Love's Change of Heart

Chapter 344

When Leanna returned to the workshop after submitting her design, the organizing committee emailed her to let her know it had been received and would soon be judged. She was asked to wait patiently for the results.

So, I am right about those cubby holes, she thought.

She set her phone down and let out a breath of relief. At last, she could finally kick back and relax for a couple of days.

A moment later, a knock came on the door, and Zoe poked her head in. "Hey, Nana. Are you free right now?"

"No, why?" Leanna asked.

Zoe came in and closed the door behind her. "It's been a while since our last retreat. The girls and I were talking about it, and we thought it'd be nice if we had a barbecue in the woods this weekend. What do you think?"

Leanna nodded in agreement. "Sure. I'm down for it."

"Great! I'll make the arrangements," Zoe offered brightly. Then, she leaned in as though to tell Leanna something scandalous and whispered, "By the way, we're allowed to bring a plus-one for this retreat. You might want to bring someone along in case you end up feeling lonely."

Leanna gave her friend a bewildered look. She tugged at Zoe's sleeve and asked, "Wait, are you bringing anyone?"

Zoe chuckled mischievously and raised a brow at Leanna. "Well, of course. I got to know a really cute guy on the Internet not too long ago, and he has the most amazing voice. He even sent me photos of his abs! I figured this is a good opportunity for us to meet up in person."

"I hope you haven't been catfished..."

"Oh, relax! There's a higher chance of me catfishing him than the other way around. Besides, we're going to see each other in real life soon. I might as well test the waters and see if he's anything like he made himself out to be on the Internet," Zoe said wistfully. "If this retreat turns out well, I'll finally have a boyfriend!"

The corner of Leanna's lips twitched as she pointed out, "I think this whole thing is a little dubious. You ought to watch out."

Zoe gave her a firm pat on the shoulder and reassured her, "I'm a big girl; I know what I'm doing. Now, let's talk about you. Are you going to bring your darling President Pearson along?"

The word "darling" made the blood rush to Leanna's cheeks. She cleared her throat and countered primly, "W-Why would I bring him to a team-building retreat? We'd probably end up on the barbecue pit if he were to go."

Huh. She has a point, Zoe thought as she looked at Leanna speechlessly. She paused, then shrugged and said noncommittally, "Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Don't be too envious of the rest of us when we show up with our boyfriends."

the workshop's entrance so they could leave for the barbecue site together. The girls had brought along their boyfriends, and it took only a round of pleasantries before

glanced at the time and asked Zoe, "Hey, where's the cute guy you mentioned?

curb, and one of the men exclaimed, "Damn,

arm nervously.

on the driver's side of the luxury car swung open, and a towering figure emerged and stood tall and straight in front

crowd gave a collective sigh of disappointment. They had been holding their breath for

their reaction. "Am I not welcome here?" he

run down their spine. Some hurriedly made a feeble excuse to get drinks from the vending machine, while others ran off to the washroom. They would rather be anywhere but in

was visibly crestfallen as she muttered begrudgingly, "What happened to the other

in the shop getting serviced," Aidan answered flatly. His gaze flickered over to Leanna

weekend plans in hopes of asking her out on a date, but she had a team-building retreat

actually

run, but when she turned around, she was greeted by the sight of a

Zoe, then at Leanna. A second later,

and Zoe gaped at the little

a moment think her social

hesitant step forward and crouched down to the little boy's eye level, then squeezed out a tight smile. "Hi, there. How may I help

and introduced himself

come here with your brother or your uncle or something? Isn't there an adult with you,

it took me to persuade my mom to let me come. Speaking of which, you'll have to drop me

this point, Zoe could no longer

nodded slowly. "Yes, that's

kidnap you, what makes her think I'd drop

that. I have my ways,"

who only knew how to toy with her, she was sure she would have fainted on the spot and been

Leanna looped her arm through Aidan's, her face turning red with her effort to keep herself

merely looked at the child with an unreadable