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.]

eye. Her landscapes had the touch. of a master, truly spirited. I really like

the Superiority Country Fine Art Association and heading the Superiority Art Academy. You must have the widest network. If you can’t find

used to storm 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

[No

[Got it.]

responded. Cordelia thought for a moment. She couldn’t paint, but Lorna could. Maybe there was a lead there.

[Got

down and, as usual, grabbed her book. It was physics–related, hard to understand, but she tackled them

her way through college courses back at the orphanage. But it wasn’t until she’d visited her

and when she visited them with Lorna on weekends, she’d

Chapter 119

pile of books to

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

hour later, a car pulled up in

breakfast, descended the stairs and entered Midnight

table effortlessly, prompting Everard to rise from behind the counter and

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

help but glance at Calvert, asking with a hint of curiosity,

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

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

to the curb once

table, expecting the usual handshake. But when it didn’t come, he looked up, puzzled, to

on with her. After the kiss yesterday, she should’ve been mad at him today, but she wasn’t. And now,

between her thoughts and his gaze, she

just a tool to her. But today, she noticed how attractive his hands really were–long, defined, with calluses that

heat

tracing her palm when she wasn’t paying attention. But today, when he did, Cordelia jerked

heartache that usually needed a ten–minute handhold to subside was gone

stood up quickly, grabbing her backpack, I’m off

watched her leave Midnight Scent toward the school,