Chapter 197 If You Know It's Inappropriate, Then Don't Speak
"Although it might be inappropriate for me to say this, given that you and Miss Murphy are already di..." Mark began, considering Daphne's perspective and feeling close enough to Charles to speak his mind.
But this time, Charles cut him off before he could finish.
Hearing those half-spoken words stirred a wave of discomfort in Charles, "If you know it's inappropriate, then don't speak."
"Keep that up and you'll stay single," Mark chided with a concerned glance.
"Am I not already?" Charles shot back without a care.
Mark was left speechless. He knew something big must have happened at last night's party; otherwise, why would the boss react like this?
"I was just trying to give you some friendly advice, to avoid any delays in our upcoming partnership," Mark quickly found an excuse, his face regaining its usual placid smile. "After all, it is a major deal."
Charles just looked at him.
Mark felt uneasy under his gaze, "What's wrong…"
"Are you worried about the partnership, or are you worried about your bonus? Be honest," Charles didn't hesitate to call him out.
Internally, Mark was flustered, but he forced a smile on his face, "If only you were half as clever with Miss Murphy, you wouldn't be in this mess."
Mark's motives and thoughts were crystal clear, implying, ‘You’re so capable and yet how could you be so foolish with Miss Murphy?’
Charles remained silent.
His mood was slightly affected by Mark's words, "Do you think just because I didn't dock your bonus last time that you can get away with anything?"
"You're mistaken," Mark knew when to stroke the boss's ego, "I just thought it was a pity about you and Miss Murphy. A perfect match made in heaven, and now it's all fallen apart."
"Huh." Charles let out a short chuckle that was hardly warm.
"Didn't you previously say I didn't deserve her?" Charles's cool voice was sharp.
"To cheer you up, sometimes it's okay to say things one doesn't mean," Mark was playing a dangerous game.
But he knew that the boss was generally good to him. Despite often threatening to dock his bonus, it never happened; he always received it in full. It was this assurance that emboldened him to speak half-seriously and half-jokingly.
Charles laughed out of annoyance. He hadn't anticipated Mark could be as annoying as Daphne, "Then you're sincerely going out on a limb for me."
"No trouble at all."
"I wasn't complimenting you," Charles said with a sideways glance.
Mark kept his smile and wisely did not respond.
For the next half hour, both men remained silent until Charles thought of something, "When you look for a boyfriend, would you consider someone who can't even be of help to you?"
Mark was confused, "Boyfriend?"
For a moment, he wondered if Charles was on a call, considering they were on an airplane.
He hesitantly pointed to himself and probed, "Are you asking me?"
"Who else?" Charles retorted.
"Boss, I'm a man, and I only date women," Mark struggled to maintain his expression after much effort, "I'm afraid I can't answer your question."
"I'm just asking you to think from a woman's perspective."
"But I'm a man,” Mark insisted.
What does it mean to think from a woman's perspective? He wasn't a real woman, how could he possibly know a woman's true thoughts? Could it be that the boss had a misunderstanding about him?
Charles didn't continue the conversation and began to close his eyes and meditate.
Mark originally had a few complaints about Charles in his mind, but as he ranted silently, he suddenly realized something important. Was his boss hinting at something about him and Miss Murphy? He wanted to ask, but seeing Charles already asleep, he thought better of it and chose not to disturb him.
Over the next few days, Charles and Mark discussed their collaboration.
Despite being preoccupied, Charles showed no signs of it during their negotiations. He was completely at ease, handling the discussions with a calm casualness, and the partnership went smoothly.
Daphne, on the other hand, had a rougher time. Just a couple of days after returning from Ivrea City, her father informed her that Marcus was looking for her.
"If you don't want to meet him, I can tell him you're busy and decline on your behalf," Mr. Murphy offered, concerned for her and unwilling to put her in a difficult position.
But Daphne refused, "He's an elder, and it's only right that I visit him."
Seeing her determination, Mr. Murphy didn't object.
However, before she went to meet him, he reminded her, "No matter what he says, don't take it to heart. If there's anything you can't handle, remember you've got your father."
"Okay," Daphne replied.
After changing into a fresh outfit, she was driven by the chauffeur to the old house. Upon her arrival that afternoon, Daphne found Summer there too, tending to the old man with tea and flattery, coaxing him with all sorts of compliments.
Daphne approached and simply greeted, "Marcus."
"I was beginning to think you had forgotten your Grandpa Marcus existed," Marcus said with dissatisfaction, scanning her, "Over two years with no contact with the family, no visits during holidays, and even when you do return, you don't stop by."
"There's been a lot going on, I haven't found the time," Daphne replied faintly.
Marcus wasn't buying it, "Humph!"
Not wanting to waste more time, Daphne got straight to the point, "Dad said you were looking for me, may I know why?"
"So, if there was no issue, you wouldn't have come?" Marcus was visibly unhappy with her attitude, "Why can't you be more like Summer?"
Daphne was speechless. That comment made her unwittingly think back to her time with the Lancelot family, when Marcus would say this to others.
No wonder the looks she got then were full of annoyance. Indeed, such remarks can surely breed resentment.
"Ever since your dad started seeing Summer's mom, Summer's been dropping by to check on this old man almost every other day," grumbled Marcus. "She visits more in a month than you and Lighuis do in a year."
"That's true," Daphne replied.
She and Lydia had never been particularly close to Marcus. Marcus was a completely different person from himself; he had a tough exterior but a soft heart, and as long as the kids didn't go astray, he mostly let them make their own choices.
But Marcus had a way of expecting obedience. His word was law, and his orders were meant to be followed. If you didn't play along, he'd get angry. And he could be quite the traditionalist when it came to gender roles.
Sometimes Daphne was relieved that her father hadn't adopted Marcus's more domineering traits. After her mother married into the family, her father treated her very well, often stepping in to shield her from Marcus's demands.
Even though her father said he was just trying to provide a nurturing environment for them to grow up in, Daphne sometimes wondered if there truly wasn't any love between them. Could all those little gestures simply be just out of a sense of duty?
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