Chapter 113 Escorting Her to the Cocktail Party
"Sure thing," Noe accepted with a cheerful nod.
Suzy's face turned ashen, her fingers tightening involuntarily.
Her brother had told her that Aaron always took Nora on business trips.
And now, he was inviting Nora as his plus-one to social events too. Their relationship appeared to be growing closer!
"Suzy, is there something you need?" Aaron, noticing Suzy in a daze, broke the silence.
"It's nothing; I just came to check on you. Since you're busy, I'll leave you to it."
Suppressing the jealousy churning inside her, Suzy left with her usual graceful smile plastered on her face.
As soon as the door shut behind her, her expression chilled.
She pulled out her phone and sent a message.
"Sunny, I need you to go to a cocktail party with me tonight."
At the hospital.
Nora received a call from Aaron.
"Come outside; I'm by the hospital entrance."
Nora blinked. Her first thought was, was Aaron going to ask her to join another business trip?
"Is something up? Are you about to ask me to go on another trip with you again?"
Aaron chuckled. "Relax, it's not a business trip."
Good, no trip.
Checking the time, Nora noticed it was almost time to pick up the kids.
Could it be Aaron was planning to join her for that?
With mixed feelings, Nora contemplated whether she should clarify things with him.
But Aaron hadn't declared any feelings, so what exactly was there to clarify?
Carrying her complicated emotions, she headed to the hospital entrance.
By the curb, a luxury car awaited, and Frederick respectfully opened the back door for her.
Nora got in and saw the man beside her, buried in his laptop. "Thomas, are you planning to pick up Alex with me? You don't have to go out of your way; I can handle school pick-ups."
Without looking up, Aaron responded, "Noe will take care of picking up the kids. You're accompanying me to a cocktail party tonight."
What!
He wasn't asking her to a business trip, but to attend a cocktail party?
Did he seriously consider her his personal assistant?
Nora's eyes flared. "Thomas, I'm a doctor, not your secretary."
Finally glancing up, Aaron replied, "Come on, Nora. After the hefty payment you've accepted from me, what's playing my secretary one more time?"
Speechless, Nora retorted, "I'll pay that money back to you once we get back."
Indeed, hefty rewards never come easy!
"Alright, just go with me to one more gala, and I'll pay extra, okay?"
Aaron's lips curled up slightly. "You're now my personal doctor; you need to keep a constant eye on me. What if something happens to me at the gala? All your efforts would go to waste."
His voice deliberately softened, laced with a hint of enticement.
Nora found his charming smile hard to resist.
She exhaled, relenting, "Fine, you don't have to pay me extra. But just to be clear, this is a one-time deal."
"Deal."
Aaron nodded in agreement, thinking if similar events arose again, it wouldn't be too late to discuss them.
Frederick started the car, and Aaron directed him to a stylishly decorated styling studio.
Nora realized that this was to get her dolled up for the gala!
"Welcome, Mr. Gordon? Mr. Hawk just happens to be here too."
The studio's lead stylist greeted Aaron upon arrival.
Aaron nodded slightly, glancing at Nora. "She's all yours."
The stylist sized Nora up and nodded. "All right, please follow me. And your name is?"
"Nora," she replied.
Meanwhile, she wondered, didn't Edric say something about taking Jenny to the gala while they were at the hospital?
While she pondered, a door to one of the booths opened, and Edric stepped out.
He looked at Nora and then at Aaron, a spark of interest in his eyes.
"Aaron, are you actually bringing Nora to the business gala tonight?"
Aaron shot him a look, "Is there a problem?"
"Not at all; how could there be?"
Edric squinted flirtatiously at Nora. "Nora, we meet again."
Nora curved her lips tentatively. "Is Jenny here too?"
"Yes, she should be ready any moment," said Edric.
Just then, Jenny emerged from another booth.
Draped in an aquamarine evening gown, it accentuated her slender waist.
The off-the-shoulder design revealed her fair swan neck and delicate collarbone.
Nora's eyes lit up. "Jenny, you look stunning."
Jenny in that dress seemed ethereal as if infused with a celestial aura.
Jenny breathed out, "Nora, if I'm not transformed into beauty after two hours of makeup, how hard would I be to makeover?"
Nora couldn't help but laugh. "You're naturally gorgeous."
Jenny was about to say more when they heard the sound of applause coming from nearby.
She turned her head to catch Edric's peachy eyes twinkling with amusement. "The transformation's a hit. I've got an eye for these things. You'll be turning heads."
Jenny remained silent.
"Mr. Hawk," she began, her voice steady yet infused with caution, "I should warn you, I'm no heiress. If I don't get the etiquette right and embarrass you, don't hold it against me."
Edric's eyebrow quirked up. "No worries. If you do manage to cramp my style, I'll just take a rain check. You can make it up to me another time."
Jenny's face spoke of resignation.
"Aren't we leaving?"
He offered his arm, inviting Jenny to take it.
"What's the rush?"
Jenny tightened her fist. She took a deep breath to stifle the urge to punch someone. Then, she looked at Nora. "Nora, are you here for tonight's gala as well?"
Nora glanced at Aaron, then gave a short nod.
"Well, that's great. I'll head out first, see you at the gala," Jenny said with a smile.
"Sure."
Nora watched the two depart.
Jenny, not used to wearing high heels, found the eight-centimeter stilettos a challenge to navigate in.
Clutching the hem of her dress, she stumbled unexpectedly, lunging forward.
"Careful."
Edric spun around swiftly, catching Jenny in his arms.
"So, Jenny, do you enjoy playing hard to get?" The playful tease in his voice caused Jenny to straighten up, her face flushing red.
"No, I didn't mean to!"
"Right, you didn't mean to. You did it on purpose!"
"Edric!"
"We're leaving."
Seeing her best friend teased by Edric, Nora had that familiar sense of watching a budding romance.
Edric was known as a playboy.
Was he seriously pursuing Jenny, or was this just his idea of flirtatious fun?
"Nora, please come in."
The stylist ushered her into a cubicle with a welcoming gesture.
Nora snapped back to reality and entered to get styled.
Meanwhile, Aaron was waiting in the lounge, working on his laptop.
Two hours later, the door to the cubicle opened.
"Mr. Gordon, Nora's makeover is complete. Please have a look and tell us what you think."
Aaron looked up from his screen at the sound of the stylist's voice.
Nora emerged in a stunning scarlet evening gown that draped elegantly over her form, accentuating her porcelain skin.
Her naturally beautiful face was enhanced by the meticulous makeup, making her strikingly gorgeous.
A flash of amazement flickered in Aaron's eyes.
How could she look this breathtaking?
But his gaze dropped to her décolletage, and he frowned.
"Get a different dress."
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