CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: THE LITTLE SECRETARY

Audrey Sutton couldn’t connect the man in the suit before her with terms like debauchery.

Clearly, words like self-righteousness and a wolf in sheep’s clothing suited him better.

Shane Warner casually took some pasta from the cupboard and said, "Seems like your brain isn’t filled with art."

Audrey didn’t expect him to turn it around on her, angrily retorting, "Who’s to say what kind of art you’re doing with those secretaries in the office all day?"

Shane had no idea why she brought up secretaries out of the blue, he just laughed lightly and said, "Looks like you like vinegar; I’ll put a bit more in for you later."

Audrey ran upstairs in frustration.

While dealing with the ingredients, Shane wondered, what’s up with the secretaries?

She only came to the company once to deliver lunch; how did it turn into secretaries?

In the bedroom, Audrey nestled on the sofa scrolling through her phone.

Her brothers texted asking how she was adjusting to married life, and Audrey dared not complain to them.

It felt like she had eloped against the family’s wishes and was being domestically abused but couldn’t speak up—because she chose her husband herself.

"Dinner’s ready."

Hearing Shane call her from downstairs, Audrey grudgingly went down. Despite her temper, she couldn’t take it out on her stomach.

Just from one plate of pasta, it was clear he often cooked, and his skills were impressive.

The pasta was truly delicious, making Audrey feel less aggrieved inside.

After his shower, he came downstairs, sat on the couch, turned on the TV to a news channel, and said to her, "Want to travel abroad?"

"Where to?"

"Wherever I take you."

"When?"

"This weekend."

Upon hearing it was the weekend, Audrey was about to say it might work, but then remembered the deadline Laura Yates set for her manuscript, and feigned disinterest saying, "No, it’s boring."

Pausing, she deliberately added, "Going out with you is boring."

"Alright, then stay home by yourself. Remember to turn on the light when doing homework, don’t stay out too late, go to bed early, be good."

Audrey pouted and asked, "Then who are you going to hang out with?"

Shane said, "Business trip, should be back Monday unless something comes up."

Audrey thought for a moment and asked, "Taking a few secretaries?"

Shane tilted his head and looked at her, "Why are you obsessed with the secretaries? What did you do at my company today?"

Audrey pondered then said, "I’m going with you!"

Shane chuckled, looked at her a couple of times without exposing her little scheme, and only said, "Give me your ID number, I’ll book the ticket."

Audrey felt too tired, having to manage her career while watching her own corner.

The flight was Friday night around eight, and they met with his batch of secretaries at the airport.

There was, as expected, Secretary Irving. Audrey thought she made the right choice by coming.

Besides Secretary Irving, there was Faye Xavier, and two men and one woman Audrey didn’t know—they probably were other secretarial assistants.

Faye looked very different from his disheveled appearance in the karaoke—now dressed properly in a light grey suit, his hair newly styled at the salon, shoes spotless, looking somewhat serious.

Indeed, what kind of boss breeds what kind of subordinates—like peas in a pod, equally pretentious hypocrites.

"President Warner and his wife are really loving, even bringing her on business trips."

Faye smiled to say, "Of course, with a goddess-like sister-in-law, President Warner would keep a close watch, might as well pocket her."

Lan Irving walked at the end of the group, listening to her colleagues chatter but wordlessly observing Shane and Audrey up front.

Audrey looked up and said something to him, he slightly turned his head with a smile, his gentle demeanor was something she hadn’t seen before.

"I speak a bit of French, you can hire me as a translator."

Shane smiled and asked, "How much is the salary?"

"Just pay whatever you think is right."

Shane recalled how, when she abruptly decided to marry him, her self-introduction was "Fluent in five languages and nine dialects," yet from his current understanding, most sounded like embellishment.

In the airplane’s first-class cabin, Shane sat next to Audrey, with Faye and Lan Irving behind them.

Lan Irving should be the most competent among the secretaries; otherwise, Shane wouldn’t take her on a business trip.

Audrey considered Lan Irving to be somewhat of a cool woman, possessing the mature allure of a professional, good-looking enough to rely solely on charm to stay near a big boss—but Lan Irving wasn’t a mere pretty face, her work skills were strong.

Honestly, facing such a mature woman, Audrey felt a bit insecure.

During the ten-plus hour flight, Shane either read documents or the newspaper.

Audrey glanced at the financial newspapers and work documents in his hand, all areas she hadn’t ventured into, naturally finding no topics to discuss.

Left with no choice, she put on earphones, watched two or three movies, then fell asleep.

When awakened, it was Shane calling her about the plane landing.

The weather in Seraphina was nice as they arrived at the hotel in the afternoon, the soft sunshine felt slightly lazy.

Audrey naturally shared a suite with Shane, but it was a suite with separate rooms for each.

"Knock knock—"

Hearing the knock, Audrey ran to open the door from the outer room where she was eating.

Lan Irving paused for half a second upon seeing Audrey answering the door, then smilingly greeted, "Ma’am."

Audrey glanced at her twice, "Anything you need?"

Lan Irving asked, "Is President Warner here?"

"He’s showering."

Lan Irving paused and said, "I’ll come back later then."

Audrey slightly furrowed her brows, calling out to the leaving Lan Irving, "What do you need him for? You can tell me."

Lan Irving smiled softly saying, "It’s work-related."

"I can deliver the message for you."

Lan Irving politely declined with a smile, "I’ll come back later."

Watching Lan Irving turn away, Audrey’s brow furrowed deeper, feeling increasingly that this was suspicious.

"What are you looking at?"

Hearing Shane’s voice, Audrey turned to glance at him, he didn’t use the hotel’s robe due to his cleanliness, wearing his own deep blue satin bathrobe, lazily dashing and with an enticing allure.

Audrey stared blankly for two seconds before answering, "Looking at your secretary."

Shane walked to the door in confusion and peered down the corridor, spotting Lan Irving who hadn’t gone far.

"What does she want from me?"

Audrey snapped, "How would I know? Isn’t that your secret with her? She wouldn’t tell me, would she?"

Shane looked at her saying, "See that wine cabinet?"

"What about it?"

"Open it up and take a sniff, I suspect they’re selling fake wines."

Audrey believed he was deliberately changing the subject, which further convinced her there was something shady between him and Lan Irving, so she angrily kept silent.

Shane subtly said, "You think if all the bottles are genuine, the room should be filled with the aroma of wine, right? How come it smells like vinegar?"