Chapter 36
Virgil Sorry, I can’t pick you up. I’m caught up with work. You’re on your own for dinner tonight. Don’t worry about me |
Moira was wailing
for!
rher steak and pizza, Her mood and appetite were good, but when she saw the message from him, a slight wave of disappointment flickered in her chest. Still she understood and quickly replied.
Moira (Got it. Thanks for letting me know.]
She waited a moment, but when no other messages came through, she uscked her phone into her bag, grabbed her number lag and went to pick up
her meal
After a long and busy day, Moira clocked out at exactly 5 p.m. Just as she was le
was leaving her.
be the office.
she ran into Baldwin, who was clearly looking for
How about we grab
b dinner together?” he asked.
Moira noticed the curious glances from around the office and felt hesitant to decline. But before she could say anything, Baldwin spoke again, Tve got some workandil‘ I want to talk to you about. Would you mind joining me?
Given that he was her boss, refusing would’ve been seen as ungrateful. After all, Baldwin was the one who had given her this job, and she’d worked hard to get the opportunity to start fresh.
Moira nodded. “Alright.”
Baldwin led her to a high–end restaurant. After they sat down, the waiter handed them the menu. Moira casually picked a couple of dishes, then handed the menu back.
Baldwin smiled. “Just these!”
Yes, that’ll be enough” she replied.
Baldwin gave a small nod, then added a few more items to the order. Once the waiter left, he asked. “You don’t seem very eager to have dinner with me. Can I ask why?”
Before she could respond, he chuckled and added. “Is it because you’re worried your boyfriend might get upset”
“No” Moira replied, a bit too honestly. “You’re my boss, and I got this job because of you, as an old classmate. I haven’t done enough for Dusk Furnishing yet. If people see me out having dinner with you… well, it might raise some questions”
Baldwin looked at her with a fond smile, his fingers lightly tapping the table. “Maira, you’ve always been a hardworking, ambitious person. If you hadn’t wasted five years on Austin, you’d already be highly accomplished in this field”
Mentioning those tive years made Moira feel foolish, but what was done was done. There was no point in dwelling on the past; she could only look forward.
“What did you want to discuss, work–wise?” she asked, trying to steer the conversation back to business.
“Well,” Baldwin said, “Eldoria TV is bunching a home renovation show. The format pairs amateur designers with celebrities to collaborate on design projects. Dusk Furnishing has a slot for an amateur designer, and I’d like to recommend you for it.”
Moira was surprised. She thought about what Miranda had said earlier and asked, “Why me? Mirands would probably be a better fit. I don’t have much experience, and I’m worried I won’t be able to do a good job ”
Baldwin smiled and shook his head. “I have my reasons for recommending you” He leaned in slightly. “I’ve been following your X account, Warmora Ive seen some of your design posts. Honestly, I think they’re really practical and well done.”
Hearing
that her work had caught Baldwin’s attention made Moira feel a line proud, but when he mentioned her X handle, she froze for a second.
She had created that account back in high school, and the name was a bit cringey. But she’d gotten used to it over the years and never bothered to
thinge i
She had thought she kept her online presence fairly hidder–even Austin didn’t know about it—but here Baldwin was, mentioning it like it was
nothing
He continued, “Miranda studied abroad, and her design ideas are impressive. The results she creates are often stunning, almost like works of art. If the budget weren’t an iur, I’d definitely recommend her
novations, and the dients are mostly ordinary people. Practicality is key, and in that regard, you’re better suited for
“But this show is about home renovati
the job than she n.”
