Chapter 186
After his shower, Gordon never usually bothered with Snow.
But tonight, something was different.
He was actually wandering around the house in his pajamas, looking for her. “I’m not,” Gordon protested when Beatrice caught him. “I was just asking p>
“Just asking?” Beatrice arched an eyebrow, feeling a déjà vu she couldn’t quite place. She held out her hand, showing off her freshly painted nails. “Gordon, look! Doesn’t this color look good on me p>
“It looks good,” Gordon nodded politely.
“Do I look eighteen?” Beatrice pressed, grinning.
How many?
Eighteen p>
Gordon’s lips quirked. “You do p>
She shot him a playful glare. “And if you flipped the digits, I’d look even more like it, right p>
Flipped digits? Eighty-one?
Before he could answer, Beatrice hurled a throw pillow at him, her voice indignant. “Do you seriously not know how to flatter a woman p>
Gordon just stared, silent.
Beatrice thrust her other hand toward him. “What about this color? Is this one pretty p>
“It looks good,” he repeated, deadpan.
She rolled her eyes. “You are hopeless. Can’t you say anything besides ‘it looks good’? Not a single word out of your mouth is what I want to hear p>
This old lady was impossible to please.
If he said she looked good, she complained. If he didn’t, she complained anyway. Gordon muttered, “My dad must have the patience of a saint p>
Beatrice turned on him. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I have a bad temper?” She jabbed a finger at him. “You, young man, are in desperate need of some discipline p>
Gordon’s expression didn’t change. “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed p>
In this world, he was always the one in control-never the other way around.
Beatrice scoffed, dismissing him with a wave, and turned her attention back to carefully painting her nails.
After searching the house and still not finding Snow, Gordon gave up and headed upstairs to bed.
The past week’s business trip had left him exhausted.
So it was no surprise that the moment his head touched the pillow, he fell straight into a deep, dreamless sleep.
He slept soundly, the kind of sleep that left even his dreams sweet.
The next morning, at exactly seven, Gordon woke up as usual. But as he moved
to throw back the covers, something felt off.
He paused, staring at the sheets.
Why… why had he dreamed about her again?
And this time, she was even more alluring than before.
Was he addicted to these dreams now?
Why did she keep haunting him, even in sleep?
Just thinking about those dream images made heat flush through his body. Throat dry, he immediately locked the door, stripped the bedding, and marched straight into the bathroom. His movements were swift, practiced almost automatic.
It was Caitlin and Fortune’s first morning at Willow Manor.
As always, Fortune was up early, making breakfast.
Caitlin sipped her milk and said, “Grandpa, I think we should hire a couple of housekeepers. You’re up every morning making breakfast and cleaning-it’s too much for you p>
Fortune waved her off. “Nonsense. This is just exercise for me.” He fixed her with a look. “Catie, I’ve still got plenty of energy. Bringing strangers into the house would just make me uncomfortable p>
He genuinely didn’t like having unfamiliar people in his home.
“Well then, Grandpa,” Caitlin set her glass aside, “how about this: I’ll arrange for cleaners to come in regularly, but they won’t stay here. The house is too big for you to handle alone p>
Fortune nodded. “Alright, that’s fine.” Then he asked, “By the way, Catie, when will the Willow Manor property management get fully handed over p>
Willow Manor was newly developed, and property management wasn’t fully set up yet. To make Fortune’s commute easier, Caitlin had closed a deal to take over the entire property management for the complex.
“It’s done,” Caitlin smiled. “Starting today, you don’t have to go to East Pavilion Gardens anymore p>
That was the old apartment complex they’d lived in before.
“That was quick!” Fortune was honestly surprised.
She nodded. “You just need to report to the property center later p>
“Catie, you didn’t tell them who I am, did you?” Fortune’s tone was serious.
He didn’t want to work there as the boss or manager this time.
You could only see the truth of a company from the ground up.
After all, property management was about serving the residents. If you could get
the service right, the company would thrive.
Since his granddaughter trusted him, Fortune was determined to do the job right, so he wouldn’t let her down.
Caitlin shook her head. “You specifically told me not to say anything, so of course I didn’t p>
“Good.” Fortune looked relieved. “I’ll head over after breakfast p>
“Alright p>
Once they finished eating, Fortune went to the property office.
Since he hadn’t revealed his identity, everything was routine. He received his fluorescent green vest, grabbed a set of cleaning supplies, and headed out to collect the trash.
The next day passed in a blur.
The seventh was fast approaching-Caitlin’s birthday was almost here.
At 11 p.m., Skyler texted Gordon on WhatsApp: [Uncle, tomorrow’s Caitlin’s birthday. Are you sure you’re not going to get her a gift p>
Gordon sat in his Cullinan, a designer handbag and a full set of luxury lipsticks he’d brought back from overseas resting on the passenger seat, along with a bouquet of fresh flowers.
There was still an hour to go before midnight.
He picked up his phone, his face expressionless, and replied: [How many times
do I have to say it? I don’t spend money on women who aren’t related to me p>