Chapter 1425
As Audrey and Kevin approached the guesthouse entrance, Kevin glanced at the time; it was nearly midnight. He asked, "Audrey, should we head straight home or have a meal first?"
"Oh, I get it!" Audrey exclaimed, pausing in hesitation. "Director White called earlier and invited both of us to dinner. He’s sending a driver to pick us up shortly."
Kevin felt a tinge of discomfort as Audrey emphasized "both of us." It was clear that Angus primarily wanted Audrey's company, and Kevin was just an afterthought. Nevertheless, he didn't harbor strong resentment toward Angus. Given their infrequent meetings, sharing the occasional meal seemed harmless enough.
A few minutes later, an Audi pulled up in front of the guesthouse. Audrey and Kevin got in, arriving shortly at a restaurant near Angus’s residential area.
"Ms. Johnson, your effort is much appreciated. Please, have a seat," Angus said warmly, rising to shake Audrey’s hand immediately upon entering the private room. He gestured for her to sit next to him and inquired kindly about her performance in the recent competition.
Kevin felt a surge of irritation but was momentarily distracted when a young woman approached him with a cheerful smile. "Kevin, long time no see."
It was Naomi who stood before him, dressed in a white sundress with a ponytail swaying behind her. In the months since they last met, she seemed to have grown taller and more strikingly beautiful. Her slender legs were smooth and straight, and her breasts, now noticeably fuller, were comparable in size to Lucy's, accentuating her cleavage attractively. It was clear that the city girls, benefiting from better living conditions, also enjoyed more impressive physical development.
"Naomi, what are you doing here?" Kevin asked in surprise. He had expected Angus to be alone and was caught off guard by the presence of his daughter. Perhaps Angus had anticipated that Kevin might feel out of place with just three of them at dinner.
"My dad invited Ms. Johnson for dinner. I earned it." Naomi retorted with a playful snort, standing tall and puffing out her chest. "Aren’t you just here for a free meal? "
Seeing the two of them bicker as soon as they met, Angus and Audrey exchanged amused glances. Angus remarked, "Kevin did well in this competition, thanks to Ms. Johnson’s excellent guidance. Naomi, you should learn from Kevin and stop slacking off."
Audrey quickly responded modestly, "Director White, I didn’t do much as a tutor. It was Alissa who laid the foundation for Kevin’s success. She truly is the best teacher at Sunset Valley High."
"Alissa?" Angus pondered briefly. "Well, I get it. She was the one who presented the project for your school to the city bureau last time. I have a vague recollection of her."
"Yes, Alissa was responsible for putting together the majority of the materials," Audrey said with a smile. "Not only is she highly skilled in teaching, but she's also incredibly dedicated to her work. She often stays late, organizing materials, sometimes at the expense of spending time with her own child. Her efforts are truly remarkable."
"Indeed, our education system needs more exceptional teachers like Alissa, who are willing to endure hardships and excel in their roles," Angus said with genuine emotion. "We must ensure such dedicated individuals are placed in positions where they can make the greatest impact, promoting the capable and demoting the incompetent."
Audrey felt a surge of happiness for Alissa. With Angus’s endorsement, Alissa's career path would undoubtedly become smoother. Audrey herself had no interest in climbing the career ladder and was content with her role as a regular teacher. She had earnestly recommended Alissa to Angus, hoping she would ascend to higher positions. If Vanessa knew this, she might regret not fostering a good relationship with Audrey sooner.
"Alright, are you having dinner with Ms. Johnson or conducting a work meeting here? It's so annoying," Naomi interjected impatiently. "We're all starving."
Angus felt a bit embarrassed. He had indeed been carried away with his thoughts. Shaking his head with a wry smile, he replied, "Okay, let's drop the talk and eat."
The waiter brought the food, and the four of them chatted amiably while they ate. Angus watched his daughter pulling Kevin outside to talk and smiled knowingly. Turning to Audrey, he said, "Young people always find common ground. Naomi and I argue every time we talk. It's embarrassing to admit, but even as the head of the education department, I can't seem to communicate with my own daughter."
Audrey noticed Angus’s penetrating yet gentle gaze fixed on her. His mature stability was far more appealing than her husband’s demeanor, and certainly far beyond Kevin's. Feeling a bit flustered, she lowered her head to avoid his eyes and replied softly, "Kevin can be quite mischievous at times. Sometimes I just don’t know how to handle him. I guess it’s because we care too much."
"Exactly, a doctor can’t heal himself," Angus said, his tone turning serious. "It's easy to be strict with others, but we tend to go easy on our own, which is where problems arise. We need to identify the issues to address them effectively."
