Chapter 7 What A Petty Man

• Jack stroked his beard and smiled. “Jennifer, if you win this round of chess, I will give you a small prize.”
• He then fished out a gorgeous gold bracelet. “Do you like it?”
• The bracelet was glimmering - I wore it on my wrist almost instinctively, wanting to admire the glorious shimmer. It was at this moment when Lucian walked out of the room and saw the sight. “Jennifer, why are you wearing my grandma’s bracelet?” He asked with his voice raised.
• I was startled by his reaction as I removed the bracelet frantically to return it to Jack. “I’m sorry! I did not know how important it was to you!”
• But Jack merely shot Lucian a glare and chided him for interrupting our conversation. “She’s going to marry you anyway, so is it wrong to give this to her?”
• Lucian was rendered speechless for a moment before meekly rebutting with, “B-but we aren’t married now.”
• Little did he know that his reply would infuriate his grandfather. “Then what are you still waiting for? Go and get it done!” Jack said while slamming his hand on the coffee table, nearly shattering the glass.
• After that, Lucian dared not throw any temper before his grandfather, knowing that he was once a fearsome commander in a war. If he had the menace to lead troops during battles, anyone would be better off avoiding his “landmines.”
• Lucian turned to me for help, directing rescue signals over with his eyes. As such, the job of appeasing Jack fell on my shoulders. Turning to the man, I pacified, “It’s not that Lucian doesn’t want to marry me. It’s just... I want to observe him a little longer.”
• That seemed to do the trick. After calming down, Jack rearranged the chess pieces and began the delayed round of the game.
• But it was soon blatantly clear that he was letting me win. As a matter of fact, he was practically sending every chess piece to their demise, placing them in vulnerable locations for me to get an easy win. Victory came way too easily in the end.
• “Hahaha! Since you’ve won, this belongs to you now.” He gently helped me wear the bracelet on my wrist.
• “Um... I don’t think that’s a good idea, Grandpa.” I hesitated while looking at the bracelet on my wrist. After all, it was something of utmost importance to the Suttons.
• Jack frowned and stared at me for a long time before sighing. “This bracelet was originally intended for your mother, but she rejected it. So please accept it on behalf of her and treat it as helping this old man here complete his overdue wish.”
• Ah... Mom... The mention of late my mother brought tears to my eyes. Jack’s eyes similarly welled up too. It was no surprise - after all, my mother was a very capable woman, and Jack really liked her. In fact, he practically treated her like one of his own. But perhaps Jack felt embarrassed for the tears, for he quickly raised his hand to request for some food. “I just got off the plane, and I’m feeling a little hungry. Why don’t you and Lucian cook up something in the kitchen for me?”
• With that, Lucian and I left for the kitchen. When we just stepped out of the room, Jack’s woeful sigh did not escape our ears.
• Once we were in the kitchen, Lucian’s gentle expression vanished. “Give that over!” He bellowed while stretching his hand towards me.
• I gave him a look and frowned. “Give what?”
• Ignoring my question, Lucian scoffed and proceeded to remove the bracelet from my wrist, shoving it inside his pocket. “When Grandpa asks later, just say that I’m safekeeping it for you.”
• Shooting him a glare, I muttered, “What a petty man.” After that, I went to heat some milk for Jack to help warm him up.
• While I was busy preparing, my supposed partner - Lucian, unfortunately, had no intention of helping out. Instead, he stood at the side and made a call.
• And boy, did I roll my eyes at his opening lines. “Hey Yvette, my Grandpa gave me a gold bracelet. I can’t wait to let you wear it.”
• Hiding my face from his view, I mimicked him silently while making a gagging motion.
• The lady’s giggles echoed through the line. “You’re not kidding, right? Don’t tell me that it’s actually intended for Ms. Quinn... “
• “Oh, of course not! She just accepted it on behalf of you. You’re the true owner of this bracelet.”
