CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 107: THE DRUMSTICK IS GONE

A week later, Sienna Thornton received a call from Harrison Rowe, saying that the bed and breakfast design plans were ready and asked her to go with Maeve to sign the contract and finalize the plan, so they could proceed to the next phase of creating construction drawings.

Maeve happened to be in Brimfield, so Sienna Thornton left work to pick her up.

After winter set in, it got dark early. By the time they arrived at the design firm, it was completely dark. The firm didn’t have a basement parking, and parking spaces were particularly scarce today. Sienna Thornton circled around twice and still couldn’t find a spot.

She gritted her teeth and parked the car on the side of the road.

Maeve glanced at the high-definition surveillance not far away and said, "We parked illegally, should we come back tomorrow?"

Sienna Thornton, moving quickly, turned off the engine, pulled the handbrake, and said nonchalantly, "At worst, I’ll get a 200-yuan fine! Simon Forrester is designing our bed and breakfast, even if my license gets suspended today, it’s worth it!"

She slammed the car door shut and got out.

Maeve followed her, chuckling coldly, "You act like a kid who’s been starving for three days and suddenly sees a chicken leg."

Impulsive, not thinking clearly.

Sienna Thornton mumbled, "What kid knows how to drive?" Though she said this, she did slow her pace.

In the end, the starving child who wanted a chicken leg climbed to the third floor, only to find no chicken leg in sight.

Sienna Thornton asked, "Where’s the chicken leg?"

Harrison Rowe was puzzled, "Huh? Chicken leg? Maybe the cafeteria has some, I’ll ask the auntie to bring a few up?"

Sienna Thornton didn’t even realize she blurted out "chicken leg," so Harrison Rowe’s response left her in a fog. Only Maeve, who understood the situation, awkwardly smiled and asked, "Has Mr. Forrester left for the day?"

"Yes," Harrison Rowe answered politely, "Mr. Forrester went back this afternoon, perhaps after pulling a few all-nighters he needed rest. But he instructed me to make sure the design was posted today and to notify you two to come take a look."

Maeve said nothing, knowing Sienna Thornton had questions. Indeed, as soon as Harrison Rowe finished speaking, Sienna Thornton grabbed the opportunity to ask, "Was he pulling all-nighters to finish our design?"

Harrison Rowe shook his head, "That, I’m not sure."

He led Sienna Thornton and Maeve into the meeting room.

A stack of blueprints lay spread out on the long conference table. Sienna Thornton and Maeve didn’t understand architecture and couldn’t make sense of the lines, but seeing the 3D model of the bed and breakfast projected, they were both amazed.

Harrison Rowe politely asked, "Lawyer Thornton, Miss Lester, is there anything you’d like to change?"

Sienna Thornton shook her head, "Not for me." She turned to Maeve and asked, "How about you, Maeve?"

Maeve responded crisply, "As long as you like it, I’m fine."

This kind of straightforwardness was expected by Harrison Rowe, as after all, it was Simon Forrester’s work.

He took out the contract, marked the places that needed to be signed, and pushed it in front of Sienna Thornton, "In a week, we will issue the official construction drawings, and then I will notify you to come confirm."

While signing, Sienna Thornton asked curiously, "Can we start looking for a construction company now? We want to build the bed and breakfast quickly."

Harrison Rowe replied, "Yes. However, we also have some reputable construction companies that we have been working with, and if needed, we can introduce them to you."

Finding construction companies familiar with the design team leads to better coordination, ensuring the project progresses more smoothly, so Sienna Thornton agreed immediately.

Maeve didn’t express any opinion, clearly letting Sienna handle the bed and breakfast matters.

After finalizing everything, the two bid farewell to Harrison Rowe and left the design firm.

As expected, the car was ticketed for illegal parking. Sienna Thornton wore a long face, unsure if it was due to the fine or not seeing Simon Forrester.

Either way, she was in a bad mood.

