CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 89: MELANCHOLY

Simon Forrester walked over, glanced at the plate with quite a bit of salad left, and asked, "Is this breakfast? What time did you get up?"

His tone was casual, but Sienna Thornton felt something was off in his gaze. She calmed her emotions and softly replied, "Eleven-thirty."

"Let’s have lunch together," Simon pulled out the chair next to her and sat down beside her, "After eating, let’s go upstairs together."

Sienna nodded with pursed lips, showing a deep dimple on one cheek as she sat down.

The other designers also took their seats one by one.

Harrison Rowe, as usual, sat next to Simon and occasionally peeked at Sienna over Simon’s shoulder, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Because when he went looking for Simon on the third floor this morning, the sofa was empty, no blankets or pillows, meaning Simon slept in the bed with Sienna last night.

This discovery had Harrison quite excited, but he couldn’t tell anyone, which was almost driving him crazy.

Sienna could also guess what Harrison’s sudden scrutiny meant, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.

During the meal, others talked about topics related to the project inspection. Sienna, being an outsider, kept her mouth shut and said nothing.

Simon occasionally put some fish on her plate, showing great care: "If you have no appetite, just eat some fish. The seafood here is excellent."

It was steamed red grouper, costly, nutritious, and lightly cooked. Even though her stomach was already full, Sienna forced herself to eat a bit. Fortunately, dessert was soon served.

Everyone got a portion, and Sienna’s was mango dumplings.

Seeing her hesitation, Simon leaned in and whispered, "Don’t like it?"

The caring attitude was natural, like a couple in love.

Sienna mouthed silently, "Allergic—"

Simon understood immediately, smiled, and offered her his dessert.

There were two strawberry tarts, with large, plump strawberries on top—four in total. Sienna, who loved strawberries, felt happy and enjoyed them in small bites.

As she ate, she suddenly remembered the taste in Simon’s mouth when they kissed last night was strawberry-flavored, soft and chewy...

"Cough...cough..." She suddenly started coughing.

Half a strawberry was stuck midway down her esophagus, unable to go up or down, making her face turn red from coughing.

While chatting with Harrison, Simon quickly grabbed a few napkins to place in his palm and put it under her chin while gently patting her back with his free hand.

Like burping a baby who just finished nursing.

Sienna was wearing a strapless long dress, with much of her back exposed. Simon’s warm palm touched her skin directly, sending a current through her body, causing goosebumps to rise all over, making her cough even more.

Harrison also hurriedly brought over some water, saying urgently, "If it gets into the trachea, it’ll be trouble."

Hearing this, Simon’s face turned pale. He grabbed a glass of water and held it to her lips, "Can you drink by yourself? Or do you want me to feed you?"

What does he mean by—feed you?

Everyone’s eyes widened, curious to see how the boss was going to feed Sienna water.

Sienna was also shocked, grabbing the water cup from Simon’s hand with her slender fingers and gulping it down, finally swallowing the strawberry stuck in her esophagus. Her face flushed with guilt, she didn’t dare look at Simon, knowing he was staring intently at her.

"I’m okay now..." She said with some discomfort, glancing at him, "I’m full; can I go upstairs first?"

"Wait for me a moment." Simon turned to give some final instructions to Harrison.

Sienna had no choice but to sit and wait for him. It was at this moment that her gaze met a sweet-looking, petite girl sitting across from her.

The girl smiled at her, and she returned the smile.

She thought the girl looked like a little celebrity!

"Let’s go up," Simon suddenly turned back, speaking softly in her ear.

Sienna snapped back to reality and stood up, taking Simon’s offered elbow, ready to leave with him.

"Director Forrester!" the girl across suddenly stood up, "So, Lawyer Thornton doesn’t have a room?"

Simon raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, his gaze indifferent and without any particular meaning.

"Ada Payne wants to room with me. Her room will be available and can be given to Lawyer Thornton."

Simon thought for a moment, then turned to Sienna, "The room on the second floor is smaller. Do you want it?"

"Yes, that’s fine." Sienna quickly agreed.

Simon then instructed Harrison to inform the butler to have the room cleaned.

Once everything was taken care of, Simon Forrester waved Sienna Thornton to leave. She had just stood up, but perhaps due to the intense coughing, she hadn’t recovered yet and swayed slightly. Fortunately, Simon Forrester promptly helped her.

