Chapter 144 Dinner Then My Place
At 8:29 a.m.
Adeline entered the design department in the nick of time to avoid staying on time.
Upon her arrival, Lucia winked at her, "Someone's been waiting in your office for ages."
Adeline frowned in confusion and pushed the door open.
There sat a tall, imposing man on her office chair, his gaze coldly surveying the design drafts on her desk.
Hearing the door open, Jasper checked the time; then, his face broke into a smile.
"Cutting it close, aren't you? Can't stay away from Sebastian, huh?"
Adeline paused, then walked over with a smile, snatching the design drafts from his hands with a swift move. "For the record, I'm not late, and I haven't broken any company rules."
"Who I befriend or have meals with is none of your Mr. Foster's concern."
Her icy demeanor caused Jasper's brow to furrow deeply.
"I warned you last night to stay away from him!"
Was this woman taking his words as a joke?
Just last night, he had warned her, and here she was again, befriendingmixing with Sebastian!
TheyWe had breakfast together and even discussed living together!
"You just met him last night, right? In "
"lLess than 24 hours, and you're already having meals and talking about moving in together."
"Adeline, I never realized you were so careless."
His angry expression only made Adeline laugh uncontrollably.
"I've always been laid-back, Mr. Foster. After all we've been through, you're telling me you didn't know?" she said, beginning to tidy up her desk. "As president of Foster Group, you should be aware that this office is for business matters only."
"If there's no work-related matterbusiness to discuss, I'd ask that Mr. Foster please leave."
Jasper squinted his eyes, coolly staring at Adeline's face, "Of course, there's something we need to discussbusiness."
The man handed over a document to Adeline, "Next month, there's a jewelry design showcase in Las Vegas."
"I expect a preliminary design proposal within a week and then another two weeks to perfect it."
Adeline flipped through the document.
"The whole line?"
She laughed in frustration, "Jasper, design work requires inspiration and time. "
"You're asking for so many high-quality designs in one week., all of them high-quality? Are you out of your mind?"
He looked at her, his gaze indifferent, "What's the matter? Can't you do it?"
His well-defined hand tapped gently on the desk, "The famed design whiz, is that all there is? "
"Or are you saying you need to save time for that painter of yours? Are, too busy with love to work?"
Adeline could tell he was trying to rile her up.
"This is an impossible task."
"I think you can do it."
He leaned back in his chair, casting a casual glance at her, "Here's the deal."
"If you can finish it within a week, I'll give you a day off to take Bennett and Lauren out for some fun. How about that?"
Adeline's eyes sparkled at the offer.
Lately, Jasper had been keeping Lauren and Bennett from contacting her.
She hadn't been able to approach Blue Bay for quite some time.
The two kids had never been apart from her; likely, they were suffering quietly without even as much as they didn't showing it.
To spend a whole day together, openly and adequately—would ease the longing and bring peace of mind.
With that thought, she took a deep breath and closed the document, "I'll do my best."
"Then I'll await the good news."
He smirked, crossed his legs, and left the room.
As he shut the door behind him, he glanced back at her instinctively.
She was seated her gaze intently on the documents, making notes.
It was clear that she was very keen on seeing Lauren and Bennett.
He sighed and walked away.
"Why do you think she's so devoted to Bennett and Lauren?" he pondered.
"She's not even related to them by blood."
Sitting in his office, Jasper furrowed his brows and asked in a quiet tone, "Either she's got an agenda, or she's playing the saint."
His buddy Jason Smith chuckled as he lounged on the sofa. "But I've seen this woman before, and she doesn't strike me as the saintly type."
Leaning back in his executive chair, Jasper's gaze was deep as he looked ahead, "If she's got an agenda, w..."
What could she be after?”
"It might even be you she's after; who knows?"
Shifting into a more comfortable position, Jason Smith lazily glanced at Jasper, "Tell me, I'm no less handsome than you; why do all the women go for you?"
Jasper lowered his gaze, picked up his coffee, and took a light sip, "What's your point?"
"Evelyn Quinn from the esteemed Quinn family of Evelyn's Family has disappeared."
Stretching, Jason Smith quirked an eyebrow, "Old Mr. Evelyn asked me to come and see if Evelyn Quinn had been in touch with you lately."
"No," replied Jasper, his expression indifferent, "I haven't seen her in years."
The last time he saw Evelyn Quinn was at his wedding to Adeline.
"It's been six or seven years since I've seen her too. Rumor has it she's been obsessed with plastic surgery, always in and out of hospitals or on the way there."
"You were betrothed before either of you were born. She's wanted to marry you since she was a child and never even had a boyfriend all these years."
"I thought when she disappeared, she might come to you."
Jasper casually lifted a corner of his mouth in a smile, "If she comes looking for me, I'll contact you."
He paused, and then as if something had just occurred to him, he looked up at Jason, "Dinner at my place tonight?"
"You've been so busy these past years, you even missed my wedding. How about coming over tonight and meeting Stella and the kids?"
Jason Smith waved a hand dismissively, "I've got plans., Mmaybe another time."
...
As evening fell, the city of Denver quieted down.
The Foster Group's building was ablaze with light.
On the third call from Stella, Jasper finally let out a sigh of relief and set his work aside.
He rode the elevator downstairs, and upon reaching the lobby, he heard some staff from the design department complaining.
"I have no idea what's gotten into her. She'd either skip days at work or, when she does show up, it's like she's on a mission."
"Good thing I was smart enough to dodge her, claimed a family emergency."
"Otherwise, who knows how late I'd be stuck there..."
As the employee's grumbling voice faded into the distance, Jasper slightly furrowed his brows, turned around, and took the elevator to the design department's floor.
The entire floor was hushed in silencea Violet quiet.
The sound of flipping paper and the gentle scratch of pencils only became apparent when he reached the design department.
The man furrowed his brow slightly.
Through the large glass window, he saw her sitting under the light, intently focused on the drafting board before her.
The light illuminated her profile, casting a serene tranquility over her.
She was like a living painting.
This vision of Adeline made his heart skip a beat uncontrollably.
He used to watch Adeline paint just like this.
This woman before him, from the look in her eyes to her habits, even down to the occasional quirk of chewing on a pencil, was the spitting image of Adeline.
He watched her for a long while.
Finally, he glanced at the time. He was , about to go over to her when, and a white figure appeared in the distance.
Sebastian, clad in white, strode up to the door of the design department with takeout in hand and knocked gently, "Director Adeline, it's time for dinner."
His voice was warm and pleasant.
Adeline looked up in surprise, "What brings you here?"
"I was worried you might be hungry, so I brought you some food."
He walked over to Adeline with a smile, setting the takeout on the desk, "You've got two choices: finish your meal and keep working."
"Or finish up, and I'll take you over to my place."
Adeline knew that when Sebastian spoke of his place, he meant visitingiewing his house.
She took a deep breath and collected her things. "I choose the second option."
The meaning of her words seemed to twist in the ears of the man standing outside the door.
Jasper clenched his hands into fists at his sides.
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