Chapter 48
Lewis returned to the Hartman Group. In his office, he sneezed and frowned in displeasure.
Daniel knocked on the door of the CEO’s office and hurried over to Lewis’s desk. “Mr. Hartman, is Ms. Reed alright?”
“What could possibly happen to her?” Lewis snorted.
Daniel continued, “Today, you were an hour late for the meeting with the HighBeacon Group. Hunk was furious and said he’s considering a new partner.”
“It’s fine. If we lose this deal, there’ll be another,” Lewis replied, calm and unbothered.
“Mr. Hartman, this cost us 100 million dollars,” Daniel said, shocked.
“I’ll make 150 million on the next deal,” Lewis said with absolute confidence and authority.
A mere employee like Daniel had no reason to argue further if the boss was this chill.
At five o’clock, Lewis left work on time and went home.
Doris was cooking in the kitchen when Lewis walked in and shooed her away. “You’re injured. Stop fussing around. Go rest.”
“Okay.” Despite Lewis’s cold expression, Doris beamed. “I’ll be looking forward to a delicious dinner from you then, Mr. Hartman.”
“Talk less,” Lewis grumbled as he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his lean and muscular forearms.
Doris pressed her lips together into a thin line and mimed zipping her mouth shut. She sat quietly at the dining table, watching Lewis.
He took out two fresh ribeye steaks and began seasoning them. Then he melted some butter in a pan and added garlic, rosemary, and onions, letting the aroma fill the room. Every move he made was smooth and elegant.
Doris couldn’t help but think, ‘It’s true what they say–there’s nothing more attractive than a man who can cook.‘
Lewis didn’t seem fazed by Doris’s gaze. He stayed focused, calmly and methodically preparing dinner.
Before long, two plates of steak were served. The golden–brown steaks were paired with bright green broccoli and vibrant cherry tomatoes. The color combination instantly whetted the appetite.
Lewis also prepared a fresh fruit and vegetable salad.
“Mr. Hartman, these look absolutely delicious–just as good as the dishes our hotel’s head chef makes,” Doris said, practically drooling.
Hearing her praise, Lewis couldn’t help but smile slightly. “If you’re hungry, just eat.”
Doris didn’t hold back. She had been eager to dig in for a while. She picked up her fork, speared a slice of steak, and brought it to her mouth. Chewing slowly, she savored the flavors.
“The taste is perfect.” Doris gave Lewis a thumbs–up. “You could work at our hotel with skills like this.”
“If I ever consider a career change, I’ll leave it to you to arrange,” Lewis quipped casually.
Doris patted her chest with confidence. “No problem. I’ll take care of it.”
Lewis gave a faint smile, amused but saying nothing.
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Chapter 48
Doris looked up and caught his gaze. “I feel like having a drink.”
Steak and wine are a match made in culinary heaven, after all.
Something felt missing, and now Doris realized it was wine. Even though her alcohol tolerance was low, she still enjoyed it.
Lewis’s first thought was how Doris had drunkenly tried to take advantage of him last time. He refused without hesitation. “No.”
“Why not?” Doris frowned, her voice uncertain. “Do I really bite people when I drink?”
Lewis choked. “Yes, you do.”
“Where did I bite you?” Doris asked, remembering nothing at all. “Your face, your car, or… your lips?”
“Isn’t there enough food here to keep your mouth busy?” Lewis snapped, placing a meatball on her plate.
“I’ll just have a tiny bit,” Doris pleaded, looking at him with puppy–dog eyes. “I promise I won’t bite anyone.”
Lewis couldn’t take her pestering anymore and reluctantly gave in. “Fine. Just a little.”
“OK!” Doris made a triumphant gesture.
Lewis poured Doris a small glass of red wine. “It’s no fun drinking alone. Let’s drink together.”
Doris raised her glass and clinked it against his. “Mr. Hartman, I’ll finish this one first.”
The inevitable result was that Doris got drunk–again. Lewis had no choice but to take her home, carrying her to bed once
more.
Doris grabbed his hand, mumbling, “Mr. Hartman, if I did bite you, you can bite me back. Bite wherever you want. Just don’t send me away, and don’t stay mad at me…”
Lewis stayed still, listening as she rambled on.
“Mr. Hartman, I know you were angry
because I didn’t listen to you today, but this small injury is nothing to me.
“You don’t understand. During holidays, the hotel is the busiest. No one’s allowed to take time off.
“Once, I had a fever of 103.1°F and still had to work. Another time, I sprained my ankle but went in using crutches. After all, my job only requires my hands, and I can work sitting down.
“As long as I’m still breathing, I’ll have to go to work. If I collapse, I’ll do it on the job. That’s called dedication. The manager would praise me for it and might even give me a bonus.
“If I don’t do this job, someone else will. For ordinary people like me, having a job is the only way to survive…”
Her voice grew softer and eventually faded into silence. The warm light of the bedside lamp illuminated her peaceful side face. Her thick hair spilled across the pale pillow, framing her features like a painting.
Lewis had grown up in privilege, never burdened by the struggles of life. He wasn’t one to be easily moved, but hearing Doris talk about her hardships stirred an unfamiliar pang of sympathy in his heart.
He gently stroked Doris’s soft hair with his palm, as if offering comfort, thinking to himself, ‘So this is how she has always lived–with resilience, optimism, and relentless hard work.‘
*****
At the Hartman Group, Daniel knocked on the door to the CEO’s office. After receiving Lewis’s permission, he walked in.
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“Mr. Hartman, what can I help you with?” Daniel placed a few documents on Lewis’s desk.
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“Daniel, look into Doris’s sister, Laura Webb. I want all the details,” Lewis said, sitting upright in his chair. His fingers were interlocked, his sharp brows furrowed in thought.
“Mr. Hartman, is everything alright between you and your wife?” Daniel couldn’t help but notice the cold, tense atmosphere. around Lewis.
Lewis shot him a sidelong glance. “Mind your own business. Get it done.”
Daniel quickly left, not daring to say more. It wasn’t long before Lewis received an internal call from Daniel, who informed him that Laura’s full profile had been sent to his email.
Lewis opened the email and scanned the information at lightning speed. He then picked up his phone and dialed Laura’s number.
Seeing the unfamiliar number, Laura hesitated for a moment before answering. “Hello, who’s this?”
“Laura, this is Lewis,” he said, his tone clear and measured.
Laura was surprised and a little caught off guard. “Is there something you want to talk to me about?”
“Yes,” Lewis said, glancing at his watch. “Do you have time to meet? I’d like to talk about Doris. Please don’t tell her about this meeting for now.”
Over the past few weeks, Lewis had come to understand that Doris wasn’t a frivolous spender. Her salary, combined with the household allowance he provided, should have been more than sufficient.
But ever since she met with Laura that day, she had started working extra jobs. Yesterday, she even got into an accident. It wasn’t serious, but it was still dangerous.
He wondered if Laura might know why Doris was working so hard to make extra money.
“Alright.” Laura agreed without hesitation upon hearing it was about Doris. Still, she couldn’t shake a sense of nervousness, worried that something might have gone wrong between the couple.
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