Her arms were slender, with only two thin shoulder straps draped over perfectly sculpted shoulder blades. Her typical cold, fair skin was glaringly white, causing Simon Forrester’s Adam’s apple to roll a few times as he restrained himself to look away.

He supported her as they went up the stairs. The atmosphere was strange, neither of them spoke, and it was truly awkward.

As soon as they entered the room, Sienna Thornton quickly retreated to the inner room to pack her things.

Simon Forrester took off his shoes and came over to help her gather small items like phone chargers. As he tangled with those white cords, he asked, "The room downstairs is small, and you can’t see the sea. Perhaps it’s better not to move down?"

Sienna Thornton responded quickly, "No, no, I’ll stay on the second floor for convenience of travel."

Simon Forrester didn’t say any more about it, silently helping her pack up.

Because Sienna Thornton couldn’t stand for long periods due to her leg, she sat down on the bench at the end of the bed. Simon Forrester zipped up the luggage bag, placed it down, and sat next to her.

The atmosphere at that moment indeed had a bit of melancholy, both of them wanting to speak but hesitating. After a while of silence, Simon Forrester spoke first, "After I’ve finished some work in the next few days, let’s talk."

"Alright," Sienna Thornton agreed straightforwardly.

"Last night," he leaned closer to her, "I wasn’t..."

"Knock knock," there was the sound of knocking on the door. Simon Forrester firmly squeezed her hand, reached out to tuck the fringe hanging beside her cheek behind and gazed at her deeply for a moment, then got up to open the door.

Sienna Thornton heard a woman speaking outside, "Director Forrester, the room is ready. I came to see if Lawyer Thornton needs any help here."

"Thank you, Nina," Simon Forrester said, "You can go down first, I’ll handle things here."

So that person was named Nina, what a nice name, Sienna Thornton thought.

Nina glanced inside, smiled, and went downstairs.

Simon Forrester closed the door and re-entered. Sienna Thornton already had the luggage bag slung over her wrist. When he took it over, his fingertip touched the back of her hand.

Sienna Thornton reacted as if scorched by something, her hand involuntarily twitched.

The course of things seemed normal, as promised, a room was made available for her the next day. But why did she feel a bit uneasy?

Was it because she hadn’t received an explanation from Simon Forrester about the kiss last night?

Though he had said once things were less busy, he wanted to talk. But about what, exactly?

I kissed you, you kissed me back, does that make us even?

Sienna Thornton laughed at herself, following Simon Forrester downstairs.

Going down, Nina and Ada Payne were sitting in the second-floor living room, clearly waiting for them.

Ada Payne was about to lead the way, and Sienna Thornton followed her.

Simon Forrester didn’t come with them; Nina was saying something to him. When Sienna Thornton glanced back, she noticed his gaze was in her direction...

The guest room on the second floor was much smaller, with a 1.8-meter-wide bed, a small double-door wardrobe connected to a small bar-like area for making tea, a small table connected to the TV cabinet and luggage rack, and only one window, without a balcony. The lighting and air weren’t great, making Sienna Thornton, who just came down from the luxurious large room on the third floor, feel a bit uncomfortable.

But here, however small, it was a private space, and she didn’t have to share a room with Simon Forrester, which made her feel mentally relaxed.

Yet why was there an air of melancholy?

Her heart felt empty, as if something was lost.

Feeling troubled, Sienna Thornton lay on the bed in a daze. Her mood was constantly uncomfortable, stifled, as she tossed and turned until someone knocked on the door.

Thinking it might be Simon Forrester, she happily jumped off the bed to open the door.

Just as she wished.

Simon Forrester must have just finished his conversation with Nina and stopped by.

He smiled at Sienna Thornton, asking, "May I come in?"

This was the first smile he revealed today, and he seemed to be in a good mood.

Sienna Thornton moved aside, "Please come in."

After entering, Simon Forrester looked around the room first, then went to inspect the window.

Sienna Thornton quietly watched his every move from the bed end, the faint melancholy in her heart seemed to dissipate in an instant.

She felt uneasy and dared not speak.

After checking the doors and windows, Simon Forrester sat beside her and whispered, "Want to move back upstairs?"

"Moving back and forth is too troublesome, and it’s only for a few days, I’ll make do," Sienna Thornton insisted.

"Alright," Simon Forrester didn’t press further, placing the room card she hadn’t taken with her on the table, "I have work to handle this afternoon, you find something to do, if it’s too stuffy here, just sleep upstairs."