Chapter 111: Chapter 109: He Loves Her More Than He Imagined (5)
Ethan Ellsworth smiled faintly and patted her head. "Good girl."
Just as they were about to head back to Ethan Ellsworth’s room, a man hurried up from behind them. "Boss Ellsworth, wait up."
Ethan Ellsworth turned around. "What is it?"
"Excuse me, is this lady your friend?"
"Yeah, she is. Why?"
The man explained, "Well, our company is shooting a shampoo commercial. A moment ago, our department head saw that this lady has wonderful hair and a lovely face, so he sent me to ask if she’d be interested."
Nora Ainsworth was a little surprised. "Me?"
The man nodded. "That’s right."
Ethan Ellsworth adopted an all-business tone. "What’s the pay?"
The man chuckled. "Surely you know, Boss Ellsworth? It’s for the commercial our company contracted with your friend’s company to produce. We still haven’t picked a spokesperson. The department head just happened to be passing by and sent me to ask. The pay is very high—we’re talking top celebrity rates."
Ethan Ellsworth nodded. "That’s pretty good. Go for it, Nora. It’s good money—several hundred thousand."
Nora Ainsworth asked, just to be sure, "It’s really just to shoot a commercial?"
"Yes. If you’re willing, Nora Ainsworth, you can meet our department head right now."
"Okay, I’ll give it a try."
Chloe Marshall eagerly volunteered, "Nora, I can help you look over the contract! I know a little about these things."
Ethan Ellsworth waved them off. "You two go on ahead."
With that, he pushed the door open and went inside. A look of excitement on his face, he sent a text message to Quentin Grant: *Nora accepted the gig for your company’s commercial. She still has no idea you’re the big boss behind it. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she finds out.*
A few minutes later, Quentin Grant replied with two words: *Very good.*
With no further issues, Nora Ainsworth agreed to go to the company the next day to sign the contract.
When she returned home, Nicholas Ainsworth was standing in front of the main gate, just as she’d expected.
He looked like he had been waiting for quite some time.
"What do you want?"
"What happened today was a little awkward. Let me treat you to dinner."
Nora Ainsworth thought about how she hadn’t spoken appropriately either, so she immediately agreed. "I was out of line, too. But after what happened... I was just so flustered I was rambling. So, uh, don’t take what I said to heart."
Nicholas Ainsworth pulled the car door open. "Get in. I heard a new restaurant opened recently that’s pretty good. Let’s go check it out."
Nora Ainsworth got in the car, and they left together.
Herman Hawthorne had been very busy lately, but no matter how swamped he was, he still had to go home at least once a week.
The moment he walked in the door, Mrs. Hawthorne slapped a stack of photos down in front of him.
"Take your pick. We’ve got all kinds. Curvy, slender... there’s bound to be a model that suits you."
Herman Hawthorne stared at the ceiling in exasperation. "Mom, it’s not like your son can’t find a woman on his own. Why are you always in such a rush to find me a wife?"
Mrs. Hawthorne pleaded, "Why am I in such a rush? Don’t you understand what I’m thinking? Look, you’re already twenty-five. Even if you get married this year, and it takes your wife another year to have a baby, I won’t get to hold my grandchild for another year or two! Other women my age are already grandmothers. If I don’t push you, it’ll take an eternity! Why can’t you understand how I feel?"
Herman Hawthorne relented. "Mom, I’ll find a wife. I promise, I will."
"When?"
"Don’t rush it. She’ll show up."
He stood up. "Right, uh, Mom, I’ve got some work to take care of, so I have to go. You eat a good meal, okay? Next week... yeah, next week I’ll bring a wife home for you."
Mrs. Hawthorne pointed at his retreating back. "If you don’t have one by next week, I’m arranging a blind date for you, and that’s final!"
Herman Hawthorne walked out even faster.
Mr. Hawthorne sat down with his newspaper. "Every week he comes home, you pressure him about marriage. Give it a rest. Marriage is a serious affair; it can’t be rushed."
"So many rich young men these days are caught up in gay rumors. I’ve seen the tabloids speculate about him several times. How can I not worry? I don’t care. If he’s not going to take his own marriage seriously, then as his mother, I have to."
Mr. Hawthorne glanced at her. "Don’t you know your own son? You shouldn’t be worried about that. Just let it be. Let nature take its course and stop pressuring the boy."
Hearing his words, Mrs. Hawthorne felt a wave of relief wash over her.
「As dusk fell, the city was bathed in the bright lights of the evening.」
Herman Hawthorne went to a bar.
Just as he walked in, he scanned the room and spotted Ethan Ellsworth sitting in a corner.
He walked over and sat down opposite him. With a suave snap of his fingers, Ethan Ellsworth called out, "Waiter, two glasses of champagne."
A waiter immediately brought two glasses and set them on the table. "You don’t look too happy," Ethan said. "What’s wrong? Spill. Let your buddy here share the burden."
Herman Hawthorne crossed his legs and picked up his flute. "It’s nothing. Just my weekly dose of marriage pressure. I’m used to it by now."
Ethan Ellsworth burst out laughing. "You think you’re the only one? The queen mother at my place is exactly the same."
Herman Hawthorne took a small sip of champagne and leaned his head back. "After all this time, how have I still not met a single woman who makes my heart skip a beat?"
The smile on Ethan Ellsworth’s face froze. "I met someone like that. But the feeling isn’t mutual."
Herman Hawthorne chuckled. "I’d advise you to give up on that idea sooner rather than later. Jean doesn’t see you that way. Time to move on."
Ethan Ellsworth’s gaze fixed on the liquid in his glass. "I don’t give up easily on a woman I’ve set my sights on. I just want to know what that poor bastard has that I don’t!"
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, haven’t you heard?" Herman Hawthorne scoffed. "If a spark was ever going to fly, it would have flown by now. It’s been years, hasn’t it? Everyone who knows the two of you can see how you feel—everyone except her, that is."
"At least I have a goal. What about you?" Ethan Ellsworth smirked. "Aside from finding a ’clean’ girl to screw when you have the urge, you don’t even have a target."
"I’m not in a rush. Marriage is serious. Sleeping with someone is one thing, marrying them is another." Herman Hawthorne sat up straight. "Hey, where’s that little sidekick of yours? The one who’s usually at your beck and call?"
Ethan Ellsworth closed his eyes. "What sidekick? Ever since she trained with you, she’s stopped taking me seriously at all."
"I thought she always did what you said." Herman Hawthorne swirled the champagne in his flute. "Don’t tell me she’s out on a date?"
Ethan Ellsworth’s eyes snapped open. "A date? Impossible. She doesn’t have a boyfriend."
Herman Hawthorne was amused. "How can you be so sure? What if she’s just keeping it from you?"
"She’s my little shadow. I’d know."
"Quentin’s here," Herman Hawthorne said in a low voice.
"Nothing strange about that."
"But... I see he’s with a very beautiful woman."
"What?" Ethan Ellsworth turned to look and saw that, sure enough, there was a beautiful woman with him—the kind of woman who is stunning at first glance.
A glint appeared in Ethan Ellsworth’s eyes. "His new flame?"
"No idea."
"I think I’ll go test the waters..." Ethan Ellsworth set down his flute and leaned back lazily against the sofa.
