Chapter 706 Nothing happened last night, believe me!
Early in the morning, Lola woke up to find that Johnny had already gotten up, and a delicate box was placed beside her pillow.
She sat up and opened it.
It was a delicate diamond necklace, simple in style, the kind Lola usually liked to wear. She knew it was from Johnny, meant to please her. Was it because he had done something wrong?
Lola quietly looked at it for a while, then closed the box and placed it on the bedside table.
She quickly washed up, changed her clothes, put on light makeup, and went downstairs.
The housemaids were all back, busy with their respective duties. Breakfast was ready and lavishly laid out on the dining table, with a vase of blue roses in the center, a rare variety flew in from abroad just because Lola liked them.
Johnny, dressed impeccably, was sitting at the head of the table, reading the newspaper.
Hearing the maid call Lola, he looked up and said softly, "Come and have breakfast. We need to pick up Angelina and Austin for school soon."
Lola walked over and sat down.
A cup of warm milk was handed to her. She looked up and said, "I like cold milk!"
Johnny disapproved, "Cold milk will give you menstrual cramps."
Lola didn't like discussing such private matters in front of the maids, so she just drank half a cup of milk and didn't continue the conversation.
Johnny watched her for a while, pursing his lips slightly. Lola wasn't like this before.
She used to enjoy talking to him, discussing cases from the law firm, and would cling to him at night for intimacy... unlike now, so cold!
After breakfast, Lola got into Johnny's car.
On the way, she was constantly on the phone with her clients, discussing cases.
So, they didn't have a chance to talk.
Half an hour later, the car stopped at the Hawkins Mansion's parking lot. Angelina and Austin were already there with their backpacks, stretching their necks waiting, with Frederick standing beside them.
As the car stopped, they got in.
Johnny got out of the car and greeted Frederick, "Thank you for taking care of them these past few days."
Frederick, still as handsome and upright as in his youth, stood in the morning light.
He brushed off the morning dew from the black car roof and smiled. "I told you to let Angelina and Austin stay with us. We are still young and can help you with the kids, giving you two some alone time, but you wouldn't agree. Now you're being formal for just a couple of days of care?"
Johnny smiled slightly and said, "I'll bring them back for dinner in a few days."
Frederick patted his shoulder and responded, "Alright! By the way, Johnny, keep an eye on that project I mentioned. Such a big profit, everyone is eyeing it. Be vigilant."
Johnny nodded and said, "Yes! Don't worry, I'll be careful."
He looked at his watch and continued, "We should go, or Angelina will be upset with me for months if we're late. She's getting more temperamental as she grows."
Hearing this, Frederick stepped back to let them go.
Lola rolled down the car window and waved to him. "We're leaving!" she said.
Frederick jokingly scolded, "You rascal, not even getting out of the car to say a few words, you don't care about me anymore!"
At this moment, Johnny got back into the car.
Lola leaned lightly on Johnny's shoulder and winked at Frederick. "Dad, you're absolutely right!"
Frederick waved them off dismissively as the car window rolled up.
Before starting the car, Johnny turned to look at the hand on his shoulder. Lola slowly withdrew her hand, and Johnny's gaze fell on her face. He lowered his voice. "Weren't you just showing off our love in front of your dad?"
Lola gave a sarcastic smile and asked, "Weren't you cooperating too?"
Johnny didn't say anything more, as Angelina and Austin were in the car. They never showed their conflicts in front of the kids.
He dropped Angelina and Austin off at school and then took Lola to the law firm.
When the car stopped, Johnny held her back and said, "I have a dinner with the Department of Homeland Security tonight and can't pick up the kids. Can you pick them up and take them out for dinner? I'll come get you after my dinner."
Lola nodded and said, "Alright! If your dinner runs late, don't worry about picking us up. I'll drive over."
Johnny's eyes darkened slightly.
He thought for a moment and then explained, "Nothing happened last night, believe me!"
But Lola just smiled slightly.
How could she not have any sense of whether Johnny had done something? If nothing had happened, Johnny wouldn't keep emphasizing it. With his personality, he would just impatiently say, "Are you annoying? How can I admit to something that didn't happen?"
She got out of the car and left, her assistant quickly coming up to discuss the case with her.
Johnny sat in the car, quietly watching her back, watching her spirited profile.
Maybe this was the life Lola wanted.
Angelina was an accident, and Austin was born for Angelina. Lola had long lost feelings for Johnny, staying with him only out of responsibility and compromise.
She might be enduring, but she couldn't see his pain.
Johnny had a pile of work waiting for him, but he still sat in the car, quietly smoking cigarettes, reflecting on his marriage with Lola.
At nine-thirty, his secretary Felicity Marie called, urging him to go to the office.
Johnny was busy all day.
At eight in the evening, he took Felicity to the dinner with the Department of Homeland Security, discussing the project land that Frederick had mentioned. Johnny had almost finalized it after several meetings, and tonight was the final confirmation.
At the most luxurious hotel in Seattle, in a private room that could accommodate 40 people.
When Johnny arrived, most people were already there. As he entered, Delbert Loomis smiled and said, "Mr. Flores, you're late. You must drink three glasses as a penalty!"
He poured three glasses as he spoke.
Johnny drank the three small glasses in a row without any effect and said, "Sorry! I deserve the penalty for being late."