• So I am just helping that lady accept it? Seriously? It sounded like a joke so ridiculous that I actually chortled.
• After he hung up, Lucian finally decided to turn his attention back to cooking. Or rather, to instruct me on what to do next. “Grandpa needs food that’s easily digestible. You should go and make him some soup!”
• I could only silently nod as I added the relevant ingredients into the pot. But my mind was elsewhere - particularly on the said bracelet that was currently in his pocket. Hesitantly, I asked if I could wear it again.
• “What do you want to do with it?” There was a hint of wariness in his eyes as he asked with caution.
• “Don’t worry. I won’t keep it. I want to wear it for a while - just a while. This bracelet was intended for my mother, so I want to wear it on behalf of her for just a little longer.”
• A moment of silence ensued before he handed the bracelet over.
• Putting the beautiful accessory on precariously and stretching out my hand slowly, I admired the glistering bracelet under the sunlight streaming through the window. Its beautiful shimmer was nearly blinding. For a surreal moment, an image of my mom wearing the bracelet flashed across my mind. Without thinking, tears started trickling down my eyes like an open tap, damping my cheeks. Quickly turning around to wipe my tears, I murmured, “Mom, I bet this bracelet must’ve looked amazing on you.”
• At the side, Lucian was getting impatient. “Are you done? Tsk.” Without warning, he gave me a hard shove and forcefully removed the bracelet from my wrist.
• Recollecting my emotions, I went back to my pot of soup afterward.
• When the soup was scooped into a bowl and ready to serve, Lucian finally made a move. “Let me do it. Grandpa wouldn’t like that, would he?”
• Why, this b*****d...
• “What a phony.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes at him.
• Owing to years of living alone, my culinary skills were passable. Hence, Jack was all cheers as he devoured the soup. “Jennifer, I heard that you’re working at a small finance company right now?”
• I nodded. “For many years, in fact.”
• Being told that, Jack turned to Lucian disapprovingly. “You rascal, why isn’t Jennifer at your company?”
• Lucian sat down beside me and argued, “I don’t think she would be happy being a mere employee of my company.”
• Upon listening to Lucian’s response, Jack was that close to breaking the coffee tea again as he boomed, “Who told you to let her be just a staff? Aren’t you all recruiting a new director? Let Jennifer take the role!”
• Flustered by his grandfather’s reaction, Lucian hurriedly explained, “Grandpa, there’s already a suitable candidate for the role! She’s a friend of mine and would be returning from Achula soon. Her competence is, I dare say, far more superior than Jennifer’s. Besides, I need her assistance.”
• “Oh... this friend of yours, is a ‘she’?” Although of age, Jack was still quick to pick up important details.
• Lucian nodded hesitantly after pausing for a while.
• She must be the one he was talking to over the phone just now! Hah! Just look at Grandpa’s face - I bet you’re in big trouble now, Lucian!
• “I forbid!” Jack exclaimed.
• Though Lucian was steadfast about this matter, he was still too timid to go against his grandfather. All this meant that I was once again called to the rescue. I then felt his fingers on mine as he spoke purposefully, “Jennifer, I’m sure you don’t want to slave off at my company. I mean, the work of a director is tough and demanding. So naturally, you’d want me to get a capable helper, right?”
• You’re literally just putting me down so you can put that woman on a pedestal! Hmph! I won’t let you get away with this!
• Suppressing my anger, I gave him a tight-lipped smiled and replied, “Of course. I wouldn’t want to work at your company.” Lucian heaved a sigh of relief at that.
• But he really went overboard this time, so I would not tolerate such slander. Hence, I told him before dragging him to one side, “I have something to say to you.”
• Hauling him into the guestroom and closing the door, I unleashed my fury. “Lucian Sutton, can you please show some respect? I don’t care about how many reasons you can conjure up to refuse me into your company, but at least do recognize that I have been in this industry for a considerable amount of time too! Don’t evaluate me like I’m some incompetent worker!”