Chapter 40
When they returned to the private room, the gathering soon wrapped up.
As everyone began to leave, Ethan offered to drive Autumn home.
Keith picked up the coat draped over the chair and said to him, “I’ll take her p>
“Then I’ll leave her in your care, Senior Sinclair p>
Ethan gave a polite nod and left with the others.
Keith glanced at Autumn, who was still standing there frozen. “Not leaving p>
She quickly followed, wanting to say she’d planned to ride with Ethan, but she hadn’t even been given the chance.
Keith hadn’t brought Jesse along this time and had driven himself.
Autumn headed toward the back seat.
Just as she opened the rear door, Keith’s low voice cut in. “I’ve had a drink p>
Her hand paused mid–air, her brain stalling a little.
She looked at him, confused–what was he trying to say?
“I drank, so I can’t drive,” Keith added, then opened the passenger–side door and sat down.
Autumn was speechless.
So basically, he wanted her to drive.
Why couldn’t he just say it plainly instead of making her guess?
She closed the rear door, walked around to the driver’s side, opened the door, and got in.
As she was buckling her seatbelt, Keith was doing the same on the other side.
Their hands brushed briefly.
Autumn immediately pulled hers back like she’d been shocked.
Only after Keith had finished buckling in did she reach for hers again.
But no matter how she tried, the buckle wouldn’t click into place.
Was it because she was too nervous?
She looked down, trying to fix it, when Keith had already reached over and fastened it for her.
The warmth of his fingers lingered, making her instinctively pull her hand back.
Keith looked at her, his gaze dark and steady. “Did you drink fake wine or something p>
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“No,” Autumn replied, starting the engine. “I’m just not used to driving an unfamiliar car p>
The car pulled away smoothly.
He’d said he would take her home, and now she was driving him instead.
What a generous man.
“Where to?” Autumn asked, turning the steering wheel and glancing slightly at Keith, who was sitting with his eyes closed.
Keith’s voice came lazily, “Taking you home p>
Autumn was speechless.
At this point, she wasn’t even sure who was giving whom a ride.
When they arrived at her place, Autumn got out of the car and saw Jesse already waiting there.
She pressed her lips together.
Of course, he had the boss energy.
There was always someone ready to cater to him.
Back home, Autumn went upstairs, opened her laptop, and started brushing up on some technical material.
Her phone buzzed on the table.
It was a call from Richard.
Autumn swiped to answer.
His voice came through, sharp with disapproval. “Autumn, did you go work part–time at the Lyric Lounge today?
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Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Let me guess, Luna told you that p>
She was so quick to send the troops over to interrogate her.
How efficient.
Richard let out a long sigh. “Autumn, Luna is your sister. Why are you always targeting her?
“Did you say something to Edwin Shaw? Is that why your sister didn’t get accepted as his student p>
But when she’d gone back to the private room, no one even mentioned Luna.
That alone made it clear she hadn’t even crossed their minds.
Luna probably saw her go into the room and immediately assumed she’d ruined her chances.
How shameless could they get?
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Autumn let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t you say I was just there part–time? So, tell me, how would someone like me possibly have the influence to convince Mr. Shaw not to take Luna?
“You’re giving me way too much credit. Luna got rejected–ever consider that maybe she just wasn’t good enough p>
She failed because her skills weren’t up to par, and now she wanted to blame someone else.
Luna really hadn’t changed–still shameless as ever.
Her senior told her that Edwin’s only comment about Luna was: her technical foundation needed improvement.
Autumn refused to believe Luna didn’t understand what that meant.
But clearly, she’d grown up blaming others for everything.
It had become second nature.
Richard instinctively shot back, “Autumn, your sister is outstanding. No way she wasn’t good enough. You’re just an undergraduate. What gives you the right to talk down to her p>
Chapter 41