His Coy Lover

Zelda withdrew her gaze and said to her father, “Dad, I think Mom is right. This is a private matter for our family. As long as Dad agrees, I can come in. There’s no need to bother Charles with everything.”

Charles had told her that even if she didn’t want to compete, as the biological daughter of her parents, Elle would consider her a rival. Her existence was a threat to Elle. Joining the company meant competing with Elle. Charles would probably agree to her joining the Roscente Group, right?

Peck stared at his daughter. He wanted to remind her of the rules in the Winston family, but with his wife and Elle present, he couldn’t bring it up.

“Let’s discuss this later,” Peck decided, planning to ask Charles for his opinion before arranging for Zelda to join the company, to avoid conflicts between the couple.

“Peck…”

“Mom, It’s up to dad.”

Zelda held her mother’s hand, signaling her not to get involved in this matter with her father.

Elle sighed inwardly. She had to find a way to stop Zelda from joining the company. Even though her parents still trusted her, she wasn’t the biological daughter of the Roscente family. Once Zelda entered the company, her parents would surely focus on nurturing Zelda. What would be left for Elle then?

“Ring, ring, ring…”

Zelda’s phone rang again.

She took out her phone and looked at the caller ID, her expression subtly changing.

“What’s wrong?” Chris asked with concern.

“Mom, I’ll take this call outside.”

Zelda didn’t tell her parents it was Charles calling.

“Okay,” Peck said affectionately.

Elle felt that her father had changed since yesterday when he personally sent Charles and Zelda away from the Roscente. She wondered what Charles had told her father.

Regardless of what the three in the office thought, once Zelda walked out and reached the VIP room door, away from the secretary, she answered Charles’s call.

“You took longer to answer the call than others. I’m busy, you wasted my time. Compensate for my losses.”

After Charles finished, Zelda replied softly, “Charles, you’re really bad. You almost scared my heart out. You should compensate me for the mental damages caused by your fierceness.”

Charles tightened his grip on the phone, cracks appearing in the icy facade on his face. This woman’s patience was quite impressive; no matter what attitude he used, she could still smile in the face of his aggression.

Did he regret marrying her?

“Charles, miss me?” Zelda sweetly smiled, “Calling me twice within an hour, you must miss me. I’m at my family’s company now. When I go back later, should I come in to see you?”

Charles really wanted to slap her face. He didn’t miss her, but the words rolled back as he couldn’t bring himself to slap her face. Her voice was sweet and charming, making him feel pleasant. For things that could bring him joy, Charles wouldn’t prevent them from happening.

“You need to go home for lunch.”

Charles said in a low voice, “I arranged a hairstylist to do your hair. Don’t disappoint them; it’s Tommy.”

Tommy!

Zelda knew this person, a famous hairstylist in River Town. Many people lined up to have him do their hair.

In her past life, Zelda wanted to make an appointment with Tommy to do her hair, but she couldn’t get a slot. The people ahead of her were all top figures in River Town, while she was just an unpopular young madam from the Lowell family. Tommy wouldn’t pay attention to her.

In this life, she didn’t need to make an appointment herself. With Charles arranging it, Tommy would come to help her with her hair.

Zelda felt the joy of being with Charles. She smiled happily, and that laughter transmitted through the airwaves into Charles’s ears. Suddenly, he remembered her joy after they got married, finding her amusing.

“What time will he arrive ?”

“At 12:30. You have to be home before 12. Can you manage that?”

Zelda checked the time and said, “Can’t I be home by 12:30? My dad invited me to have lunch at Rich Hotel, the seven-star hotel in River Town.”

She lived two lifetimes and had never been invited to have a meal at Rich Hotel. She reflected on her failure as the Roscente heiress.

Sensing her reluctance, Charles’s tone softened. “Invite me, and I can let you stay at the Rich Hotel every day, in the presidential suite, enjoying the highest level of service.”

“Oh, that’s right. It’s your family’s property. I almost forgot. Charles, do you like two little mice? When I go back this afternoon, I’ll give you a pair of little oxen. I can make all twelve zodiac signs.”

Charles’s lips curved slightly, and he pressed down on the smile that emerged.

“Stingy!”

He lightly teased her for giving such small gifts.

“Gifts are light, but the sentiment is heavy. All handmade by me. Others might want them, but I won’t give them to anyone else.”

Charles was in a good mood. He asked her, “Besides making zodiac signs, what else can you make? Can you make portraits?”

“I can, but portraits are not as easy to make as animals. They require more time and materials.”

After saying that, Zelda felt a sense of unease. He wouldn’t make her create a series of portraits of him as the zodiac signs, would he?

“Since you can make portraits, then…”

Zelda caught on quickly. Even if she cursed him in her heart, she wore a pleasing smile on her face and said, “Charles, if you like, I’ll make them. However, since I’m not very familiar with you, I’d need some time to carefully study your features to create a lifelike portrait.”

Charles’s lips curved again. He said to her, “Zelda, I seriously suspect that you want to flirt with me.”

“Charles, even if I want to flirt with you, can I succeed? You’re not a person to be trifled with. Flirting with you would be a wasted effort.”

The next moment, Charles’s tone turned cold, ordering her, “Go home now.”

“… Wasn’t it before 12? It’s still early.”

“Can you walk home by yourself? If not, then go back now. I’ll give you enough time. If you still make a mistake, I’ll cut off all your hair when I get home.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“How could you!”

Zelda was irritated, cursing him.

“What did you say?”

Charles’s tone became more severe. Zelda immediately changed her tune, “I said you’re handsome. My love for you is like the rolling waters of the Yangtze River, flowing endlessly.”

“Zelda.”

Burton’s voice suddenly interrupted the couple’s conversation.

Zelda turned her head and saw Burton approaching with a bouquet of flowers. He walked confidently, and the secretary, like air, didn’t stop or block him.

On the other end of the call, Charles heard Burton’s voice and promptly hung up.

“Charles… hung up my call again! Just wait; one day, I will hang up your call fiercely too!”

Muttering to herself, Zelda put her phone back in her pocket. She turned around to face Burton, who was approaching with a bouquet.