Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

Chapter 1322: Second date

[Miller's Company]

Open invitations lay scattered across Haines's desk, his face grim. He had opened them only because they came from Penny's "legal team." Assuming they were important invitations Penny needed him to attend, he checked them all. But alas, they were just birthday invitations.

There were a total of thirty.

"Uh... Haines." Just then, Charles's voice reached his ears.

Charles was holding the door open, seven invitations in his hand. "Do you happen to know what these invitations from Gracie are about?"

"..." Haines glanced at the invitations in Charles's hand and compared them to the ones on his desk. Charles had received far fewer. "How many did you get?"

"Seven," Charles replied with a nod. "All of them are birthday invitations from Gracie. Is this some kind of prank Penny came up with?"

"It must be," Haines said, his voice colder than usual as he gathered the invitations on his desk, intending to throw them away later. "Just ignore them, Charles."

Charles furrowed his brows as he took in the sheer number of invitations on Haines's desk. "Why do you have so much junk on your desk? Did Grace send you all of those? How come you got more than I did?"

"If you want them, you can have them, Charles."

Deep lines appeared between Charles's brows as he noted the deliberate coldness in Haines's tone. Although Haines was generally quiet, he was rarely this cold. Not that he was the friendliest person, but something was clearly bothering him.

"Is everything alright, Haines?" Charles asked, his concern evident. "You seem... off."

"I had an hour stolen from me. And another fifteen minutes today," Haines muttered, pushing the invitations onto the floor before facing Charles. "I am not satisfied with this."

"Uh... I guess you're fine, then." Charles smiled and raised a brow briefly. "I'll be heading home after my meeting in an hour. Are you coming?"

"No, but I'll be there later-for Nina."

smile widened. "Of course, you

He had only stopped by Haines's office to ask about the

that night, he hadn't heard from her again. He had thought— hoped that

later, here she

up to you

only see these fake birthday celebrations

he whispered to himself, exhaling heavily as he leaned back

an hour of his time that night, but she was also stealing more. Because now, he couldn't focus on

half his age, was showing interest in him. Or rather,

back in his chair, thinking of how to put an end to

this isn't even flattering," he muttered, weighing his options.

a moment of consideration, he nodded to

"Ignore it."

eventually stop. Whatever she did, he wouldn't let it affect him. This was what she wanted-his attention. If she didn't get it, she would try

He was almost ready to return to work-after all, Theo

as he began

his gaze toward the device, he removed his reading

didn't expected to hear from you

of the line. "Me neither, but

said with a small smile. "It's been a while. How

replied. "The family is still the same, and I've been

Madam more frequently. The Master has been too preoccupied with work to visit her

see." Haines nodded, thinking about how Penny had also been preoccupied with the upcoming cyber

Penny's real problem

wasn't

was the

treating her