CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 94: DIDN’T YOU WANT TO HIT ME? GO AHEAD

Saying she’s afraid he’ll fire her.

But in her heart, that’s not what she thinks at all.

Declan Hawthorne’s roguish laughter echoes in Poppy Hale’s ears.

Not letting him in, planning to open the door for another man?

Thinking of what Poppy Hale said the other night after getting out of the car.

Planning to go on blind dates in the future.

"Who are you going on a blind date with?"

Poppy Hale turns her face, not looking at him.

But his breath still falls on her face, unavoidable.

Doing so, his lips graze her face, making her blush even more.

"I don’t know, depends on who my mom finds."

Blind dates aren’t something she decides.

At worst, she’ll put her photo up in the matchmaking corner of the People’s Park.

Maybe someone will contact her.

Declan Hawthorne’s fingers gently rub Poppy Hale’s cheek.

"Not finished with the last blind date, and already seamlessly onto the next?"

Saying it like that.

As if she’s some kind of player.

"Where was the ’last one’..."

Halfway through her sentence, Poppy Hale suddenly remembers the so-called blind date with Declan Hawthorne.

Wasn’t that meal arranged just to placate his family?

"Last time, President Hawthorne, Florence and I just caused you trouble. It doesn’t count as a blind date."

Seeing her calm, unperturbed gaze.

Declan Hawthorne releases his hand, looks down at the woman in front of him.

"And why doesn’t it count?"

He had called his family.

Wanting to resolve some past misunderstandings.

Yet to her, it became meaningless.

Poppy Hale looks at Declan Hawthorne.

When they entered the room, the lights weren’t on, just a few ambient lights were lit.

She could see the man’s gem-like eyes, his resolute, stern look, and stubborn expression.

Poppy Hale is puzzled.

"What does President Hawthorne think our current relationship is? Want to take advantage of a subordinate? Sorry, I’m not into that."

Declan Hawthorne is taken aback by her harsh words.

"I’m not..."

"Don’t I have the right to refuse a blind date? We’re not suitable, and we don’t need to interact anymore. Is that okay?"

Here we go again.

That same attitude.

Like a porcupine, all spines raised, completely directed at him.

He feels somewhat powerless.

For so many years, he’s never bowed to anyone, let alone comforted someone actively.

The things he’s done, she doesn’t know, and it’s just as well, because when she does know, she always wants to distance herself from him.

These past days she hasn’t sought him out; he assumes it’s because she’s busy with work.

But Poppy Hale is his employee, and he knows better than anyone whether or not she’s busy.

In the past, Poppy Hale was good-natured at the company.

Even those with a decent relationship with her, including Morgan Sloan occasionally took advantage of her to handle some tedious but not so important tasks.

She always agreed.

It’s as if her temper from before had never existed.

After Declan Hawthorne’s few admonishments, no one dared to waste her time with those things anymore.

But she doesn’t know to come to him either.

In the past, like a small chatterbox, she was always nearby, chirping incessantly.

She always had endless things to say.

Gossips she heard, fun tidbits, childhood stories, she’d share it all.

Not like her current silence.

Declan Hawthorne is prideful too.

With her attitude, he can’t help feeling a bit annoyed.

Looking down at Poppy Hale, Declan Hawthorne says slowly: "What kind of advantage-taking doesn’t involve doing anything?"

Poppy Hale flushes red.

She never expected Declan Hawthorne to say that.

The man grabs her hand, placing it on his face.

"Didn’t you want to hit? Go ahead."

If hitting him would ease her anger.

Then maybe a slap is something he could take.

After all, no one is watching now.

Though, he really shouldn’t push it, if Poppy Hale really were to reach out and slap him, his patience would wear thin.

"What exactly do you want?"

She even agreed to re-add his friend back.

His unreasonable demands, she agreed too.

What more does he want?

Poppy Hale suddenly thinks of something.

Her gaze shifts to below Declan Hawthorne’s belt.

Her eyes flicker.

Looking back up at him, her gaze devoid of emotion.

"If President Hawthorne has such needs, you can check if there are cards in the room."

After speaking, she finds Declan Hawthorne staring darkly at her.

That look, as if it contained fire.

Wanting to burn her up as well.

Indeed.

Declan Hawthorne, a proud son of Heaven, surrounded by women all these years.

He’s unlikely to even look at what’s on those cards.

Knowing him for so many years, she understands that he has high standards in these matters.

Looking for her, probably just because she’s someone familiar to him.

Declan Hawthorne is almost amused by her.

Thinking his intentions had been obvious.

He wants to start over with her.

Even if right now her heart isn’t with him.

Declan Hawthorne lets out a heavy sigh.

"Poppy Hale, must you drive me to the brink to feel at ease?"

Poppy Hale is angry too.

"Didn’t you say I’m not the same with Mason Rivers as I am with you?"

How did that come to this point?

From the start, she knew that her temperament is something Declan Hawthorne couldn’t stand.

Declan Hawthorne looks at Poppy Hale for a moment.

Before he could react, Poppy Hale quickly opens the door and pushes him out.

Standing at the doorway.

Listening to the sound of the lock being turned inside.

Moments later, Declan Hawthorne chuckles with a deep voice.

Resonant and pleasant, with a hint of helplessness.

The little cat not only fluffs its fur, but also learns to scratch him.

-

Returning from the factory the next day.

Poppy Hale just returns to her hotel room and receives a call from Morgan Sloan.

"Young Hale, could you please help deliver some medicine to President Hawthorne? He drank too much at a gathering today, and the medicine is at the door of his room."

Poppy Hale frowns, "Can’t the manager deliver it?"

"President Hawthorne doesn’t like strangers entering his room, and the hotel’s robot tried delivering the medicine but no one opened the door."

Morgan Sloan’s voice carries a hint of pleading.

"Please, Young Hale, President Hawthorne didn’t eat today, only drank. That’s really not good."

Morgan Sloan is in Stellaport.

It’s a great distance away from here, nearly a thousand miles.

The rest of the secretarial team is not in Cinderfall either.

Poppy Hale knows Declan Hawthorne’s temperament.

But delivering medicine to a sick boss is beyond her duty, and Poppy Hale bites her lip.

"I’m sorry, I don’t like to meddle, President Hawthorne is an adult. If he’s really feeling bad, he should go to the hospital."

After speaking, she hangs up the phone.

Morgan Sloan, in another city, is anxious.

Sends Poppy Hale several more messages, even ones from the robot at the door.

Poppy Hale sighs.

Reluctantly, she puts on a random jacket and heads upstairs.

Declan Hawthorne’s usual suite here has a code lock.

Poppy Hale thinks for a moment, enters a password, and it’s incorrect.

Tries another one, still incorrect.

Simply enters Declan Hawthorne’s phone password, and the door opens.

Takes the medicine from the robot outside and enters, not seeing Declan Hawthorne.

Walks into the bedroom, finding the well-dressed man, reeking of alcohol, lying on the bed.

Poppy Hale walks over and nudges his calf with her foot.

"President Hawthorne? Are you okay? The medicine is right here, I’m leaving."

Turns to leave but hasn’t taken a step.

A hand suddenly wraps around her waist, pulling her backward.

Poppy Hale winds up against a firm chest, enveloped by the scent of alcohol.

The man’s muffled groan comes from behind.

"Why don’t you just let me die from sickness."

His Poppy, still as soft-hearted.