<b>Chapter </b>243
Ross <b>assistant </b>walked in from outside and found Ross sitting in his chair, staring nkly at some documents like his mind <b>was </b>borne where the
The assistant stepped forward. “Mr. Jean, we found Ms. Shelly’s earring that she left in the pantryst time.” He handed over a small box with stu <b>earring </b>inside.
<b>Ross </b>stared at the orange–red earring. “Take it to the hospital tomorrow when you get a chance and give it to her.”
The assistant obviously knew that Ross and Danielle had broken up, which was really too bad. Danielle was perfect for Ross, but what a shame–Ne kan wasn’t into her. The whole thing had been nothing but a show to him.
“Got it.” The assistant was about to take the earring away when Ross stopped him. “Actually, forget it. Just leave the earring here”
The assistant had no clue what was going through Ross‘ head anymore. He set the earring down and headed out.
Ross picked up his phone from the side table, opened WhatsApp, and clicked on Danielle’s profile. He typed: [Found your earring that you left in <b>the </b>pantry. Come by and pick it up when you have time, or I can drop it off if that’s easier.]
Danielle happened to be replying to someone else’s messages when she saw Ross‘ text pop up. She responded coldly: [I don’t like that earring anymore<b>. </b>Just throw it in the trash.]
Danielle actually loved those earrings. They were her absolute favorites–a gift from her mother that she rarely wore because they meant too much to her.
But when she was getting ready to see Ross, she’d put them on with such excitement. What a waste of happiness that turned out to be.
Now, Danielle couldn’t stand the thought of seeing Ross at all.
When Ross saw her reply, he gripped his phone tighter, feeling this weird mix of frustration and stubbornness that he couldn’t even exin.
Ross: [I’ll bring them over tomorrow.]
But the message never went through because Danielle had blocked him.
Ross felt his head pounding as he stared at those agate earrings. He tried calling instead, but that didn’t work either. The phone rang once and got cut <b>off </b>immediately. She’d blocked his number too.
Ross had never dealt with anything like this before, so he just sat there staring at the earrings without saying a word. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to throw them away and stuck them in his drawer instead.
By ten o’clock<b>, </b>both Danielle and Shermaine had knocked back quite a few drinks.
Joshua showed up to pick them up. He’d been missing Shermaine like crazy but had to wait <b>since </b>she was taking her sweet timeing home. He dropped Danielle off first, then finally headed back to Riverswood Vi with Shermaine.
Joshua sat her down on the shoe cab and slipped off her heels, then helped her into house slippers. “Want to walk or need me to carry you<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Carry me.” Shermaine giggled.
He scooped her up and headed upstairs. Shermaine looked at him and asked, “You didn’t like me at first either, so how did you end up falling
<b>me</b>?<b>” </b>
Joshua said, “I never disliked you. I just figured it out prettyte.” Good thing he came to his senses quickly though. Once he realized he liked Shermaine<b>, </b>he didn’t fight it at all and just wanted her.
“You’ve known Ross for years,” Shermaine said. “Why do you think he doesn’t like Danielle?” She wasn’t exactly great at reading <b>other </b>people’s feelings. She had her own love life figured out, but everyone else’s was <b>a </b>mystery.
<b>1/2 </b>
Chapter <b>243</b>.
<b>joshua </b><b>carried </b><b>her </b><b>into </b><b>the bathroom </b>and <b>grabbed </b><b>some </b><b>makeup </b><b>wipes </b><b>to </b>clean her face. <b>“</b><b>Hons </b>might be <b>even </b><b>more </b>ciueings than t
<b>“</b><b>He </b><b>had </b>a girlfriend <b>before </b><b>though</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Yeah, I heard about that. But honestly, Ross probably never even liked that ex of his<b>.</b>”
Shermaine frowned, “Then why would he date her?<b>” </b>
<b>“</b>You’d have to <b>ask </b>Ross that one.<b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Never mind then.” Everyone deserved their privacy, including Ross. Shermaine didn’t want to pry too much into his business.
Joshua helped her take off her makeup, then pulled her close and kissed her lips. “Sheary, has anyone ever told you that you’repletely different when you’ve been drinking?”
Shermaine pressed her lips together. “Different how?”
<b>“</b>You get all cute and flirty.”
Shermaine just stared at him. ‘Cute? I’m a boss. What the hell does cute even mean?‘ she thought.
They didn’t keep talking about it though. After Joshua finished removing her makeup, he ran her a bath and basically gave her the full spa treatment<b>. </b><b>He </b>got her all clean and sweet–smelling, then tucked her into bed.
About 10 minutester, Joshua finally came to bed himself, totally satisfied as he turned off the
lights.
In the darkness, Shermaine rested her hand on his waist. When he didn’t make any moves, she couldn’t help asking, “Howe you don’t want to tonight?”
AD