Chapter 503
I never really thought he was pulling strings behind my back, but that one sentence hit me like a bolt of lightning.
“Mr. Jennings, did you really give my brother this job just because of me?” I blurted out, not caring about being polite.
Edward took a sip from his coffee cup. “Your brother sent in his resume, and my company happened to be hiring. He fit our requirements.”
His answer was watertight, not a single flaw to be found.
It was like throwing a punch into cotton–completely powerless, and it left me even more uneasy.
“My brother just graduated and doesn’t really know how things work out there yet. Please, Mr. Jennings, I hope you can give him a fair chance and put him somewhere that suits his abilities,” I pleaded, nervously twisting the hem of my dress, my face shifting between anxious and embarrassed.
Edward, tall and imposing, leaned back in his chair, a deep and unreadable look in his eyes.
He looked at me with a faint, almost teasing smile. “Ms. Murphy, are you worried I’ll give him special treatment just because of you?”
I was already nervous, and now my cheeks burned with embarrassment.
I bit my lip, shaking my head. “No, I know you’re always professional, Mr. Jennings. You’d never mix business with personal matters.”
“How do you know I won’t?” Edward leaned in, his presence so intense it made my scalp tingle.
There was a proud, commanding aura in his eyes–like he was born to be in charge. I stared at him, flustered and stunned, my mind a total blank.
Seeing I was scared, he stopped messing with me and curved his lips into a faint smile. “Relax. I won’t put you in a tough spot.”
But honestly, that just made me even more nervous.
Just then, the waiter brought out the food. Edward glanced at the table and chuckled. “Wow, these dishes are really spicy, huh?”
I paused for a second, wondering if he wasn’t into this kind of food.
He picked up his fork and tried a piece of braised turtle. “Pretty good. I’ve heard turtle is supposed to be great for your health.”
I nodded, a bit awkward. “Yeah, it is. You should have some more, Mr. Jennings.”
Edward replied in a lazy tone, “Ever since that cold shower got me sick, I’ve been feeling kind of drained. Guess I really do need something to help me recover.”
I instantly felt awkward, not sure what to say next.
Edward was clearly teasing me. He ate slowly, checking out what I was wearing. “That dress really suits you.”
I glanced down. I’d picked the most dowdy, old fashioned dress I owned, and he actually thought it looked nice.
“Thanks for the compliment,” I replied, forcing a polite smile.
“You show up dressed like you’re in mourning for dinner with me, Ms. Murphy. What exactly are you trying to say?” Edward asked with a smirk.
Hearing that, I felt a wave of relief. Guess I made the right call with my outfit.
“Mr. Jennings, you’re joking. This outfit is modest and proper–it’s the most respectful thing I could wear for you,” I replied, forcing a smile.
Edward nodded. “I see that, but it’s actually having the opposite effect.”
I blinked in surprise. ‘Wait, what? There’s more to this?‘ I thought.
Edward was clearly feeling the heat from the food. He put down his fork and focused on his coffee to ease the spice. As he sipped, he said, “Most women I eat with can’t wait to show off their bodies. You’re the first one who’s covered up so much. But you don’t get it–the more you hide, the more people want to see what’s underneath.”
I felt a wave of dread wash over me. ‘Uh–oh, this is bad.‘ The phrase “unexpected contrast” flashed through my mind.
I’d heard that the ultimate move to deal with men was to create that element of surprise.
‘Is Edward thinking I dressed this way just to get his attention?‘ I wondered, feeling uneasy.
“Honestly, you don’t need to put in all that effort. It’s not your face or your figure that interests me,” Edward said, catching the change in my expression.