One year, one love by Aurora Miller

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Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Doris’s gaze met Lewis’s, and for a fleeting moment, surprise flickered in both their eyes

“It’s you?” Doris exclaimed, her tone tinged with both astonishment and delight as she liked at Lewis and the man standing behind him–Daniel.

Daniel, caught off guard by the encounter with the CEO’s wife at Hartman Group, froze in place, barely daring to breathe

“Didn’t you ask where I worked? Lewis’s expression remained stoic, his voice calm as ever “Well, this is where I work”

“You work at the Hartman Group?” Doric’s eyes lit up, a spark of curiosity and admiration dancing in her gaze

Lewis noticed that glimmer in her eyes, but his tone stayed low and steady. “Why? Is there a problem with that?”

Doris glanced at the sleek Maybach nearby and then back at Lewis’s simple white shirt and black suit–a combination! seemed to wear religiously.

Her thoughts spun quickly, drawing a conclusion. He dresses exactly like a driver. He didn’t want to tell me where he worked because he’s just a driver? Is he afraid I’d look down on him for that? This man sure has his pride, she mused.

Unaware of the subtle shift in Lewis’s expression, Doris grinned lightly, her tone bright and casual. “No job is too humble or too grand. Look at me–I make pastries for a living. The upside? I get to sample all the delicious treats.

“Being a driver has its perks too, right? You get to drive all kinds of fancy cars. Not everyone gets that opportunity

Lewis’s brows raised slightly in surprise. ‘Is she trying to comfort me? So, she’s misunderstood–I see. She thinks I’m just a driver for Hartman Group, he pondered.

“Do you like this car?” Lewis asked, glancing at the Maybach beside him.

“Who wouldn’t like it?” Doris shot back playfully. “Don’t tell me you don’t.”

“Not particularly,” Lewis replied indifferently. He had so many luxury cars that he barely gave them a second thought.

But what she said without much thought struck a different chord with Lewis. Her words and demeanor began to take on a new meaning in his eyes.

To him, her casual admiration for the car was confirmation of what he had begun to suspect–that she was a shallow woman, infatuated with wealth and status. It only deepened his resolve to peel back what he believed was a carefully crafted facade.

“Who do you drive for? The CEO of Hartman Group? Doris asked with curiosity, simply hoping to learn more about Lewis’s work.

“Why, are you interested in him?” Lewis’s gaze sharpened slightly, his mind jumping to conclusions. How greedy can she be?’ he thought.

“Just

curious,” Doris replied, pausing thoughtfully. “The heir of the Hartman family just returned and already has people working late into the night. Is he that scary? What does he look like anyway? Are there pictures of him?”

She wasn’t genuinely interested–this was just her way of satisfying her friend Lola’s curiosity.

a faint, mocking smile as he made up a lie without blinking an eye. “Short, ugly, mean, and covered in pockmarks. Terrifying, really.” His words came out effortlessly, his tone completely deadpan.

her face a mixture of

his shoulders shaking slightly. ‘Mr. Hartman,

Wed, 26 Feb

Chapter 11

just to keep your cover he thought.

conversation. “What

87%

of departments at Hartman

casual, though it was

help, I won’t have to run back and forth a hundred times Without hesitation, Doris shoved the bags into his hands, griming

I to her? Free labor? While he felt a

many orders that she still couldn’t manage all of them. Daniel, who had been quietly observing, stepped

wouldn’t want to trouble you,” Doris said, feeling a

hastily, glancing nervously at Lewis, not daring

CEO.

smoothly, gesturing toward Doris with a neutral expression. “Doris, this is Mr. Daniel Gill, the

Daniel up with a friendly smile. “Mr. Gill, you’re already the CEO’s assistant at such

work. Next time, I’ll make some pastries and have him bring them to you as a

taken aback. He hadn’t expected Doris to try buttering up his supposed colleague on

to maintain Lewis’s cover. “Oh, no need for that. Mr. Hart… no, Lewis and I are colleagues. We’re supposed to look out for each other. It’s no trouble at

lightly, cutting off the exchange. He turned to Doris. “Are you done talking yet? Aren’t you supposed to deliver

Hartman Group, the pristine marble floors gleaming under the warm lighting.

come down and pick up their

call it a day

relief. “Thank you, Mr. Gill,‘ she said, sincerely appreciative of Daniel’s meticulous arrangements. It saved her the hassle of

her impatiently. “Let’s go.”

a pointed look. “Aren’t you going to

up. “It’s really nothing. N–no need for that,” he stammered, his forced smile barely masking his growing panic. After all, the thought of his boss thanking him was as terrifying

unthinkable.

her clear, innocent gaze on Lewis, whose face remained

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Chapter 11

intensity in her eyes was like sunlight filtering through crystal, a kind of quiet honesty that seemed to pierce through all his walls. Lewis let out a resigned sigh, his tone sharp and clipped. “Mr. Gill, thank you”

of sweat forming on his back. He felt like he’d narrowly escaped being caught in a storm, though the

breeze brushing against

seemed to shimmer. Her expressive eyes, glinting with the light, looked

nice guy,” Doris

“You’re into him?”

blinking in disbelief, wondering if she had misheard him.

with an enigmatic sharpness. “Doris, you’d better stay in line.”

brows furrowed in confusion as he mused, ‘Stay in line? What on earth is