Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

”I didn’t know she was coming.” Quentin Blackwood genuinely hadn’t expected Joy Sheridan to show up.

”Looks like she’s more dedicated than I am, even bringing you a late-night snack.”

Quentin chuckled softly. ”Are you jealous?”

”Of course not!” ’I just think Joy Sheridan is getting off easy.’

It was only then that she realized she was a little envious of Joy Sheridan—envious that she had known Quentin for so many years and could be the one to bring him a late-night snack right now.

Suddenly, she missed him terribly, even though they had only been apart for two days.

”So, a woman shows up in the middle of the night to see me, and you’re not jealous at all?”

Listening to him, Ivy Sherwood got the feeling that Quentin was actually displeased.

”Of course I trust the honorable Mr. Blackwood. If you were that easily tempted, I never would have stood a chance. You and Joy Sheridan have known each other for years, and she never managed to win you over. Now that I’m in the picture, she has even less of a chance.”

Quentin’s mood brightened again. ”You’re that confident?”

”I’m confident in you.”

”But I’m not confident in you.”

Ivy: ”Huh?”

’What’s there to not be confident about? I’m the most trustworthy person there is!’

”If any other man asks you out to eat, you’re not allowed to go.”

Ivy thought Quentin’s worry was completely unnecessary and couldn’t help but laugh. ”What other men?”

”I don’t care. Any man.” His possessiveness was strong.

”Alright.” Ivy agreed. ’It’s not like anyone would ask me out to eat anyway.’

She had very few male friends; the person she was closest to was Nina. Quentin was probably just referring to Silas Blackwood or Seth Scott. If either of them asked her to dinner, she definitely wouldn’t go.

After chatting with Quentin a little longer, he told her to go to sleep, and she told him to stop working as well.

Quentin agreed, and Ivy only felt relieved after watching him turn off his computer, leave the office, and get home.

As soon as Quentin got home, he saw something left by his door.

As Quentin approached, he smelled the aroma of food.

The call hadn’t ended yet. Quentin asked directly, ”Did you order this?”

”Mhm, I got the address from Zane Linton. Mr. Blackwood, you’ve been working so hard, don’t forget to eat. I saw online that this restaurant was good, so I ordered from there. But... don’t eat too much at night.”

Quentin carried the food inside. He owned many properties in Aethelgard, but this one was close to his company, so it was the place he stayed at the most.

The house was just as cold and empty as it always was when he came home, but the food in his hands and the voice on the phone were warm.

’If only Ivy were here.’

He thought he had grown accustomed to solitude, but after getting a taste of warmth, he realized how much he yearned for it.

”Ivy Sherwood,” he said, his voice low as he murmured her name.

”Hm? What’s wrong?”

”I miss you,” he said, his magnetic voice incredibly hoarse.

The sound passed through her eardrums, and Ivy could hear her own heart pounding wildly!

’So it wasn’t just her thinking about Quentin. Liking someone is a two-way street!’

”You... you should eat. I’m going to sleep now!”

”Okay. Good night.”

Ivy hung up and placed the phone on her chest. She had never considered herself the type of person to get swept up in love, yet a single, simple, offhand remark from Quentin was enough to make her heart race.

Over the past few days, she had also been looking up some storefronts in Aethelgard online. Since she was planning to move her company there, Ivy naturally needed to do some on-site inspections. She could also check on that factory. It would be a work trip!

With that in mind, Ivy decided to buy a plane ticket. She wouldn’t tell Quentin yet; she wanted to give him a surprise!

But Ivy still had work to do here, and she also had to get her mother’s ashes back. She wasn’t going to give Anna Nash any more time.

Even if she rushed, the earliest she could leave would be the night after tomorrow.

She booked a flight for the evening after next. It was getting late, and it was time for bed.

Just as Ivy was about to put her phone down, it chimed with a BEEP. It was a text message.

”Miss Sherwood, are you free tomorrow at noon? Would you honor me with your company for a meal?”

The message was from an unknown number she hadn’t saved. Just like last time, she somehow knew who it was from.

Her intuition told her it was Elijah Hawthorne.

Ivy didn’t reply, deciding to pretend she hadn’t seen it because it was too late.

Ivy put down her phone and closed her eyes. However, not two minutes later, her phone started ringing.

She picked it up and saw it was the same number from before.

She had no intention of answering. She didn’t like Elijah Hawthorne; he gave her a very dangerous feeling. It was better to stay away from him.

Besides, she had just promised Quentin that she wouldn’t have dinner with another man.

Ivy didn’t answer, and the call eventually disconnected. The next morning, the same number called again, and again, Ivy didn’t answer.

A short while later, Edie came in. ”Boss, you have a phone call.”

Ivy was busy and didn’t think much of it. She took Edie’s phone and asked, ”Who is it?”

Ivy assumed it was a business partner, as many of them would call Edie directly.

”It’s me, of course, Miss Sherwood.”

Hearing that infuriatingly smug voice on the line, Ivy jerked her head to look at the screen. Sure enough, it was that number.

Elijah Hawthorne’s voice made Ivy flinch. ”Mr. Hawthorne, how did you...?”

”It seems getting ahold of Miss Sherwood isn’t easy. I have to call your secretary first.”

Just hearing his voice made Ivy’s skin crawl. The man’s words sounded very much like a threat.

”Is there something you need, Mr. Hawthorne?”

”Didn’t you check your phone, Miss Sherwood? I sent you a message and called you last night.”

’I saw it. I just ignored it.’

But Ivy certainly couldn’t say that. She could only reply, ”I was swamped with work and didn’t have a chance to look at my phone.”

”It’s nothing important, really. I just wanted to invite Miss Sherwood to a meal.”

”Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Hawthorne, but I’m afraid I have a lot on my plate right now. I probably won’t have any free time for a while.” Ivy rejected him tactfully.

’This Elijah Hawthorne is terrifying. She was afraid he was digging another trap for her, and that if she wasn’t careful, she’d fall right into it.’

”So Miss Sherwood is that busy, is she? No matter. It seems I’ll just have to ask one of your friends to dinner instead. I’m sure she’s not quite as busy.”

”My friends are busy too!”

”Is that so? Well, there are always ways to make someone less busy. Since you don’t have time, Miss Sherwood, I won’t disturb you any further.”

With that, the person on the other end of the line was about to hang up.

”Wait!” Ivy stopped him.

’This Elijah Hawthorne... is threatening people the only trick he knows?’

”Mr. Hawthorne, if you have something to say, why don’t you just say it? Having a meal is such a waste of time.”

Elijah Hawthorne said, ”I’m the type of person who likes to talk over a meal. I’ve already sent the location to your phone. My time is also very precious, and I don’t like to be kept waiting. Twelve o’clock noon. I expect you to be on time, Miss Sherwood.”