CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: DECLAN HAWTHORNE, YOU’RE MY FAVORITE

Poppy Hale herself was unaware.

Every time she drank, her temper worsened more than usual.

Or rather, even when facing him, she would still show her spoiled temperament without pretending to be sweet to appease him, and sometimes, she’d even become quite proactive.

Compared to the usual Poppy Hale, Declan Hawthorne preferred her in those moments.

When they were together, Declan Hawthorne had taken Poppy Hale to a bar a few times, where she had some low-alcohol drinks.

The lights in the bar flickered like the scales of tropical fish, creating an amorous atmosphere. Poppy Hale’s face was flushed, her cheeks glowing and captivating as she looked at him with eyes that glimmered with moisture.

Her words were like playful murmurs.

"Declan Hawthorne, I like you the most."

When she wasn’t drinking, she wouldn’t address Declan Hawthorne by his full name.

Declan Hawthorne smiled, reaching out to pull Poppy Hale into his embrace, blocking the unwanted gazes that made him uncomfortable.

"I like you too."

Poppy Hale seemed not to have processed it, letting out a light sound before grabbing Declan Hawthorne’s collar with both hands, "Declan Hawthorne, don’t lie to me."

After saying that, she kissed him willingly.

The bar echoed with sounds of mingled cheers, and Declan Hawthorne held her head, deepening the kiss.

Afterward, Poppy Hale forgot about the incident.

Declan Hawthorne didn’t bring it up either.

Just now, Poppy Hale used that kind of voice to sweet-talk the man on the other end of the phone.

He saw her step out to answer a call and made up an excuse to step out for some air and a cigarette.

As soon as he stepped out, he heard her say, "Sean Lynch, don’t lie to me."

Did he come out at a bad time?

A peculiar emotion surged in his heart.

If he had come out a little earlier, he might have heard Poppy Hale say, "Sean Lynch, I like you the most."

Though he had smoked for years, Declan Hawthorne choked on the smoke like a novice.

He coughed several times.

Morgan Sloan happened to come out too, and seeing Declan Hawthorne cough, immediately rushed over to curry favor, patting his back, "President Hawthorne, are you okay?"

Did those secretaries take advantage of the day and get the president drunk?

Look at that coughing!

Declan Hawthorne waved his hand.

"I’m fine, just choked a bit."

He flicked the ash off the back of his hand and put out the cigarette that was nearly burning his fingertips, "I’m fine."

Morgan Sloan was still a bit uneasy.

It’s known that although Declan Hawthorne parachuted into their company, he is the clearly established successor of the Hawthorne Group.

The Hawthorne Group is a sprawling business empire, and even though Declan Hawthorne doesn’t appear on the rich list, it’s only because he modestly disregards such titles.

If this were ancient times, Declan Hawthorne would be the emperor.

And he would be the Chief Eunuch!

If anything happened to the emperor, wouldn’t he, as the Chief Eunuch, be the first one to take the fall?

Morgan Sloan perked up and pulled out the silk handkerchief he carried everywhere, respectfully offering it, "President Hawthorne, do you have any instructions?"

Declan Hawthorne glanced at him coolly, taking the handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

"Tomorrow, have Rachel Rivers transferred to another department."

She was an eyesore in the secretariat.

Morgan Sloan tried to decipher the emperor’s will. Does the emperor think Rachel Rivers isn’t learning anything in the secretariat or is she too far from him?

If it’s the latter, there aren’t better positions available, but if it’s... proximity?

Declan Hawthorne wasn’t exactly favoring Rachel Rivers.

But during today’s meal, he did allow Rachel Rivers to stand behind him silently!

Morgan Sloan cautiously asked, "Do you think Rachel Rivers isn’t doing well? Should I make her aware of this?"

Declan Hawthorne calmly and directly looked at Morgan Sloan and said, "She’s a hindrance."

Morgan Sloan immediately understood.

"Understood, President. I’ll move Rachel Rivers to the marketing department tomorrow? Without any reason, she shouldn’t bypass levels to find you, correct?"

