Joe felt a wave of irritation when Skylar fell silent.
“I guess those years were a waste of time. I wasted my youth on a man who turned out to be useless,” Skylar said softly, breaking the silence.
At her words, the tension that had been building in Joe melted away. His mood shifted, and he gave her a small, almost reassuring smile. “It’s late. You should get some rest.”
Skylar nodded. “Okay, good night.”
A few minutes later, Joe placed his book down and was preparing to head upstairs. Suddenly, a WhatsApp notification pinged on his phone. He glanced at the message as he continued walking.
Annie: “Good night, Mr. Martin.”
Joe didn’t reply. Instead, he switched his phone to silent mode.
After twenty minutes had passed, Annie still hadn’t received a response. She stood by the window, holding a glass of red wine, her gaze drifting over the city lights.
Her eyes fell to Joe’s profile picture on WhatsApp. She had invited him to their alumni reunion in three days, hoping he would accept the invitation. The reunion would be meaningless without him.
His only reply had been a few words: “I’ll check my schedule.” Now, Annie found herself wondering whether Joe had seen her goodnight message or if he had just ignored it. The thought stung, making her pout slightly.
She prided herself on being able to read people, but Joe was a puzzle. Was he truly that difficult to reach?
The next morning, Skylar came downstairs to make breakfast, only to find the table already set. Pancakes, her favorite, with a side of crispy bacon.
Joe walked over to her, carrying two glasses of warm milk. He looked at Skylar and said, “Grandma sent someone to deliver us breakfast.”
Skylar smiled as she took one of the glasses from him. The milk was perfectly warm. “The temperature’s just right. Thanks,” she said, her smile genuine.
Joe was caught off guard by her smile. “You’re welcome.”
“The pancakes are amazing!” Skylar exclaimed after taking a bite. Satisfaction was evident on her face. The pancakes were soft and fluffy, clearly homemade, not store-bought.
Joe nodded. “Whenever you want pancakes, just call Edgar. She’ll arrange for someone to deliver them.”
Skylar shook her head, a slight frown on her face. “No, that’s too much trouble. Pearlhall Residence is so far from Galaxy Villa. It takes over an hour for a round trip.” She didn’t want to be a burden to anyone, especially for something as simple as pancakes.
Still, she appreciated the thoughtfulness. After a week of not seeing each other, Joe seemed more approachable. Maybe his change in demeanor had to do with something else. Perhaps he was in a good mood because he was in love.
She blinked, as a possibility struck her. “Tonight, I’ll head over to Pearlhall Residence after work,” she said, deciding to mention it casually.
Joe raised an eyebrow. “Where are you working now?”
Skylar took another bite before answering. “I interviewed with Mr. Gardner Senior’s team yesterday and got hired. Today’s my first day. I’ll probably get off work a little late since I’ll need some time to get settled in.”
Joe’s surprise was evident. “Mr. Gardner Senior’s team?”
Skylar nodded.
It was then that Joe realized how little he truly knew about her. He had been close to Alexander when they were younger, and he knew Alexander was very particular about who he hired. Anyone who made it into his team had to pass some stringent tests and earn Alexander’s approval.
If Skylar had managed to get in, that meant she had genuine talent.
“Congratulations,” Joe said, watching her closely.
Skylar raised her glass with a smile. “Thanks,” she replied, her tone full of quiet determination. She was ready to work hard, to carve out her own career in the industry.
Joe’s expression softened slightly. “I’ll pick you up after work. I want to take you somewhere before we head to Pearlhall Residence,” he said, his voice thoughtful.
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