Audrey felt a chill, understanding that Angus was referring to the matter involving Zane. However, as a regular teacher, she didn’t dare to comment on such sensitive issues that could influence Angus’s decisions. She listened quietly, glancing occasionally at his strong, contemplative face. Suddenly, she realized that despite Angus’s position as the head of the city’s education department, which seemed quite prestigious, he was under immense pressure.
Managing the entire Starfall Town education system, overseeing hundreds of schools, thousands of staff members, tens of thousands of students, and the allocation and supervision of millions of dollars in funding, as well as countless educational research projects, was an enormous responsibility. Someone like Oliver, a high school principal, was already incredibly busy. For Angus, the workload would only be greater, making it understandable why he had little time for his daughter.
"Director White, you have your challenges too," Audrey couldn’t help but say. "Naomi really needs a mother. Just having a father isn’t enough for someone her age. It’s a sensitive time for her."
"Ah, I know," Angus sighed. "But in my situation, finding someone both Naomi and I can accept is tough. Those my age don’t get along with Naomi, and I find it hard to connect with younger women. It’s difficult."
Audrey didn’t know how to respond. Such personal matters were not her place to comment on, and Angus was merely sharing his frustrations, not seeking advice.
Suddenly, Angus asked, "By the way, Ms. Johnson, how are things with your husband? Is he still working out of town?"
Audrey nodded. She was at a loss to describe her current state with Jason—silent treatment, apathy, frustration, disappointment—none of the words were positive.
"Long-distance arrangements aren’t a good solution. If possible, try to have him come back," Angus muttered, "If you need help, I could speak with the County Education Office to find him a suitable position. He is a college graduate after all, and it fits with our policy of attracting high-quality talent to the area."
"Thank you, Director White, but that won’t be necessary," Audrey hesitated before politely declining. This was a personal matter, and if Jason didn’t want to come back, there was little she could do.
"Alright, it’s your call." Angus smiled gently. "Ms. Johnson, you’re Kevin’s cousin, so we’re family. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you face any issues, either personally or professionally. I will help in any way I can. Unlike you, Vanessa is quite forthcoming. She is about to be seconded to the city bureau. We're actually short-staffed right now. Would you be interested in joining us? We can start with a secondment, and then I’ll work on making it permanent."
While Angus spoke cautiously, the fact remained that as the director of the city’s education bureau, securing a position there was no small feat. With just a nod from Audrey, she could secure a coveted position that many would vie for.
Despite lacking ambition, Audrey couldn’t help but be tempted by the chance to transition from a regular teacher at a county high school to a staff member at the city education bureau. To have such an opportunity was a rare stroke of luck, and there was no doubt that Angus was her benefactor.
"Director White, I still prefer teaching. I’m sorry." Audrey’s face turned slightly red as she felt a pang of guilt for repeatedly declining Angus’s generous offer. She understood very well the prestige of the position he was offering.
Sunset Valley High once had a female teacher who, in her desperation to join the county education office, compromised her dignity by getting involved with various bureau officials, including drivers, but never secured a permanent position. In the end, she became notorious for entertaining higher-ups, and when her husband found out, it led to their divorce. Audrey, on the other hand, was being offered this opportunity without having to sacrifice anything, and that made her anxious.
Angus didn't say anything more. He did harbor feelings for Audrey and felt that the more he got to know her, the more he saw her as someone worth pursuing, cherishing, and protecting. Unfortunately, Audrey was married and didn't have any romantic interest in him. He wasn’t the sort to force someone into a relationship. While it might be easy to possess a woman’s body, winning her heart was far more challenging, and Audrey’s heart was clearly elsewhere.
However, considering that she was living apart from her husband and from her demeanor earlier, it seemed her relationship with him might not be very strong. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have declined his offer. Angus couldn't help but wonder who this captivating Audrey’s heart truly belonged to.
Outside the room, Naomi shyly asked, "Kevin, miss me?"
"Of course, I missed you." Kevin’s eyes glanced at Naomi’s neckline, noticing the beginning of a cleavage. Naomi had grown up without him even realizing it. Why wasn’t Laura developing like this? Naomi's development was impressive. In a while, she might even be ready for breast play.
"You’re lying. If you missed me, why didn’t you come to see me?" Naomi pouted. "Even Vanessa, who is a teacher, has visited several times, but you haven’t."
Kevin thought to himself, Vanessa is indeed smart. Instead of using her usual seduction tactics, she’s appealing to emotions and directly winning over Angus’s daughter.
Kevin actually hoped Vanessa would succeed in capturing Angus’s interest. Having someone like Angus eyeing Audrey was unsettling—he couldn’t compete with him, nor could he stop him. Audrey’s status as a married woman was turning out to be quite beneficial for Kevin. Without that, Angus would approach her with even fewer reservations.
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