George’s POV:
I had always been grateful to Libby.When I was studying abroad a few years ago, she took good care
of me and made sure I was comfortable in a foreign country.I always kept her kindness in mind.
"George, I’d like to invite you over.Let’s have dinner together after you and Jane get off work.I’ll do the
cooking.See you later!"
Before I could say anything, she hung up the phone.
Well, Libby had just returned.
Whether she invited me over or not, it was necessary for me to welcome her back.
After work, I drove to her house with Jane.
While we were at the intersection and waiting for the traffic lights to go green, I saw Helen at the side of
the road.She was walking toward the subway station carrying several plastic bags.
I could vaguely see packs of frozen meals inside.
Was that what she had been eating all this time? No, I should stop caring about her.
After all, her cold and heartless words bruised my ego.I could not take my eyes off her, though.
Helen… What should do with you? The plastic bags looked too heavy to carry by herself.
After taking a few steps, she stopped and tried to catch her breath.
Once she rested for a bit, she picked up the bags once again and walked on.I frowned and clenched
the steering wheel unconsciously.
"What are you looking at?" Jane suddenly asked.
I pursed my lips and did not answer.I just watched as Helen’s figure disappear from view.
When I finally got ahold of myself, the traffic lights had turned green.
The cacophony of horns and curses from irate drivers came from behind me.
Without a word, I started the engine and went my way.
Jane and her mother lived in an apartment downtown.
The truth was, I was the one who had found it for them.
It was directly below my penthouse, the one in which I had brought Helen on New Year’s Eve.I had no
idea that things would get out of hand at that time.
Jane was not only my business partner but also my friend.
As she needed a place to stay in New York, I volunteered to look for one for her.
The apartment was downtown and close to Zhester Technology.It was convenient for commuting.I did
not think that there was something wrong with what I had done.
But much to my surprise, Helen was hostile to Jane and even broke up with me.
At this moment, I parked the car in the underground garage.
Before getting off the car, I rubbed my throbbing temples and took a deep breath.Then I went upstairs
with Jane.
"George, you’re here! Go wash your hands.The dinner is ready," Libby said with a smile.
She had prepared a feast of my favorite dishes, She had always been a good cook.
When I had first gone abroad, I could not get used to eating local food, so she often invited me over for
dinner.I thanked her politely and sat down at the dining table after washing my hands.
Libby knew very well how to enliven the atmosphere.
While eating, she talked a lot about our shared experiences while we were abroad.Her words were
neither stiff nor dull.
There was not even a single dead air.
"In my opinion, you two don’t need to come back to New York.You can manage the company from
abroad, can’t you? Besides, you have Boswell here," Libby advised.
"Mom, you don’t know much about George’s plan.He wants to develop the domestic market to expand
his business.Besides, his parents are here, and he’s their only child.He has to go back for them," Jane
explained on my behalf.
I did not refute her words.But the truth was, many of my decisions had nothing to do with my parents.In
my heart, my parents and I were independent of each other.
Since Libby was the host for the night, she was more talkative than usual.She did not stop talking about
Jane and me.
Although she did not exactly say it out loud, I knew what she was implying.She was trying to fix me up
with her daughter.I was surprised.
After all, I only treated Jane as a friend through all these years.I would relate to her at times, just like
Boswell, I believed that Jane felt the same way I did.
Besides, she never expressed any desire to have something more than friendship with me.
Tonight, however, Jane did not deny any of Libby’s implications and just let her mother poke fun at us.I
recalled the years I had spent with her, most of which were work-related.I could not help but wonder if I
was just over-analyzing things.
"Jane, you’ve been the best business partner I’ve ever had, and I hope you’ll always be," I said after
careful consideration while she and I were walking out of the apartment.
This was the best response I had thought of to avoid misunderstanding.
Knowing Jane, she would understand what I meant.
"I see," Jane smiled at me.
She did not seem concerned that I suddenly drew a line between After bidding farewell with each other,
I took the elevator to go to my penthouse.It was bare and empty, just like it had been since New Year’s
Eve.
There was not a single piece of furniture here.
As I walked to the balcony, the night of New Year’s Eve crossed my mind.
Here, Helen and I stood side by side, counting down and wishing each other a happy new year.We
held each other in our arms.
The moment the clock struck midnight, I leaned over and kissed her on the lips.She then stood on
tiptoe, put her arms around me, and kissed me back.I could see the love in her eyes.It was vivid, just
like the fireworks. I knew she loved me.But why did she break up with me when Jane showed up?
Without much thought, I drove to Helen’s house again.
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