Maeve knew what was on her mind but deliberately didn’t mention Simon Forrester, instead asking, "Harrison Rowe said we could add him on WeChat for future collaboration. Should you add him or should I?"

Sienna Thornton, low in spirit, asked, "Isn’t this project designed by Simon Forrester? Then why is Harrison Rowe liaising with us?"

"Isn’t that normal? He’s Simon Forrester’s assistant, naturally handling these tasks."

Sienna Thornton thought that, didn’t Simon Forrester express interest in her? Given such a rare chance to interact, why would he hand it over to Harrison Rowe?

Of course, Maeve knew what was going on in her head, yet she intentionally avoided mentioning sensitive topics—Sienna Thornton needed to keep a distance from Simon Forrester.

Back home, Sienna Thornton found Harrison Rowe’s business card and sent a friend request.

Before he could accept it, she, on a whim, started browsing Simon Forrester’s social media moments.

Nothing. He was a man who didn’t post updates.

She felt bored and was about to put down her phone when, just before exiting WeChat, she noticed Harrison Rowe had accepted her request. After exchanging pleasantries, she checked his moments to see if there was anything related to Simon Forrester.

Unlike Simon Forrester, Harrison Rowe loved posting updates and did so several times a day.

After a while, as Sienna Thornton was about to stop this foolish behavior, she suddenly saw a set of photos with Simon Forrester in them.

She noticed the photos were taken three days ago at some hotel, seemingly an anniversary event for SY Creation.

Simon Forrester wore a deep blue double-breasted suit, nearly black, with a textured dark gray tie and a French white shirt buttoned up neatly. Leaning casually on a desk, his shirt cuff peeked out, and the hand holding a wine glass displayed a low-key, elegant gray cufflink glimmering softly.

Sienna Thornton marveled: He’s outrageously handsome! Even celebrities couldn’t compare!

But who was the woman sitting next to him, looking so shy?

Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Nina Sinclair from the city. As she continued to scroll, she noticed how the two seemed inseparable all night.

Whenever Simon Forrester spoke to the elderly gentleman beside him, Nina Sinclair sat obediently next to him, even thoughtfully pouring him water, getting fruit, and handing him tissues, like an attentive wife.

In social settings, when a man allows a woman to manage things beside him, isn’t that indirectly acknowledging her status?

These two were either dating, or Simon Forrester was considering Nina. For a man as proud and aloof as he was willing to bring a woman to social gatherings, the chances they’re together were high.

Conclusion: They’re either current reality or future possibility.

Sienna Thornton felt complicated, believing that Simon Forrester’s suggestion of "trying it out" was shallow and casual. A moment ago, he was talking about giving each other a chance, and within just three days, he’s with a female subordinate.

Just thinking that she almost fell for such a casual man left her feeling choked up and uncomfortable.

A week later, Harrison Rowe called again, inviting Sienna Thornton and Maeve to confirm the construction drawings and meet their recommended construction team.

With Maeve away for a performance, Sienna Thornton planned to go straight after work and arranged to meet Harrison Rowe at six in the evening.

However, in the afternoon, something came up, and she had to leave. By the time her work was done, the law firm was about to close. Seeing no point in returning, she headed directly to SY.

After parking, she went straight to the third floor. Simon Forrester’s office lights were on, and Harrison Rowe was standing there reporting something to him.

After half a month of not seeing him, he seemed in good spirits, perhaps due to having a charming companion.

Sienna Thornton squinted her eyes, raised one corner of her mouth slightly, and smiled sarcastically. She walked over gracefully, raised her index finger, and gently tapped twice on the door.

Harrison Rowe turned and saw her, quickly putting on a smile and greeting her, "Lawyer Thornton, you’re here? So early?"

"Yes," Sienna Thornton smiled back, "I was doing something nearby and stopped by." As she spoke, she looked past Harrison Rowe’s shoulder at Simon Forrester, who was also watching her.