Since she was little, Jodie hated to see people being bullied or taken advantage of. She had always wanted to protect those in need. Brianna was her best friend from childhood, and surely she wouldn't want anyone to treat Brianna badly. Just as she was speaking with enthusiasm, she suddenly looked terrified and turned around.
Confused and shocked, Brianna asked. "What's the matter, Jodie?"
"He, err, he's here." Jodie stuttered.
Brianna turned around and noticed that the bustling canteen had suddenly turned silent, and everyone was looking towards the door. It was Sean Smith walking in with the company of a few bodyguards. He had a subtle and gentle smile on.
Smartly and neatly dressed, he looked elegant, successful, and there's an air of authority about him. His charm was different from Scott's distant feel nor Jameson's carefree playfulness, but he was not a bit less charming than either of them.
It was apparent that people were looking at him with admiration.
Before Jodie could hide under the table, Sean had arrived, standing next to her. "Are you still trying to hide?"
"Uncle, uncle Sean," Jodie pouted her lips and said guiltily, "What brought you here?"
"What have you promised me?"
"But, but it's too far. It takes too long to commute from your company here. We will still have breakfast and dinner together."
"And lunch! If you don't keep your promise, I won't come to get you next time, but will have you walk to me and see if it takes too long to commute."
"Come on, uncle Sean." Jodie pouted her lips and rolled her eyes at him. "Won't your mum and sister think you are being too protective of me? They will like me even less."
"Who should you care about, them or me?"
"Well, you, of course."
"Then listen to me instead of compromising to please them."
"But, uncle Sean, I want to spend lunchtime with Brianna."
"Are you two good friends?"
"Yes! She's been my best friend since childhood. Those people you ask me to meet aren't real friends. None of them respect me. They aren't genuine. But Brianna is different. She's a real friend."
"Well, you should invite her over often then." Sean nodded at Brianna.
"But your...but will they welcome my friends?"
Sean seemed a bit startled by the question, but he assured, "As long as I'm around, they have to be welcoming."
"Uncle Sean." Jodie paused for a second, "I hope you won't interfere and let me hang out with people that I like here." She continued sincerely.
"I don't want to interfere, but I have to know what kind of people you are hanging out with, especially that you have been very disobedient lately and failed to keep your word," Sean said sternly. He glanced around and noticed that some curious people had gathered close to him. He looked at them coldly, and all retreated quietly.
They were watching either out of curiosity or to take the chance to speak to him and get to know him, but they realized that Sean, who seemed gentle, was the same as their boss, Scott Anderson. Sean's gentleness was only for the new girl in the sales department.
"I'm not a kid anymore." Jodie retorted.
Sean rolled his eyes impatiently and changed the subject. "Come home with me, get changed, and I will introduce a few clients to you. You should dress a bit more properly."
Jodie's face lit up. "Really? That's great!"
Without another word, Sean grabbed Jodie by her arm and lifted her off her seat like a mother cat with her kittens.
Jodie waved her hand at Brianna. "Brianna, I will see you around."
"Sure." Brianna watched them leave with a smile, finding it amusing and rather sweet. Jodie must be the only one that can speak to Sean Smith this way. Last time, he carried her away, and this time, he dragged her away. Ha-ha. He loves her. She's spoiled. It's completely different from the relationship between Scott Anderson and me.
Brianna went back to the office after lunch. As she had had a sleepless and tearful night, she dozed off as she was doing some research online.
In her half-asleep, half-awake state, she heard some girls murmuring.
"Hey, why do you think Brianna could marry Mr. Scott Anderson? I mean, she does look quite pretty, but she's got nothing special. All the girls that adore Mr. Scott Anderson are beautiful, and most were born in wealthy families."
"Perhaps she's very good in bed!" someone suggested.
"But she doesn't look the slutty sort."
"Don't judge a book by its cover. I think it's usually those that look innocent that have the wildest desire. Ha-ha."
"Ha-ha. And Mr. Scott Anderson isn't the usual sort. Have you ever seen him with any other women? I haven't since my first day at work. Though many girls desire to be with him, no one could ever get close to him."
"Maybe Mr. Scott Anderson has some secret problems." There was a short pause. "I mean, in sex. And she happens to know how to fix it."
"No. I don't think so. He looks perfectly fine."
"But there have been rumors that he prefers men."
"Hush. Don't be too loud."
"Aha, it can be true. Perhaps he married her merely as a disguise, to hide the fact that he was gay. I mean, if he does care about her, why would he ask her to work here. This is not what the life of Mrs. Anderson is supposed to be. She should be going to parties, shopping, you know."
"Right. She's just a disguise."
"Hush. She might hear us."
"She's fallen asleep. Don't worry."
"What a shame! Why are so many charming men either gay or married? It's so unfair to us."
"I know. I've spent so much money on make-up and clothes, just hoping to look more beautiful so that Mr. Scott Anderson would notice me."
"Anyway, let's get back to work. If he loved women, why would he fire those that tried to get close to him?"
"Right." They all heaved a sigh and dropped the gossip.