chapter288 I Do Have an Income
She gave him the option to leave, and he did just that, without even a word of goodbye, despite her having provided him shelter for the night.
"Kids nowadays, no manners at all!" she scoffed, unsure how she felt about the situation.
Diana laughed off the confusion and went back to her bedroom to do her makeup. She knew that Liam’s assistant represented him and Evans's group, so every morning before work, she spent about thirty minutes making sure she looked polished and professional.
After finishing her makeup and fixing her hair, she glanced at the clock and realized it was late. She grabbed her purse and hurried out the door.
Just as she reached the entryway to switch her shoes, the apartment door suddenly clicked and swung open from the outside.
Diana's head jolted up, and she froze when she saw the boy standing in the doorway, holding two takeout coffee cups. Douglas went to get breakfast for her.
"I remember you said you liked doughnuts with coffee. I had to go quite a distance to get them. Maybe eat before you head out?" Douglas suggested with an infectious grin that could light up the room like a sunbeam.
"When did I say that?" reacted Diana, a touch bewildered.
Douglas raised an eyebrow and entered with the breakfast in tow. "That time, you and my sister visited my place and mentioned it over dinner."
"Did I say that?" Diana murmured, watching him arrange the breakfast gracefully yet generously.
She enjoyed doughnuts with coffee for breakfast but couldn't recall ever mentioning such a preference during her past visits.
"Of course, you also said you liked fried beef steak, but it's too greasy for breakfast, so I'll get some for you this evening," Douglas chirped as he settled the food on the dining table.
Diana observed him deftly setting up the breakfast and suddenly inquired, "How did you know the password?"
She was sure she had never given Douglas the code to her apartment.
Diana had switched to a keypad lock after losing too many keys.
"Last night, when you were punching in the password, I couldn't help but see it, and it kind of stuck with me." Douglas looked at her with a charming smile that lit up his entire face. "Come on, eat before your doughnut and coffee get cold."
Diana just stared at him, rooted to the spot in the entryway.
Noticing her hesitation, Douglas came closer, softly placed his hands on her shoulders, and led her to the dining table. Once she was seated, he offered her the steaming mug of coffee, grinning playfully as he encouraged her to take a sip, "Ah, open up."
Diana couldn't help but smile at his antics, taking the coffee from his hands and sipping on her own.
The coffee was hot, aromatic, and pure, unmistakably ground by hand – delicious.
"Don't just focus on the coffee. You've got doughnuts and croissants to try, too." While speaking, Douglas picked up a croissant and brought it to Diana's lips.
She looked up at him, resignedly opened her mouth, and took the entire croissant in one bite.
But the moment she bit down... "Ah, it's hot!"
The freshly baked croissant's filling gushed out, scalding Diana. She immediately opened her mouth and started fanning her face frantically.
"Spit it out." Concerned, Douglas extended an open hand before her, indicating she should spit the too-hot bread into his palm.
Diana did as she was bid without hesitation, spitting the croissant into his outstretched hand.
But afterward, she froze, struck by an indescribable surge of emotion. Since college, barring Liam, she had been in two relationships, yet never had a man shown her the kind of thoughtful care Douglas did without a trace of disdain.
After spitting the croissant, Diana was caught by surprise, while Douglas, unaware of her state, reached for a paper napkin and began to dab at the corners of her mouth, asking with concern, "Are you okay?"
Returning to reality, Diana quickly shook her head and smiled slightly, "I'm fine."
Assured she was all right, Douglas relaxed with a smile, then leaned in to try the bit of bread Diana had just discarded.
Seeing this, Diana instantly reached out to stop him.
"What are you doing?"
"Just checking if it's still hot!" Douglas replied with an innocent look on his face.
"Douglas, enough!" Diana suddenly said, "I've told you I only see you as a brother. It's not right between us."
"How can you know it's wrong if we haven't tried?" Douglas looked at her with a severe and steady gaze.
Diana was irked, but she couldn't pinpoint why. Seizing upon any excuse, she challenged, “You didn’t even finish college and have no income.”
"I do have an income,” Douglas explained earnestly. “The bar we went to last night belongs to me and some friends. We’ve started a web company together. It’s getting on track now. We haven’t started turning a profit yet, but we just landed a big contract. If we nail it, there’s a hefty sum coming our way."
She had to admit, she hadn't expected this seemingly frivolous rich kid to have such ambition. He was just a college senior, yet he’d already started his own company and opened a bar.
She used to think he was squandering his family’s wealth.