"Yes, just do it that way."

Morgan Sloan exhaled a long breath of relief and then heard Declan Hawthorne, as he turned to leave, say, "The handkerchief, get it reimbursed."

This handkerchief was an accessory gifted with a luxury brand package, but purchasing it alone would still cost several thousand. Declan Hawthorne recognized the value and wasn’t one to take others’ possessions unfairly.

Morgan Sloan almost wept with joy from behind.

He would definitely be a good Chief Eunuch!

-

After dinner.

Amber Yates’s husband came to pick her up and looked at Poppy Hale, "Are you coming with us?"

"That would be too much trouble, just drop me off at the nearest subway station."

The dinner was at a Sichuan restaurant near the company. Amber Yates’s home is in the south, and Poppy Hale’s is in the north. If they were to drive her all the way home, Amber Yates wouldn’t get home until the middle of the night.

Amber Yates dramatically clasped her hands, "Darling, you’re so considerate! If I were your husband, I wouldn’t do anything every night except hold you and kiss you!"

Poppy Hale: "..."

Luckily, she was used to Amber Yates’s speaking style.

The car pulled out and merged into traffic.

Amber Yates sat in the front passenger seat, "Let me tell you, I ran into President Hawthorne yesterday when I had the clothes with me; it scared me to death. If I had known, I would’ve brought them to you today."

Ran into Declan Hawthorne?

Poppy Hale thought about how yesterday in the garage, Declan Hawthorne had talked about buying clothes for Florence Lynch, which she refused.

Then later, he ran into Amber Yates; Declan Hawthorne probably wouldn’t have been pleased.

But it didn’t matter. That afternoon at the kindergarten, he also saw her with the clothes.

The wind blew in, and Poppy Hale felt her embarrassment and awkwardness were all exposed in Declan Hawthorne’s eyes; she was flustered, while he was polished.

He was likely mocking her too.

"It’s fine; the company hasn’t banned employees from helping each other."

Amber Yates: "Do you know President Hawthorne? He even asked me why your husband doesn’t care!"

Poppy Hale’s fingernails almost dug into her flesh, an unexplained panic stirring within her, unsettling her mind.

She forced herself to calm down, "We graduated from the same university, but we’re not familiar."

"I know, if you two were close, you would’ve gone and aligned with a golden opportunity!"

Poppy Hale didn’t respond, but went along with Amber Yates’s words, smiling slightly.

After dropping Poppy Hale off at the nearby metro station, Amber Yates and her husband left.

Poppy Hale didn’t leave immediately. She stood there, with the incessant summer cicadas chirping in her ears, her calf muscles twitching, and an invisible force sapping her strength to move.

Across the street, Declan Hawthorne’s conspicuous Wrangler was parked.

By the car, Rachel Rivers held Declan Hawthorne’s hand and acted playfully, tugging on his sleeve. Moments later, she pulled down on Declan Hawthorne’s collar, appearing about to kiss him.

Poppy Hale suddenly turned around and hurriedly ran into the subway station.

The abundant air conditioning poured out as if it were free, spilling from the metro station.

Poppy Hale collapsed onto the ground, burying her head into her knees, her energy drained from the sprint.

She didn’t have the courage to watch any further, only able to turn and flee.

Across the street.

Declan Hawthorne pushed Rachel Rivers away, his face clouded with annoyance, slightly angry, "Didn’t Mason Rivers tell you to have some decency?"

Rachel Rivers bit her lip in defiance, her voice coquettish, "But I like you."

"Just because you like me, I have to like you?"

Declan Hawthorne sneered coldly, "Then I wouldn’t need to do anything else, liking a different woman every day would be my life."

Rachel Rivers’s face turned pale, protesting, "I’m not like those other women!"

Declan Hawthorne wasn’t interested in Rachel Rivers’s tactics. He watched as Mason Rivers’s car appeared in traffic and turned to get into his own car, starting the Wrangler and driving away.

Leaving Rachel Rivers on the street, even though Mason Rivers would arrive in two minutes.

Not leaving any leeway.