Chapter 219: Chapter 219: "My Wife is Too Cold...
"Go on and answer it, President Sterling. What if it’s an important call!" Wendy Lawson, who was sitting next to Jessie Sterling, had already seen the caller ID on Jessie’s screen and couldn’t resist teasing her.
The others at the table, who didn’t know what was going on, also chimed in.
"Yeah, what if it’s something important? You should go take the call."
"We’ll wait for you to start, don’t worry."
Jessie Sterling listened to the well-meaning voices around her and the persistent ringing of her phone. In the end, she had no choice but to stand up. She gave everyone at the table an apologetic smile, then turned and walked outside to take the call.
The moment she stepped outside and answered, Victor Morgan’s voice came through the phone.
"What’s going on? Were you busy? Was it a bad time to call?"
Victor Morgan fired off three questions. Even though his voice didn’t sound particularly urgent, the rapid-fire succession of questions said it all.
Jessie replied, "Not really. We were all just about to have dinner when your call came in."
"Then why did you reject my call?"
"We were about to eat, weren’t we? It would have been inconvenient," Jessie said matter-of-factly.
She might have been matter-of-fact, but Victor Morgan felt his chest tighten when he heard her.
"How is eating inconvenient? Am I someone you have to hide?" Victor Morgan asked bluntly.
Even someone as oblivious as Jessie could tell from his blatant displeasure that Victor Morgan was probably in a bad mood.
She suppressed a laugh. ’When did this man get so particular about every little thing?’
"Of course not. It’s just... we’re on the phone. Why would we want other people listening in?" Jessie said, as if it were nothing.
Sure enough, after she said that, the other end of the line went strangely silent.
A moment later, Jessie heard Victor Morgan cough as if clearing his throat. "Alright, then."
The corners of Jessie’s lips curled up, her eyes brimming with amusement.
’I knew it. Victor is actually quite easy to please.’
’Just like now.’
"When does your dinner party end?" Victor Morgan asked.
Jessie replied, "Why?"
’She was just playing dumb.’
"I’ll call you when you’re done," Victor Morgan said.
Jessie said, "Victor Morgan, you’re so clingy."
"Yeah, I am."
The hand Jessie was holding the phone with paused when she heard his unhesitating, affirmative reply.
She had teased Victor several times in the past, telling him that his clinginess was nothing like the cold, aloof man she’d first met.
But Victor had never acknowledged it.
This time, however, he had, leaving her a little unsure how to respond.
Seemingly oblivious to her hesitation, Victor’s voice soon came through the line again.
"My wife is too distant, so I have to be a little clingier. What if she starts noticing someone else?"
At that moment, Jessie felt her heart suddenly begin to race, completely out of her control.
Even though the western Sichuan night air carried a winter chill, the blood in her veins felt like it was boiling. A warmth spread from her heart, making her entire body feel hot enough to ward off the bitter cold.
"What are you talking about!" Jessie’s ears flushed red. "I’m not talking to you anymore. They’re all waiting for me to get back so we can eat. Bye! You go to bed early!"
After saying that, Jessie gave Victor no chance to protest and swiftly ended the call.
After putting her phone down, her face still felt flushed. Instead of heading right back into the private room, she stood by the door for a while, letting the cool breeze wash over her.
Only when Jessie felt the heat in her cheeks subside did she turn to go back in.
When she returned to the private room, the hot pot was bubbling, and everyone was ready to eat.
Being in the Tibetan region, a pot of butter tea or sweet milk tea was a must.
"Here’s to making a fortune every day we work together!" Joanne Warren said with a wide smile, raising her glass first.
Haydn added, "In that case, I’ll wish for everyone to be happy and in a good mood every day."
"Hold on, let me think." Jade Moyer held up her glass. "I’ll wish for our business to develop smoothly! And for The Celestial Garden to open as soon as possible!"
"Then I’ll just hope to have a pleasant week with all of you."
"May everything go smoothly!"
"To good luck and great fortune!"
"Cheers!"
The restaurant windows fogged over with a hazy layer of condensation, reflecting the blurry but clearly joyful silhouettes of the group inside.
It was about a ten-minute walk from the restaurant back to the house.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group didn’t quiet down on the walk back. They chattered and laughed all along the peaceful road home.
They might have seemed energetic on the way, but as soon as they got home, none of the eight felt like lingering in the living room. They all waved goodnight and retreated to their respective rooms.
Jessie was no exception.
Since the accommodations on the road weren’t the best, she didn’t linger in the bathroom for long before getting into bed.
Remembering she still had to call Victor, Jessie yawned and dialed the most recent number in her call history.
"Finished eating? Back home?" Victor picked up after a single ring, his voice traveling through the line.
Jessie hummed. "Yeah, I’m already in bed."
"Did you have fun today?" Victor asked.
Jessie nodded before remembering he couldn’t see her. "It was fun, just exhausting."
"Hmm?"
"I was amazing this morning. I earned enough to pay for everyone’s breakfast! Then, this afternoon we all went to do a travel photoshoot..."
Jessie rambled on. She had so much she wanted to share with Victor, but she was simply too exhausted. Her voice grew progressively quieter until it was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, and it was impossible to know if he could still hear her on the other end.
Victor Morgan was still standing by his office window, phone in hand.
’With Jessie away, what’s the point of going home? Even if I leave work on time, the house will be empty. Going home feels meaningless. It’s better to just work overtime at the office every day to keep busy.’
As Victor heard Jessie’s voice trail off, he didn’t say anything. He just stood there quietly, listening until her words faded completely, replaced by the soft, steady rhythm of her breathing.
"Honey?"
Victor Morgan asked in a low voice.
No response came from the other end. A moment later, however, he heard a faint RUSTLING sound, which must have been Jessie turning over in her sleep.
Victor couldn’t help but smile as he turned and walked back to his desk.
He set his phone aside without hanging up, keeping the line open to the person thousands of miles away, even without a single word being exchanged.
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