Delbert patted his shoulder, not making things difficult.
Although Johnny relied on him for work, in Seattle, with the Hawkins family, the Devereux family, and Johnny, few people dared not respect him. Smart people knew when to stop.
Delbert laughed, "Mr. Flores, you have a good tolerance! Please, have a seat!"
He warmly introduced, "Besides our colleagues, we also have a few hosts from the city TV station, all lovely young ladies. Mr. Flores, get to know them."
Johnny had seen such things many times.
Delbert must be trying to promote someone, but couldn't do it himself, so he used a businessman's hand.
Sure enough, one of them, named Eris Thompson, was his lover.
Eris was very beautiful, with a sweet and innocent look. She shyly raised her glass to Johnny, wanting to toast him. Johnny, out of respect for Delbert, couldn't refuse and accepted the drink, knowing how to handle it in the future.
After drinking, Eris exchanged a glance with Delbert.
Delbert, in a good mood, said, "We can't neglect another beauty, Shirley Wells, a TV host!"
He stopped there, and Johnny knew she wasn't under his protection.
But when he looked over, he was stunned.
After a busy day, he had almost forgotten about Shirley, but now she was right in front of him, sitting next to him and looking at him with an admiring gaze.
Johnny didn't like being entangled with women.
Besides, last night was an accident, and he didn't really do anything to her, so his attitude was inevitably cold, not even standing up. But Delbert just thought he wasn't interested.
After about two hours, Johnny excused himself.
He said politely, "It's getting late. I'll drink with Mr. Loomis another time."
Delbert didn't insist, as he was also about to leave.
As they left the private room, the crystal lights scattered on the floor, and Johnny, having drunk for two nights in a row, had a slight headache. He gently rubbed his temples, and Felicity immediately stepped forward and respectfully asked, "Mr. Flores, do you need some hangover medicine?"
"No need! I didn't drink much tonight!" Johnny said calmly, about to leave when a soft female voice called from behind, "Mr. Flores."
Johnny knew it was Shirley and turned to look at her.
Felicity was surprised, but not really. She had seen in the private room that this not-so-famous host, Shirley, had intentions towards Johnny. But there were many such women, and Felicity didn't take it to heart.
She just didn't expect Johnny to respond to Shirley.
Felicity, worried he might make a mistake, gently reminded, "Aren't you going to pick up Mrs. Flores?"
Johnny lowered his eyes and replied, "Yes! I need to pick up Lola and the kids."
As he spoke, Shirley had already approached, looking at Johnny with watery eyes and softly saying, "Mr. Flores, it was my fault last night. Can you forgive me?"
But Johnny's tone was indifferent. "I don't have the energy for this!" With that, he left with Felicity.
Shirley watched his back for a long time, then smiled slightly.
Despite what she did, Johnny didn't blacklist her or embarrass her, which showed he had some feelings. She had been in the industry long enough to understand men like Johnny. They couldn't get warmth from their wives but didn't want to divorce due to their status.
Such men needed a gentle, considerate woman without ambition.
Someone who would plan for him and respect his wife!
Shirley gently lifted her long hair, looking at herself in the mirror. The person in the mirror had waist-length hair, a face, and a tall, slender figure, somewhat resembling someone!
What that person wouldn't give, she would!
In the following month, Johnny and Lola's relationship remained lukewarm.
She never took the initiative.
When Johnny couldn't hold back, he would find opportunities to press her down and have a few intense sessions. Afterwards, she always needed some ointment. Sometimes she wondered if Johnny was overly excited at his age.
By the end of August, the weather was the hottest.
Johnny was in his office, looking at financial reports.
Felicity knocked and entered, handing him a document and said, "Mr. Flores, this is the activity list for next week's company anniversary. Please check if there are any changes needed."
Such matters were usually handled by the PR department, and Johnny casually flipped through it.
His gaze stopped at the host section, seeing two familiar names: Shirley.
Johnny looked up and asked Felicity, "Is it Shirley from Seattle TV?"
Felicity, seeing his expression, replied, "Yes!"
Johnny put down the document, picked up a cigarette, and lit it, saying, "Tell the PR department to find someone else."
Felicity's expression relaxed, and she smiled slightly and said, "Got it, Mr. Flores!"
She was about to leave when Johnny's voice came again, "No, just use her."
Felicity was surprised, turning to Johnny, and said "But Mr. Flores..."
Johnny's eyes were deep. "Do as I say."
As his secretary, even if she sided with Lola, she wouldn't tell Lola about Shirley's slight flirtation. She stood for a while and then left, feeling it was unfair to Lola.
That evening, Lola came home late.
After a long day, she dropped her briefcase on the sofa and sat down to drink a glass of water.
Upstairs, she heard Johnny talking to the kids. Lola asked the maid, "When did Johnny come back?"
The maid smiled and replied, "Mr. Flores came back early!"
Hearing this, Lola nodded.
She saw an invitation on the table, seemingly a sample, with no name on it. She picked it up and saw it was for Johnny's company's tenth-anniversary celebration, quite grand, with Seattle hosts and several celebrities attending.
Despite their lukewarm relationship, Lola had prepared a gift.
She took out a box from her briefcase, containing a small glass piece with a maple leaf inside.
The maple tree was something she and Johnny had planted together as children.
She planned to give it to Johnny on the tenth anniversary.
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