Love or Die CEO’s Daily Dose of Swoon

Chapter 119

The Pioneers Group chat had been silent for days, so when someone finally piped up, the others quickly bubbled to the surface of the conversation.

Mathster replied, [Never heard of ‘em.]

Bland replied, [Farly bird interrupts my sweet dreams, huh?]

Painter said, [Ever heard of mute?]

Bland replied, [Set this chat to priority alerts, man. What if the boss needs me and I miss it?]

The others mentally rolled their eyes at his brown–nosing, but no one dared to say it out loud. Instead-

Painter said, [Same here, bro.]

Chef echoed, [And me]

Clothing Retailer said, [Me too]

Pianoman asked, [Who’s this person, anyway? Never heard of them. Are they famous or something? @Painter]

Painter said, [This person had a real flair for painting 18 years ago. Young and talented. But then I heard she married into some high society and stopped painting altogether. Not many people know her because of that.]

Bland asked, [So why are you looking for her?]

Painter replied, [To paint, obviously.]

Bland said, [? But you’re a renowned artist yourself. Why do you need someone else to paint for you?]

Painter said, [Let me school you, newbie. Watercolor themes fall into three categories, landscapes, figures, and still lifes. I specialize in figures, not landscapes.]

Painter said, [I got roped into this game design gig, doing character art. I need a landscape artist for the scenery. Most of the famed landscape artists here have either aged out of the game or their work is too superficial for my taste.]

Her landscapes had the touch.

said, [You’re a big shot in the art world, chairing the Superiority Country Fine Art Association and heading the Superiority Art Academy. You must have the widest network. If you can’t

the national art scene. I was just a rookie myself, couldn’t dig up her real identity, and then she vanished. She might have changed her name, but talent like hers doesn’t just disappear. I’ve cast a wide net in my circles. You all have your connections. Hit me

[No problem.]

[Got

a moment. She couldn’t paint, but Lorna could. Maybe there was a lead there. So she

replied, [Got it.]

her book. It was

had self–studied her way through college courses back at the orphanage. But it wasn’t until she’d

when she visited them with Lorna on weekends,

Chapter 119

back a pile of books to delve deeper into

place to stay, and her grandmother was supposed to arrive tonight, delayed by packing. Cordelia was eager for the new trove

later, a car pulled

breakfast, descended the stairs and

as always, took the breakfast and set the table effortlessly, prompting Everard to rise from behind

then at Everard. These two didn’t seem like former colleagues at all. But Everard had a presence that naturally commanded

at Calvert, asking with a hint of curiosity,

reply when Everard’s smooth voice intervened, “He’s leaving

was he leaving? With a forced smile, he added, “Yeah, I actually came to Greenmeadow for business. Time to head

how to kick him to the curb once he’s

the table, expecting the usual handshake. But when it didn’t come, he looked up, puzzled, to see Cordelia staring–not at

should’ve been mad at him today, but she wasn’t. And now, the idea of even touching

her thoughts and his gaze, she

had been just a tool to her. But today, she noticed how attractive his hands really were–long, defined, with calluses that spoke of work but didn’t detract from their appeal.

palm was warm, and that heat seemed to burn her

wasn’t paying attention. But today, when he did, Cordelia jerked away as if electrocuted, feeling a tingling sensation

needed a ten–minute handhold to subside was gone with just that brief touch.

up quickly, grabbing her backpack,

Scent toward the school, pondering why she