Chapter 447 Not Expecting at All
Laura noticed something was off in his voice and asked, "What's wrong? Shouldn't you be at the office at this time? Why do you sound like you just woke up?"
Stuart didn't hide it from her, "I caught a cold, took some medicine, and slept for a bit."
"You must be exhausted," Laura said. "Alright, I won't keep you."
Stuart asked, "Go ahead, what's up?"
"First, you have to promise to keep it a secret."
Stuart was puzzled, "What could be so secretive?"
What could possibly need to be kept secret between them?
After Laura finished talking and hung up, Stuart took a moment and then drank a glass of water.
He didn't dare tell Josephine about being sick.
With the time difference, it was morning for Josephine while it was evening back home. Stuart told her he had a meeting and couldn't video call her.
Josephine didn't think much of it.
Fortunately, Stuart's cold was much better the next day. He was in good shape to begin with, and the rest he got over the past couple of days made up for the exhaustion. So he was back to his normal self.
He helped Laura with some matters and then video-called Josephine in the evening.
Josephine had just woken up, her face still showing signs of sleepiness.
"Josephine," Stuart smiled at her, "Did you sleep well last night?"
Josephine had just brushed her teeth and said, "Because of you, I slept like a log, didn't move an inch."
Stuart's visit had left marks on her body that would take days to fade.
Combined with work fatigue, Josephine's sleep quality had significantly improved.
"Experts say that moderate marital relations help with sleep."
"You said moderate," Josephine glared at him. "What about you? Did you get enough rest after going back?"
"Yes, I've been sleeping well these past couple of days," Stuart said. "All thanks to you."
In fact, his sleep quality had been poor since Josephine left.
But these past couple of days, he felt satisfied both physically and mentally, and also because he had been sick.
Now that he had regained his energy, he smiled, showing no signs of his previous illness.
Josephine didn't notice either; she thought Stuart looked quite spirited. "I wouldn't dare take credit. After all, you flew over, and if you didn't sleep well after going back, that would be my fault."
Stuart chuckled and then said, "By the way, I need to tell you something."
"What is it?" Josephine asked while applying serum to her face.
Stuart said, "Actually, I never liked Laura before."
Josephine was taken aback and then said, "It's your business if you don't like her. She's one of my best friends, no questions asked."
"I never tried to ruin your relationship," Stuart said, feeling a bit wronged. "I just didn't like her personality. Besides, she used to take you to those kinds of places..."
Josephine said, "What's wrong with those places? Only men are allowed to have fun?"
"That's not what I meant. Besides, I never went to those places," Stuart quickly said. "I mean, I might have misunderstood Laura before. She's actually a good person."
"Of course she is," Josephine said. "But why the sudden change of heart? Did something happen?"
Stuart shook his head, "No, just got to know her better."
"Exactly," Josephine agreed. "Time is the best tool to understand someone."
After chatting with Stuart, Josephine was changing clothes in her office when Laura called. "Josephine, still busy?"
Josephine put on her clothes, "Yeah, racing against time to finish early and get back."
"Is it unrealistic to ask you to come back for a few days?"
"Why?" Josephine's heart tightened, "Is something wrong?"
"No, I just miss you," Laura said. "Your birthday is coming up, and I thought if you could come back, we could celebrate together."
Josephine laughed, "I can't make it back. Birthdays come every year; we can celebrate next year. By the way, Stuart called me this morning. Guess what he said?"
Laura was taken aback, "What did he say?"
"Why are you so nervous?" Josephine laughed. "He said he has a new opinion of you and thinks you're a great person now."
Laura asked, "He didn't say anything else?"
"No, just that after getting to know you better, he realized he had misunderstood you before," Josephine said. "I told him you were always great."
Laura smiled, "It doesn't matter what he thinks of me, but it's good that he doesn't worry about me leading you astray."
"How could that be? Our bond is much deeper; he can't compare."
"Exactly, good friends are reliable; men are nothing."
Both of them laughed.
"Alright, we'll make it up to you for your birthday party when you get back."
"By the way," Josephine asked, "If I remember correctly, Steven's birthday is around the same time as mine, right? Just a few days apart?"
"Yes."
Because after celebrating Josephine's birthday, Laura would always celebrate Steven's, Josephine remembered it well.
Josephine asked, "Have you prepared a gift for Steven?"
Speaking of which, Laura used to be quite perfunctory with Steven's gifts, just buying a tie, cufflinks, or a pen. In short, they were never particularly thoughtful gifts. But Steven was always very happy. Whatever Laura gave, he liked.
Laura said, "I have, this time it's a different kind of gift."
"That's good," Josephine said. "Don't be perfunctory with Steven."
"How is it perfunctory?" Laura was unhappy. "My gifts aren't cheap, you know?"
"It's not about the price. You've given me handmade scarves before, but never Steven. He doesn't lack money; he values the thought behind the gift."
Laura said, "It's good enough that I give him a gift."
Josephine laughed, "Alright, do your best this time. I want to see what different kind of gift you have for Steven. Okay, I have to get back to work."
"Alright, go ahead." After hanging up, Laura smiled.
Steven came out of the shower and asked, "What made you so happy?"
"I called Josephine and talked about the birthday gift for you."
"You got me a gift?" Steven smiled. "What is it this year?"
"From the look on your face, you're not expecting much!" Laura huffed. "If that's the case, I won't give it to you."
"Of course not," Steven said. "I'm really looking forward to it."
He walked over and hugged her, "I like whatever you give me."
"That's more like it," Laura said. "You'll have to wait until your birthday."
"Okay."
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