Chapter 0090
Judy’s POV
“He kissed you?!” Nan shrieked into the phone the next afternoon, and I had to pull the phone away from my ear at the volume of her voice.
“Yes,” I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. “It was unexpected.”
The Uber driver pulled up outside of Gavin’s villa, and I quickly thanked him, handing over the tip before stepping out of the car.
“Nan, I’ve got to go. I just got to work,” I said, already making my way toward the front door.
“Okay, but you better call me later,” she insisted. “I need all the details.”
“Will do,” I assured her before hanging up.
Truthfully, there weren’t many details to share. The kiss was decent enough, but it wasn’t anything to write home about. It didn’t spark any passion, nor did it leave me breathless. It didn’t even make my legs weak. It was nothing like the kisses I’d shared with Gavin.
My cheeks warmed at the thought.
Why was Gavin popping into my head at moments like these? I shouldn’t be thinking about him or his kisses. That was the last thing I should be doing right now. But even while I was with Walter last night, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would’ve been like to dance under the moonlight with Gavin, to feel his arms wrapped around me as we swayed to soft jazz. What would it have felt like to have his lips press against mine, knowing that I was the only one he wanted?
I needed to get a grip. Those thoughts were ridiculous. Gavin was my boss—nothing more. Just because we’d almost slept together once didn’t mean he had any real feelings for me. If anything, he probably thought of me as nothing more than a showgirl, someone he could have a one-night stand with and never think about again.
The thought left a heavy, unsettling feeling in my chest, and I quickly swallowed it down.
Adam was standing in the doorway when I arrived at Gavin’s villa. His expression was as indifferent as always. I knew he was still upset with me for making him look foolish in front of Gavin, and now he wasn’t even allowed to speak when Gavin was around.
I didn’t understand why he had such a problem with me; after all, it was Adam who had suggested I apply for the job in the first place.
“Master Matthew is waiting for you in the parlor,” Adam said flatly. “He’s already started on his homework. I think he’s eager to spar this evening.”
I smiled at the thought.
“Thanks, Adam,” I said politely, doing my best to keep things cordial.
He gave a brief nod, and I made my way toward the back parlor. As I entered, I found Matthew buried in his books, scribbling notes in a notebook. It was a sight I’d grown accustomed to, but my smile faltered when I noticed who was sitting on the loveseat across the room.
Irene.
She was scrolling through her phone, her expression distant. When she saw me, she looked up, offering me a wry smile.
“Hello, Judy,” she greeted, her voice carrying an almost sad tone.
“Hey, Irene,” I replied, trying not to sound too bothered by her presence.
At least she was alone this time. I wanted to ask where Ethan was, but I had a feeling her sour mood had something to do with him. Walter had mentioned that they’d been fighting a lot lately, and Irene hadn’t been too enthusiastic about going out last night. I was surprised to see them at the gallery after our walk, especially since Ethan seemed to be avoiding me.
Maybe he was finally getting the hint that I didn’t want anything to do with him. Or maybe he was just more concerned about keeping Irene from getting suspicious about his behavior.
“Is it okay if I sit with you while you tutor?” Irene asked, her voice soft, almost pleading. “I need to get my mind off things.”
I glanced over at Matt, who was still focused on his homework, before turning back to Irene.
“I don’t mind,” I said, offering her a small, polite smile.
She visibly relaxed, sinking back into the loveseat. I moved to sit beside Matt and continued helping him with his studies. The next hour passed quickly as we went over his homework and made sure everything was in order. Once we finished, we headed outside to practice combat and defense.
To my surprise, Irene followed us out. Her nose was still buried in her phone, and she wasn’t paying much attention to where she was walking, but she was definitely tagging along.
When we reached our usual spot for practice, Irene plopped down onto one of the lounge chairs and kept typing away on her phone, seemingly lost in her own world. I raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t notice.
“She and Ethan got into another fight,” Matt whispered as we began stretching. “She’s been sulking all day.”
