Free Web NovelChapter 167: Chapter 163: Unexpectedly, He Was Also There
Some things can’t be explained in just a few words over the phone.
Only by talking in person could they get to the bottom of it.
Lynn Thorne asked a lot about her life in Akashima. Georgia told her some of it, but kept some things to herself.
Lynn sighed. "So, are you planning to go back to Akashima?"
Georgia shook her head. "No, I’m not going back!"
After the two sisters had been chatting in the room for a while, Leah Sutton came up and knocked on the door. "Mom, Auntie, it’s time to come down for dinner!"
Lynn answered, "Let’s head down."
Downstairs, in the living room—
When Georgia saw Justin Sullivan sitting across from Jared Thorne, she stopped in her tracks. "What’s he doing here?"
Pretty much everyone in the Thorne family knew Georgia had a crush on Justin.
Lynn had also heard a little about it from their mother later on.
"I’m not sure," Lynn said, turning to look at her. "He probably came back with Dad. Do you still..."
Lynn looked at her, hesitating. Some questions were just too hard to ask.
"Let’s go down," Georgia said, her expression calm and composed.
In truth, she was just surprised to find him at the Thorne Family’s home for dinner, that’s all.
During her six months in Akashima, Justin hadn’t called or texted even once to ask her why she had never shown up.
’Surely, he must have understood her intentions by now.’
At the dinner table, Georgia sat beside Lynn, her expression serene.
When Justin’s gaze landed on her from across the table, she didn’t dodge or look away. She met his eyes directly and offered a small smile.
Justin’s eyes tightened. An unpleasant feeling welled up inside him.
In the end, he was the one who broke eye contact first, looking away.
’Georgia feels different from before.’
She had left abruptly, disappearing for half a year. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t angry.
But he also knew he had no right to be.
Six years is twelve half-years.
That was why, when he heard Georgia would be returning to the Thorne residence today, he had canceled all his appointments to come over with Jared Thorne.
Justin’s gaze followed Georgia throughout the meal, taking in her every expression.
The dinner ended without the two of them exchanging a single word.
After dinner, Jared Thorne, as expected, called Georgia into the study, forced her to kneel, and gave her a vicious tongue-lashing.
He only let her go after receiving a phone call.
Jared Thorne’s tone shifted instantly. Kneeling on the floor, Georgia heard him say "President Morgan." Then, just as he was about to get down to business, he noticed Georgia was still there. Annoyed, he waved his hand dismissively, motioning for her to get out at once.
Georgia had been kneeling for over half an hour, and her legs were so numb she could barely feel them.
She struggled to her feet and slowly made her way out.
Just before closing the door, she heard Jared Thorne discussing something about an investment with the person on the phone.
Georgia had no intention of spending the night. Seeing that it was getting late, she decided it was time to leave.
"Hayley, Justin, I have something to do, so I’ll be heading out now!" Georgia said to the two siblings chatting in the living room.
Although Hayley and Justin Sullivan were siblings, neither had inherited their father Silas Sullivan’s features. Both took after their mother, so they didn’t look much like brother and sister, even when standing side by side.
Hayley had always considered Georgia a thorn in her side, so she was more than happy to see her leave early.
Seeing Georgia’s limp, Hayley figured she must have gotten quite a scolding from Jared. The thought brought her a bit of satisfaction.
"Alright, you should head home then."
Justin’s gaze landed on Georgia. He stood up abruptly. "I’ll drive—"
"Justin, that green tea you gave your brother-in-law—do you have any more? You have no idea how much he loves it! He drinks some every day, and he just ran out. He asked me to check if you had any left!"
Hayley scrambled to her feet as well, grabbing Justin’s hand and saying with a wide smile.
Hayley had to keep Georgia at bay. She couldn’t let Georgia have the slightest chance to be alone with Justin.
This was a critical time. With Silas Sullivan critically ill and bedridden, Justin had taken control of all the Sullivan family’s affairs. In just six months, he had successfully taken Silas’s place and officially become the company’s president.
Previously, the only person Justin had to consider was Silas Sullivan. Without his father’s consent, Justin could never have married Georgia.
But now it was different. Silas Sullivan lay delirious on his sickbed. If Justin were to force the issue and marry Georgia, Silas would be powerless to stop them, even if he wanted to.
Therefore, she had to seize every opportunity and make sure the two of them were never, ever allowed to be together.
Only after watching Georgia change her shoes and leave did Justin give a lukewarm reply. "I’ll have someone bring some over another day."
"Mhm!" Hayley noticed Justin’s eyes were still glued to the doorway and scoffed inwardly.
’If you two actually got together, that would be a disaster!’
Georgia walked quickly. Luck was on her side; a bus arrived just as she reached the stop.
Justin drove along, his eyes scanning the roadside. He pulled over at an empty bus stop, smoked a cigarette, and then finally drove away.
’She’s really not going to wait for me anymore.’
