Chapter 467 The President of the Bailey Group is Dead
The soft touch in his palm made Nicholas's heart skip a beat. He should've let go right away, but instead, he gave a gentle squeeze.
His rough fingertips brushed against Winona's skin, sending a shiver up her spine.
It felt like a bunch of fireworks, each one bursting with energy, racing straight to her heart.
Nicholas's Adam's apple bobbed as he lowered his head to meet Winona's eyes.
The world around them seemed to fall silent, like everything else just disappeared.
But then Austin had to ruin the moment. He shoved Nicholas's hand away and said, "Mr. Ramsey, what are you doing? Winona's gonna end up with calluses from your touch! Her husband just passed away, and you're already making a move? That's way out of line."
Austin pulled out a chair and, after sitting down, he motioned for Winona to join him by pulling out the chair on his left. Just as Nicholas was about to take the seat on her other side, Austin grabbed his arm and kicked the chair on his right. "Mr. Ramsey, sit here. It's easier for the guys to sit together."
Nicholas shot him a cold glance. Austin was always so annoying. Nicholas looked down at him, slightly tilting his chin, and said, "Sorry, I have a cleanliness obsession. I can't stand the smell of men's sweat; it's gross."
Austin, a rough soldier, didn't get mad at all. Besides, he had just come from the Davis family, had taken a shower that morning, and the cool autumn breeze was refreshing. After spending the whole trip in the car, there was no way he could be sweating.
He sensed that this Mr. Ramsey, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, was clearly being sarcastic.
He then stood up, put an arm around Nicholas's shoulder in a friendly manner, and pressed him into the chair on his right. "Then Mr. Ramsey must be sick. It's not just men; women sweat too. I've never smelled anyone's sweat that was fragrant. With this problem, it'll be hard for you to get married. Come, let me help you."
After saying that, Austin deliberately leaned closer to Nicholas, as if to maximize the effect of the sweat smell. "Isn't there something called desensitization therapy? If you can't stand it, just smell it more often, and you'll get used to it."
Nicholas didn't mind the sweat smell, but he did mind Austin. He pursed his lips and pushed Austin away, frowning. "We just met today. We're not close enough to be so chummy," he said.
"Then let's do it a few more times and we'll be close," Austin said heartily, patting Nicholas on the shoulder. "What kind of drink would you like?" he asked.
Nicholas replied, "I don't drink."
"Ah, you don't drink," Austin exclaimed regretfully, winking at Winona. "Winona, I've been in the army for months and haven't had a drink in a long time. I'm craving it. If I get drunk later..."
He leaned in and whispered something in Winona's ear.
His voice was so low that Nicholas couldn't hear it, but Nicholas could guess from Winona's changing expression what Austin might have said.
Winona first frowned, then turned to glare at Austin, whispering, "Drink less."
Seeing this, Nicholas thought that she had never cared when he got drunk at social events before, but now she was telling Austin to take it easy on the drinks.Nicholas felt a pang in his chest at the intimate scene before him. When he noticed Timothy looking at him, he turned to meet his gaze. "What's up?" he asked.
He needed to distract himself before he ended up smashing dishes like Jackson.
Timothy gave Nicholas a knowing smile. "Is this gentleman Winona's new boyfriend? Which family is he from?"
Nicholas glanced at Austin, who was whispering with Winona. Their conversation seemed endless. It was clear that the four of them were split into two groups, and Nicholas found himself in the other one.
He raised his hand to his forehead, feeling a pain in his heart and lungs from the frustration.
Timothy waited a while without getting a response from Nicholas and called out, "Nicholas?"
"I don't know him," Nicholas muttered, lowering his gaze. Timothy always had an agenda whenever he asked that question.
"I think he has the aura of a soldier. That profession is really dangerous," Timothy said.
The last sentence came across as both a lament and a warning.
Timothy's deep gaze fell on Austin, but quickly returned to his usual gentle demeanor.
The ordered dishes and drinks arrived quickly. Although Nicholas had said he wouldn't drink, Austin still poured for him and Timothy. Austin then said, "Come on, Mr. Ramsey, Mr. Ramsey's brother. Isn't it said that meeting is fate? Let's toast to our fate."
Nicholas, who had initially refused to drink, now raised his glass and turned to Timothy. "If you want to drink, just pace yourself. If you end up getting drunk, I'll give you a ride home."
Midway through the meal, Winona's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID; it was Matthew. The two companies had been planning a project together recently, so they had been in frequent contact. Winona answered the phone, "Matthew?"
Nicholas's ears perked up, and he looked at her.
Winona didn't spare him a glance, only telling Austin before stepping outside to take the call.
The call only lasted a few minutes, but to Nicholas, it felt exceptionally long. Maybe it was the alcohol, but his emotions were more intense, and every minute and second felt like slow torture. Timothy was already drunk and slumped over, and the tension in Nicholas's mind eased a bit.
Finally, Winona returned to the private room, but she wasn't alone; she had brought Matthew with her.
The three men exchanged silent glances. After almost five months, they were together again, and it felt surreal.
Matthew had come to discuss business with Winona but didn't avoid the unrelated people. Nicholas listened in and frowned so hard he could crush a fly. What nonsense were they talking about? Clearly, there was an ulterior motive.
Nicholas couldn't help but interject, "These matters can be handled by an assistant. There's no need to come all the way to see Miss Sullivan."
Hearing this, Matthew said nothing.
Yet Winona turned, offering Nicholas a sarcastic smile. "Mr. Ramsey, I'm the assistant."
Nicholas fell silent at her words.
He had overlooked something. He had been viewing Winona as Mrs. Bailey, the lady of the Bailey Group, forgetting that her current role was as Evander's assistant.
Seeing Winona staring at him expressionlessly, Nicholas quickly tried to cover up. "Sorry, at the Ramsey Group, these matters are handled by the CEO's secretary. I didn't expect the Bailey Group's chairman's secretary to handle them."
Winona was not comforted at all and retorted, "Sorry, the Bailey Group's CEO just died."
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