CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196: NOT WORTH MENTIONING

On the day of landing in SJ City, the weather wasn’t great, the sky was gloomy, with fine drizzle falling.

Today, Oliver Newton came alone to pick up Florence Fuller; it was also his first time meeting his boss alone since joining more than half a month ago.

Florence Fuller knew about her new secretary; he had just taken the position for two days when she went to France.

"Chairman Fuller," Oliver Newton greeted her.

"Let’s go," Florence Fuller handed him the suitcase.

Oliver Newton took it, placed the suitcase in the trunk, and drove the car out of the airport parking lot. He was about to ask Florence whether she wanted to go back to the company or home when Florence spoke first, "Let’s go to the First Hospital first."

"Okay."

Florence Fuller first went to the First Hospital to see Amelia Linney as she had brought many things from France for Amelia.

Coincidentally, she caught Amelia having lunch and added a pair of chopsticks for her. The mother and daughter chatted while eating.

"Who’s that man waiting outside for you? From your company?" Amelia Linney glanced at the door, seeing a man pushing the suitcase through she hadn’t seen by Florence’s side before.

"The new secretary we hired recently," Florence mumbled while eating.

"Hmm? Weren’t your secretaries two women?"

"One went to France, so someone needed to fill in," Florence explained.

"I see," Amelia Linney watched her, "Eat slowly and drink some water."

Florence finished her meal and stayed a while longer with Amelia, then left the hospital.

After returning from the hospital, Florence Fuller went to the company.

Having been in France for ten days, there were still some matters to handle on the company side.

Florence Fuller held a small meeting with several executives in Chloe Quinn’s office about plans to expand the jewelry brand. They were deep in discussion when an unexpected knock on the door interrupted them. Chloe Quinn’s secretary walked in, "Chairman Fuller, President Quinn."

Being interrupted, Chloe Quinn was a bit displeased, "What’s up?"

The secretary looked at Florence Fuller, "Um... President Gardiner from the Gardiner Clan is here."

Florence Fuller said, "Tell him I’m busy right now."

The secretary nodded and went out again.

"Let’s continue," Florence Fuller said.

This little meeting ended an hour later, and Chloe Quinn stayed to chat with her for a few more words before Florence Fuller returned to her office, only to find Luke Gardiner sitting at her desk.

"Back at last, our busy person," his tone was teasing.

"Is there something you need from me?" Florence asked him.

"Can’t I come to see you without a reason?" Luke Gardiner looked at her.

Florence Fuller replied, "You’re free, I’m not."

Seeing her come over, Luke Gardiner showed no sign of getting up, "Starloop SSG has available shop spaces now, prime locations, interested?"

"And such a small matter requires you to come in person?" Florence Fuller was puzzled.

Luke Gardiner looked at her.

Recalling that earlier, she wanted NQ’s apparel to enter Starloop SSG, but he had set conditions. Ultimately, NQ’s sales didn’t reach the standard set by him, and Florence Fuller didn’t even plead, quitting Starloop SSG on the same day, never mentioning it to him again.

Luke Gardiner regretted setting that standard at the time, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell Florence Fuller to just forget about it. He thought if she asked him later, wanting to stay in Starloop SSG, he would agree.

But, in the end, he was thinking too much.

"Are there any conditions this time?" Florence asked, standing opposite the desk.

"There won’t be," Luke Gardiner said, "Your brand has already risen with the tides; what more could be required?"

"The store location?" she asked again.

"You can take your pick, but the most advantageous two floors currently don’t have any expired shops," Luke Gardiner said.

"Alright," Florence nodded, "I’ll consider it."

"Do you really need to consider it?" Luke Gardiner was puzzled, "I could even let you in for free, and you’d still need to think it over."

"Of course," Florence said, "If I want to enter Starloop SSG, it should be at the best locations."

Luke Gardiner’s throat tightened, "You... didn’t ask for these before."

"That’s then," Florence Fuller stated, "Back then, I just wanted to take a gamble, I knew well the weight of NQ then."

Luke Gardiner felt like he’d been played by her, "So back then... you didn’t necessarily want shop space, just trying your luck."

Florence Fuller blinked and nodded.

Luke Gardiner let out a laugh, meaning unclear, leaned back in his chair to look at her, seemingly only now understanding another side of her.

"When the time is right, I’ll naturally come to you," Florence was pointed; you can leave now.

Luke Gardiner sat up, "If you were to enter, which spot would you want?"

"Dreamrest."

Luke Gardiner stiffened, "If you really want it, I could think of a way."

Florence laughed, "No need, it’s not necessary. After all, you gave your lover permanent rights to that place; I don’t need to push you because of that."

Luke Gardiner’s eyes flashed with shock, his heart tightening continuously.

She knew...

That humiliating emotion engulfed him, his Adam’s apple moved, "I... I’ve long had nothing to do with her."

Florence didn’t care about such things; she waved her hand, "No need to explain this to me. Our marriage began as a political alliance, unfamiliar and unlikable, and what you’ve done... you still live as if you aren’t married."

Luke Gardiner stared at her blankly, "Florence Fuller."

"Hmm."

"So you think my saying I liked you before was a lie."

"Be it false or true," Florence looked at Luke Gardiner, "It doesn’t concern me."

How can it not concern you?

Luke Gardiner’s heart pained as he thought.

His liking her, unrelated to her.

He struggled to restrain his emotions, standing slowly to confront Florence, "What do you like about Ethan?"

His sudden question caught Florence off guard.

Luke Gardiner continued, "You’ve been apart for three years; how do you know you still like him?"

"Of course I know," Florence estimated that this flamboyant young master wouldn’t understand, "One knows if they like someone or not."

Luke replied calmly, "Then why do you feel that my saying I like you is false?"

Florence frowned, suddenly becoming serious, "Luke Gardiner, there’s nothing romantic between us, don’t forget you also said you’d agree to a divorce."

Divorce! Divorce! Divorce!!!

Luke Gardiner screamed silently, why did Florence only ever know, only ever remember ’divorce, divorce, divorce’.

So in her eyes, his affection for her was entirely worthless?

He really wanted to pull that woman into his arms and demand whether he was so bad, so disliked by her.

But Luke Gardiner knew, if he did that, everything he’d built with Florence recently would collapse.