When Georgia got back to her apartment, Nancy Hughes was just stepping out of the shower.
"You cut your hair?"
"I passed a salon, and it was cheap, so I just got it cut," Georgia replied dismissively.
"Uh..." Nancy was at a loss for words. Seeing Georgia’s pale face, she asked, "Are you okay?"
Georgia tossed her bag aside and threw herself onto the sofa. "What are you worried about? I was just going home, not walking into the lion’s den!"
"With your stepmom and Amanda Thorne in that house, if it’s not a lion’s den, what is?" Nancy sat down too. "You look so drained. What happened tonight?"
"I ran into Justin Sullivan today!"
"Pfft! What a coincidence!"
"Yeah, I thought it was too much of a coincidence, too!" Georgia sighed.
"It’s not like I was deliberately avoiding him, but his stare was so intense. Eventually, I had no choice but to look away!"
Georgia told Nancy what had happened that evening.
Nancy offered her analysis. "Is it possible that Justin knew you were back and went there specifically to see you?"
Georgia had considered that, too. The possibility was definitely there.
"I only told you and my older sister that I was back in the country."
Georgia’s eyes shifted to her. Nancy quickly shook her head, crossing her hands in front of her. "I swear I didn’t tell Justin! I don’t even have his number!"
"If you didn’t tell him, and my sister didn’t tell him, then how did he know?"
"Maybe he’s had someone watching your every move! The moment you set foot back in the country, he knew! For all we know, he might have a crystal-clear picture of everything you did in Akashima!"
"Impossible. He’s not that kind of person!" Georgia denied it out of reflex.
Nancy held up her hands. "Hey, I was just spitballing."
Who knew what the real situation was, anyway!
Georgia rested at home for two days, then went into the office on Friday.
She hadn’t seen Nicole Kane in a long time. Nicole was dressed in the same sharp, professional attire as always, exuding an air of authority.
"Welcome back!" Nicole said with a smile, extending her hand.
"Thanks!" Georgia returned the smile.
In truth, she was very grateful to Nicole, who always seemed to help her in subtle ways.
"You know, you seem very different now compared to before you left for Akashima. You’ve changed a lot," Nicole said, a hint of admiration in her eyes.
"Nothing ever stays the same, does it?" Georgia asked in return.
The two of them exchanged a smile.
Georgia had come in today to get reacquainted with her work before her official start on Monday.
She hadn’t worked in a long time, and it was hard to adjust to the hectic pace all at once.
She suddenly found herself missing her time in Akashima.
She rested at home for two days over the weekend.
On Monday, her first official day back, she spent the morning visiting two small clients.
When she got back to the office building and was about to head up, she saw Nicole getting out of a black car.
Nicole turned, leaned back in to kiss the man in the driver’s seat, and then closed the door.
Georgia recognized the driver. It was Mason Morgan.
Nicole, of course, saw her too. She gave an unnatural cough or two to cover her embarrassment.
After the black car drove off, Nicole walked up to the stunned Georgia. "Let’s go grab a bite to eat."
"Okay," Georgia nodded, still dazed.
In a restaurant near the office, Georgia stared at Nicole across the table, her fine brows furrowed.
"I’m leaving to go work at Mason Morgan’s company."
Nicole spoke before their food had even arrived.
Georgia let out an awkward laugh, unsure how to react.
"You saw us earlier. I’m not ashamed of my relationship with Mason. He’s a widower and I’m unmarried; there’s nothing wrong with us being together." Nicole was a blunt person, and she didn’t mince words. "Remember how I warned you not to get too close to him? This is the reason."
"Uh..."
Georgia was taken aback. While Mason Morgan wasn’t unattractive, he was far too old.
And Nicole was so young; they weren’t even close to the same age.
Besides, Georgia’s impression of Mason Morgan was not good. In fact, it was very bad.
But that was the kind of thing you couldn’t just come out and say to Nicole.
She took a sip of water. "So, when do you plan on leaving?"
"Next month. Do you want to come with me?"
Georgia frantically shook her head. ’She was already trying to avoid Mason Morgan; how could she possibly dare to go work for him!’
She completely lost her appetite for the rest of the meal.
She only picked at her food a few times before losing her appetite completely.
A lot had changed at the company. In just six months, there had been a major staff shake-up.
For example, Linda Wagner, who used to work under Nicole, had hooked up with a director and was suddenly promoted to a manager position, making her Nicole’s equal.
Linda had never liked Nicole, and now that she had a powerful backer, she was more arrogant than ever.
The two of them had just walked back into the company when they ran into Linda.
"Well, well. Slacking off during work hours? I guess our company really is going downhill, being bled dry by freeloaders like you every day!" Linda said, slowly clacking toward them on her high heels.
"If the company were really going downhill, would you still be able to act so smug in front of me, all thanks to your boyfriend?" Nicole shot her a cold glance before walking into her office.
