Love's Redemption

Redmption 300



A heavy awkwardness descended upon us-except Brandon, who casually set me down on the couch as he said, “Just a moment. Mr. Gildon."

He did not walk away after that. Instead, he grabbed a dampened towel and wiped my hands

clean. "Start without me. The oatmeal is still hot, so don't wolf it down

Conrad stood at the door, probably feeling as out of place as he looked. I said self-consciously, "Okay, I got it."

I couldn't get Brandon to leave me be and head to the door fast enough.

Still, Brandon did not join Conrad by the door until he had opened all the takeout containers and set the utensils down before me. For all the indulgend Indeed, Conrad was stone-

faced as he watched Brandon fuss over me like a doting boyfriend. I wondered what he made of it, considering his feelings for me.

Finally, Brandon walked up to him and asked, “Is something the matter, Mr. Gildon?"

Conrad stepped away from the door after that, and I couldn't hear their exchange outside. When Brandon returned to the

room three minutes later, his expression, as bland as ever, revealed nothing.

Seeing as I couldn't make out if the exchange had been good or bad, I asked between spoonfuls of oatmeal, "What did Conrad want to see you for?" "Something trivial," Brandon answered, but I knew he was humoring me. He sensed my skepticism and added, "He made me an offer."

I was surprised. "An offer? For what, a position in Gildon Corporation?"

Conrad was only an executive director at Gildon Corporation. Last I checked, talent poaching was a task that strictly fell within human resources or the If that were the case, why would Conrad tell me all about Chris' downfall earlier? Had he been testing me or trying to see if I had any objection? "He didn't specify," Brandon said as he sat down. "He just wanted to know what I thought of it."

I stirred my oatmeal absentmindedly. "And what did you say?"

"No," Brandon replied, his answer simple and direct.

I couldn't help laughing, which earned me an incredulous look from him.

"Why are you laughing?"This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org: ©.

*Because you're adorable with your straightforward answers," I praised.

Blood rushed to the tips of his ears as he handed me a piece of flatbread. "You can't go around calling grown men adorable."

"What should I call them, then?" I teased, grinning fiendishly. "Can't I say you're adorable?*

Brandon's throat bobbed. "It's fine if you say it to me, but not to any other guy.

I froze. I understood why Brandon

had blushed when I called him

adorable. As he handed me another piece of flatbread, I took it and brushed my fingers against bis. "You're possessive, aren't you?"

He understood what I meant and said, "Only to you.

Shameless, sweet-talking flirt.

I took a bite of the flatbread, its savory taste awakening my tastebuds. As delicious as it was, it tasted nothing like the ones my mother used to make. I knew no two things in this world were identical. Now that my mother was gone, I would never get to taste her flatbread again.

"How is it?" Brandon asked.

I hummed in response, mostly so he wouldn't be brought down by my turbulent emotions.

I finished the oatmeal and the flatbread. During dinner, Brandon supplied an endless stream of

conversation. He talked to me until the grief and shock I felt upon reading about my parents' case finally waned.

"Brandon, can we go home?" I asked.

He appraised me for a moment. "Are you sure you're alright?"

“I am. Besides, I don't want to stay here,” I said like a stubborn child.

"Fine, we'll leave after you finish dinner," he relented.

I laughed, only for him to shoot me a warning look. "Don't laugh while eating, or you'll choke."

"Does that mean I can't speak, too?" I asked playfully.

"In principle, yes," Brandon answered, his response reminding me that he had once served in the military.

"If you're so full of principles, why

don't you put me in my place?" I was asking for trouble, but beyond that, I was hoping Brandon would rise to the bait and put me in my place the way I liked.