to the Secretarial Department and resumed her work.

Everyone expected Norman to blow his fuse and leave, but to their surprise, the usually impatient young man waited in the lounge for Celia until it was time for her to get off work.

Yardley walked out of his office at the end of the workday and said to Celia at her desk, "Grandpa has made a reservation at a restaurant. Let's go have dinner together."

Yardley didn't want to go at first, but his grandfather recently had a heart attack and was hospitalized. "If you don't go, I'll pull out this IV drip," Otto had threatened during a video call. Hence, Yardley had no other choice but to agree despite his reluctance.

Norman walked in right at that moment. "Celia, Celia, are you done now? Can we go out for dinner?"

He noticed Yardley was also here when he got closer. "Yardley?"

Yardley looked at them, puzzled.

Celia hesitated for a moment. "How about we go to dinner together?"

In the end, all three of them arrived at the restaurant that Otto had reserved for Yardley and Celia. Norman kept running his mouth the entire journey, and Celia would occasionally respond. The former upped his game after arriving at the restaurant by pulling Celia's chair out for her and ordering a variety of dishes. Yardley felt like the third wheel.

"By the way, how did you end up working at Hughes Inc., Celia? What's up with you and Yardley?" Norman had a hunch that there was more to their relationship than meets the eye.

Celia glanced at Yardley. "Gramps arranged it. Me and Yardley are engaged."

Norman promptly spit out the water he had just drank. "W-What?" He paused before continuing, "So, you're Yardley's rumored fiancée who came from the countryside?"

Celia nodded absentmindedly.

Norman had recently heard a lot of rumors; he couldn't deny that Celia was from the countryside, but that "countryside" consisted of a mansion worth hundreds of millions of dollars and dozens of villas …

"Are you two …" Norman looked at them in bewilderment.

"No. We'll call off the engagement in three months," Celia stated flatly.

Norman nodded. He couldn't help but speak his mind. "What a relief. Yardley's not worthy of you! He's as cold and boring as a block of ice. You should date me instead."

Yardley, who had been eating quietly, was stunned. "Me? Not worthy of Celia?" he wondered.

"Norman, do you remember that sports car you wanted? Your brother asked me to help him secure it for you. He'd wanted to buy it for you as a gift but I think …"

"N-No, wait! That's not what I meant, Yardley." Norman chuckled awkwardly.

The rest of their meal went by pleasantly. Celia and Yardley bid Norman farewell at the restaurant's entrance. "Bye, Celia! I'll drop by whenever I have time."

Celia affectionately petted his head. "Goodbye, kiddo. Drive safely!"

"Hmm, it feels like I'm patting my Malamute at home," she thought.

However, Yardley interpreted her actions differently. "So you were certain you wouldn't fall for me because you have feelings for someone else," he said, narrowing his eyes after getting into his car.